rs to ride before nightfall, when we must, if
possible, find shelter. As far as we could judge, it might take us
three or four days to reach the Patriot camp, and some time must elapse
before relief could be sent to Juan,--and what might not occur in the
meantime?

Whenever we pulled rein, Mr Laffan stood up and took a survey of the
country.

"It is wise to ascertain what's moving when traversing a country, or in
our course through life," he observed. "We may thus know where to find
our friends and avoid our foes."

Frequently, however, the view on either side was bounded by woods, the
trees rising to a prodigious size. Many of them ran up to an amazing
height in a straight line before they began to branch out. From some of
the fig species, various shoots descended perpendicularly, where they
took root, so that we had no little difficulty in making our way through
these woody columns. Between the openings we caught sight of the
mountains rising to the skies; and occasionally a stream crossed our
path, or ran foaming along on one side or the other.

We had hoped to reach some friendly village or farmhouse, where we might
rest during the hours of darkness, and obtain better food for our horses
than they could pick up in the forest; but though we pushed on until an
hour after sunset, no glimmering window-light appeared to beckon us
towards it, and we had at last to look about for an open space where we
might bivouac. We accordingly dismounted, and tethering our animals,
commenced searching for wood to light a fire. We ran no small risk, as
may be supposed, of rousing up a venomous serpent, or disturbing a boa
during its rest, while at any moment a jaguar or puma might pounce down
upon us, or a bear make its appearance. We succeeded in obtaining fuel
enough to make a pretty large fire, and by its bright flames we the more
easily obtained a further supply of wood. We had, however, but scanty
materials for a meal,--some fruit, and a few pieces of Indian corn
bread. I gave part of my share to poor Lion, who looked up wonderingly
at finding himself put on short commons in a land of plenty. There was
sufficient grass, however, for our horses to obtain a feed, and as we
had watered them a short time before, they were not so badly off.

Having collected fuel enough to last for the night, we cut a number of
sticks, which we ran into the ground to form a shelter against any
sudden attack of wild animals during the ni