atives, at others we
bivouacked in the woods, or under the shelter of lofty rocks. We each
carried a net-hammock at the cruppers of our mules, so that we had it
ready to hang up between a couple of trees, or in a hut, whenever we
stopped, either for our noonday rest or at night. On crossing a wide
elevated plain, we passed through several forests of date-trees; and had
a few Arabs with their camels been moving about among them, the whole
scene would have borne a truly African appearance.

The journey appeared a very long one, though we pushed on each day as
fast as our mules could travel; but we had to make frequent detours to
avoid places held by the Spaniards, who, though often defeated, still
had considerable forces in the field. My uncle and I, having been born
in the country, would have been looked upon as Spanish subjects; and as
all the members of our family were known to hold Liberal opinions, we
might be detained and compelled to serve in the Spanish ranks. At all
events, my uncle thought it prudent to keep out of the way of the
Royalists, as well as of those Indians who were known to side with them.

Whenever we passed through a village or came to a halt for the night, we
endeavoured to gain information of the movements of the troops; and in
the course of three days we came in sight of as many spots where
villages had once stood, which now only presented blackened walls and
devastated fields--the sad result of civil war. When able, we obtained
a guide to conduct us over the mountain-paths; but we were not always
successful, and sometimes had to make our way alone.

We were now approaching our home; but my uncle had been so long absent
from the country that he was unacquainted with the road, and even Tim
had to confess that he did not sufficiently recollect the appearance of
the scenery to guide us.

We had descended to a lower level, and after passing through a thick
tropical forest, were proceeding along the margin of a river, looking
for an open spot to encamp, when the sun disappeared behind the
mountains on our right. There is little or no twilight, it will be
remembered, in that latitude, and before we were aware of it darkness
came down upon us.

"Shure, we can camp aisy enough," observed Tim; "but about the
provender--I'm afraid our canteen is well-nigh empty."

Such proved to be the case, and we had every prospect of going without
our supper. We had two mulatto boys to look after our mules