egion to which he proposed to conduct us
abounded with game; and that should we run short of ammunition, his
unerring bow would always supply us with an ample amount.

As we rested on the ground near the fire, the smoke from which assisted
to keep away the mosquitoes, we talked of the events of the last few
days, and discussed our prospects for the future. My father was more
out of spirits than I had ever seen him; the loss of his house and so
much of his property was naturally very trying, and he had begun to
despair of the success of the patriot cause.

"Shure, your honour, the more harm the Spaniards do to people, the more
enemies they'll make; and for every man they kill, a dozen will rise up
to revenge his death," observed Tim. "We don't like them the better for
burning our house; and, if I have the chance, I'll show them that, some
day or other."

I felt, I must own, very much as Tim did. I had before been rather cold
in the cause, though I intended to join General Bermudez as soon as
summoned; but after the accounts I had heard of the atrocities committed
by the Spaniards, and the evidences I had witnessed of what they were
capable of doing, I felt eager to assist the patriots by every means in
my power, and regretted the delay which our flight into the mountains
must cause. I could not, of course, quit my mother and brothers and
sisters until I had seen them all placed in safety.

We feared much that my mother would be unable to stand the rough life we
were about to endure. She was, indeed, already fatigued with her
morning ride; and when Kanimapo proposed that we should proceed, my
father begged that she might be allowed a longer time to rest. The
Indian consenting to this, he and Gerald and I made a short excursion in
search of more game.

We had not gone far when we reached a stream which ran through the
forest, thickly bordered by magnificent trees. Here animal life
abounded; parrots flew amid the branches; and just above the water a
number of small rodents were busily employed in searching for food;
while a curious boat-bill heron, which had just scrambled up out of the
river, was hunting the numerous insects flying about.

Concealed by the trees, we were watching the bird, when I saw an opossum
rapidly descending the boughs; then, after hanging for a moment
suspended by its prehensile tail, it let itself drop directly down upon
one of the small rodents, which it seized in its claws, and was be