“That I cannot make out yet.  They are many; they move; and every minute they grow bigger!  That is all I can tell.”

“It is quite enough.  The bodies of the two troopers have been found, the alarm has been given, and we are pursued.  But they won’t overtake us.  They have that hill to descend, this to mount; and our horses are better than theirs.”

“Are you going far, senor?” inquired Gahra.

“To the llanos.”

“By Los Teycos?”

“Yes.  We shall easily steal through Los Teycos, and I know of a place in the forest beyond, where we can hide during the day.”

“Pardon me for venturing to contradict you, senor; but I fear you will not find it very easy to steal through Los Teycos.  For three days it has been held by a company of infantry and all the outlets are strictly guarded.  No civilian unfurnished with a safe conduct from the captain-general is allowed to pass.”

“Caramba! We are between two fires, it seems.  Well, we must make a dash for it.  The sentries cannot stop us, and we can gallop through before they turn out the guard.”

“The horses will be very tired by that time, senor, and the troopers can get fresh mounts at Los Teycos.  But I know a way—­”

“The Indian trail!  Do you know the Indian trail?”

“Yes, sir.  I know the Indian trail, and I can take you to a place in the forest where there is grass and water and game, and we shall be safe from pursuit as long as we like to stay.”

“How far off?”

“About two leagues.”

“Good.  Lead on in heaven’s name.  You are a treasure, Gahra Dahra.  In rescuing you from those ruffianly Spaniards we did ourselves, as well as you, a good turn.”

Our pursuers, who numbered a full score, could now be distinctly seen, but in a few minutes we lost sight of them.  After a sharp ride of half an hour, the negro called a halt.

“This is the place.  Here we turn off,” he said.

“Here!  I see nothing but the almost dry bed of a torrent.”

“So much the better.  We shall make no footmarks,” said Carmen.  “Go on, Gahra.  But first of all turn that led horse adrift.  Are you sure this place you speak of is unknown to the Spaniards?”

“Quite.  It is known only to a few wandering Indians and fugitive slaves.  We can stay here till sunrise.  It is impossible to follow the Indian trail by night, even with such a moon as this.”

After we had partly ridden, partly walked (for we were several times compelled to dismount) about a mile along the bed of the stream, which was hemmed in between impenetrable walls of tall trees and dense undergrowth, Gahra, who was leading, called out:  “This way!” and vanished into what looked like a hole, but proved to be a cleft in the bank so overhung by vegetation as to be well-nigh invisible.

It was the entrance to a passage barely wide enough to admit a horse and his rider, yet as light as a star-gemmed mid-night, for the leafy vault above us was radiant with fireflies, gleaming like diamonds in the dark hair of a fair woman.