sill,
and, with his hands, drew himself up to, and through it, the blood
spouting from his wounds at every inch of progress. Lowering himself
from the window, he lay down on the ground to gather a little strength
for flight. But first he must bind up his feet, in order that his blood
might not betray whither he went. Taking off his cotton shirt, he tore
it in half, and wrapped each foot in a piece. The touch of the cloth to
his wounds was like fire; but by this time his nerves were benumbed to
such a degree that he scarcely noticed it.

Going on hands and knees, he started to creep over the distance lying
between him and the fringe of trees near the presidio. There was a good
half-mile, and Pomponio feared he could not cover it. Four times he fell
to the ground unconscious, four times he revived and pushed on with all
the strength he could muster. Fortunately he had started early in the
night, for he needed every minute of the darkness. Foot after foot,
yard after yard, he crept along, the presidio and the other buildings
receding in the increasing distance behind him, while the welcome woods
and hills, his refuge, loomed up, higher and darker, as he neared them.
At last he reached the shelter of the trees, his friends, as the first
faint streaks of the dawn began to brighten in the east. Only a little
time remained before the hue and cry would begin, and he must find a
place of concealment before then, else he were lost. Pomponio knew every
part of the forests for miles around; and after getting under cover
of them, he turned at a slight angle toward the southwest, and made
straight for a cave he had once visited when hunting for a bear. He
remembered it was concealed by a thick tangled mass of bushes and young
trees, hiding it so effectually that discovery was well nigh impossible.
In pursuing the bear, Pomponio had tracked it to the cave which it had
entered, and this it was that gave him the secret. Summoning all his
remaining strength for a last supreme effort, he dragged himself on
slowly and painfully. It was not far, and soon he recognized the clump
of bushes that shaded the entrance; and none too soon, for just before
reaching it, he heard a musket shot in the direction of the presidio.
His flight was discovered. But he was safe, for the present, at least;
and crouching down in the depths of the dark cave, kind nature once more
came to his relief, and he knew no more.

Great was the excitement at the presidio