scent and descent, that, to enable people
and animals to pass along it without slipping, pieces of bamboo in which
to fix the feet were placed at short intervals across the footway.
Slight as was the bridge in appearance, owing to its yielding nature
there was no danger of its breaking; and we saw two or three persons
crossing it with mules, so that we had no fear about going over it
ourselves.

We were about to recommence our journey, when Candela and Chumbo, who
had been attending to our animals at a little distance, came hurrying
up, and said that they had seen a large body of men appearing above a
ridge on our side of the river; and urged that we should lose no time in
moving. I ran to a slight hillock near where we had been seated, and
from thence I could distinguish the men they spoke of: they were
evidently infantry, and in considerable force, as I caught the gleam of
their bayonets forming a long line as they surmounted the ridge.

I was assisting Norah to mount, while the doctor was putting the
children into the panniers, when he cried out,--"We are in a trap! See!
there are troops on the opposite side coming this way; and if we cross
we may fall into their hands."

"But they may be friends," I said.

"Yes! they are friends," cried the padre; "they are cavalry, the
llaneros of the plain--I can make out their lances against the sky.
They are dashing on at full speed; none but they could ride over that
rough ground. Paez, or perchance Bermudez, is at their head."

"You are right, friend padre; they are pushing on to gain the bridge
before yonder infantry can reach it," cried my father, his martial
enthusiasm kindling. "The enemy's object is to gain the bank of the
river first, and dispute their passage before they can cross and form on
this side. See! the Spaniards are advancing at the double, scrambling
over all impediments; it is a question which will reach the river first.
There will be some warm work anon."

"If you will be advised by me, Mr Desmond, in that case you will
retreat to a safe distance, and place the ladies and children under
shelter," observed the doctor. "Bullets make no distinction of persons;
and they will be flying pretty thickly about our ears, if we venture to
remain here much longer."

"Thank you, doctor, for your advice," answered my father; and he
forthwith placed my mother on horseback. The children had been meantime
tumbled into their panniers, and the nurse mounted on