When the negro arrived he expressed great satisfaction at finding us alive and well.  He did not think there would be any great difficulty in getting away and bringing us horses.  The lleranos were still allowed to come and go pretty much as they liked, and if awkward questions were asked it would be easy to invent excuses.  The best time to get away would be immediately after nightfall, when most of the foraging parties would have returned to camp and the men be at supper.

It was thereupon agreed that the attempt should be made, and that we should stay where we were until we heard the howl of an araguato, which Guido could imitate to perfection.  This would signify that all was well, and the coast clear.

Then, after giving us a few pieces of tasajo and a handful of cigars, the two men rode off; for the night was at hand, and if we did not escape before light of moon, the chances were very much against our escaping at all.

CHAPTER XVIII.

A NEW DEPARTURE.

“We seem always to be escaping, amigo mio,” said Carmen, as we sat in the shade, eating our tasajo.  “We got out of one scrape only to get into another.  Your experience of the country so far has not been happy.”

“Well, I certainly have had rather a lively time of it since I landed at La Guayra, if that is what you mean.”

“Very.  And I should almost advise you to leave the country, if that were possible.  But reaching the coast in present circumstances is out of the question.  All the ports are in possession of the Spaniards, and the roads thither beset by guerillas.  I see nothing for it but to go on the llanos and form a guerilla band of our own.”

“Isn’t guerilla merely another name for brigand?”

“Too often.  You must promise the fellows plunder.”

“And provide it.”

“Of course, or pay them out of your own pocket.”

“Well, I am not disposed to become a brigand chief; and I could not keep a band of guerillas at my own charge even if I were disposed.  As we cannot get out of the country either by the north or east, what do you say to trying south?”

“How far?  To the Brazils?”

“Farther.  Over the Andes to Peru.”

“Over the Andes to Peru?  That is a big undertaking.  Do you think we could find that mountain of gold and precious stones you were telling me about?”

“I never entertained any idea so absurd.  I merely mentioned poor old Zamorra’s crank as an instance of how credulous people could be.”

“Well, perhaps the idea is not quite so absurd as you suppose.  Even stranger things have happened; and we do know that there is gold pretty nearly everywhere on this continent, to say nothing of the treasure hidden in times past by Indians and Spaniards, and we might find both gold and diamonds.”

“Of course we might; and as we cannot stay here, we may as well make the attempt.”