them.

Kanimapo confessed that such was the case; but he added,--"There is a
spot at hand to which I can lead you, where you will be secure from a
whole army of Gothos. It is separated from this by a deep valley, the
cliffs above which no armed men can climb. In the side of the mountain
there is a cavern, very much smaller than this, but which has the
advantage of being perfectly dry, as the sun shines directly into it.
There, should enemies approach, we might take refuge, and remain without
fear of being reached till they have taken their departure."

"But how, if the sides are perpendicular, are we to reach it?" asked my
father.

"I will find the means of gaining the top," answered the Indian. "A
lofty rock on the opposite side is not more than fifty feet distant from
a part of the cliff; at this place I will carry across a rope-bridge, by
which you may all pass in safety; and should an enemy attempt to follow,
a blow of a machete would hurl him to destruction. You can thus have
your choice of either remaining in this large cavern, or taking refuge
in the smaller cave I have described to you."

My father consulted the doctor and the padre--who were both of opinion
that we should be perfectly safe where we were; but he thought it wisest
to secure a refuge in case we should be pursued, and begged the Indian
to lead him to it. Kanimapo replied that he required some time to make
preparations, but that as soon as he was ready he would let us know.

Calling Candela, he led him some way down the valley towards a grove of
trees, among which were a great variety of creepers. We, meantime, were
employed in improving our huts and in making arrangements for a sojourn
in the cave, hoping that we might not be disturbed.

After some time Kanimapo and Candela reappeared, carrying between them a
coil of stout rope, and a sort of square cradle of network large enough
to contain a man. It was by this time too late to commence operations,
but Kanimapo undertook to conduct us to the place the first thing the
next morning.

"That you may not feel insecure, my friends," he said, "I will take post
at the entrance of the valley during the night, and give you due notice
should any danger approach."

This offer was gladly accepted; and darkness soon coming on, we made up
a blazing fire in front of our huts, and prepared to pass the first
night in our strange abode.

The scene can be better pictured than described. The night p