rtain. Our men,
however, were well able to advance as rapidly as any troops could move.
Except their muskets and powder, they were unencumbered with any
accoutrements, or indeed with any superfluous clothing. They required
but little food, and that of the coarsest description. Accustomed to
the use of firearms from their boyhood, they had quickly been turned
into efficient soldiers. We had intelligent guides, also, who knew the
country, and were able to point out the best paths for our advance.

A short time only was allowed for the men to take their dinner, after
which we marched on again until nightfall. At first it seemed somewhat
strange to find myself seated round our camp-fire with Antonio, and to
hear him addressed as "Captain;" but I did not allude to our former
relative positions. In a short time, however, as he bore his honours
well, and behaved in a thoroughly officer-like way, this feeling wore
off, and it seemed quite natural to speak to him as an equal. He was
only one of many who at that period rose from the ranks. One of the
bravest generals in the Patriot army had been a slave. Indeed, General
Paez had been a herd-boy, and Arismendez a fisherman. Bolivar was one
of the few Patriot leaders of high family, for the Spaniards had put to
death the larger number of the men of influence and Liberal principles,
before the struggle for liberty began.

The next morning we recommenced the march two hours before daylight,
when the men appeared fresh and in good spirits. We had again advanced
some distance after our noonday halt when we came to a rapid river,
running between high cliffs, over which, we had learned from our guides,
a strong wooden bridge had been thrown. Had it not been for this bridge
the passage of the river would have cost us great delay, as we should
have had to descend by narrow pathways to the bottom of the cliffs, then
to throw a pontoon across, and ascend on the other side. In the face of
an enemy this would have been impossible.

I had ridden forward, curious to examine the structure of the bridge of
which our guides had spoken. I found that strong timbers had been fixed
on the ledges in the cliffs projecting over the stream, serving to
support a platform; from this platform others were pushed forward on
either side, the inner ends lashed to the first platform, while a centre
one joined the two. Railings ran along on either side of this ingenious
structure, which had a roof