ore stagnant and oppressive. Some of the soldiers had
lighted their cigars, in the hope that the fumes of tobacco would
alleviate their thirst; and as the tiny jets of smoke left their mouths,
they went straight up towards the sky, not a breath existing to blow
them aside. Suddenly, as I turned my head to the left, I saw what
appeared to be a dark cloud rising from the earth. I pointed it out to
my father. Ithulpo had at the same time observed it.

"Muffle up your heads in your ponchos, and push on for the love of
life," he exclaimed. "It is the sand-drift swept before a whirlwind.
On! on! or it will overwhelm us!"

It was indeed an object to appal the stoutest heart. On it came, like a
black wall, rising higher and higher, and curling over our heads, till
the sky and the sun himself were obscured. The soldiers saw it and
trembled, for they knew its deadly power; whole regiments had before
been buried beneath that heavy canopy. Their only chance of safety,
they fancied, was to gallop through it. With frantic energy they dug
their spurs into the sides of their panting steeds. They no longer
thought of their miserable prisoners. Without a sensation of
commiseration, they left them to the dreadful fate they themselves
strove to escape. Neither could we do anything for them: if we stopped,
we also should lose our lives. As we followed the soldiers, we found
the Indians all huddled together, with looks of despair on their
countenances, watching the approach of the sand-drift. They had no
prospect of extricating themselves either; for the Spaniards had not
even cut the cords which bound them all together. I glanced at the
black wall of sand; it was still some way off. Could I leave my
fellow-creatures thus to perish horribly, without an attempt to save
them? No burning thirst, thanks to Ithulpo's precautions, had yet dried
up the sympathies of my heart.

"What are you going to do, David?" asked my father, as he saw me throw
myself from my horse.

"To give these poor fellows a chance of life," I answered, drawing out
my knife, and cutting away at their cords.

"Your mother and sisters, my lad, must not be forgotten," he muttered;
"but stay, I will help you."

As he said this he set to work to release the Indians, in which we were
directly joined by Ithulpo; the rear-guard, as they passed by, bestowing
many curses and threats of vengeance on our heads for our interference;
but they were too anxious to sa