iberating my poor
countrymen from the ropes which bound them, that I did not observe which
way you were taking. I shouted after you to turn back, but you did not
hear me; and then the dreadful sand-cloud came on, and it was too late.
I am well acquainted with this dreadful desert, and I was aware that we
were out of the right path; but I also knew where that path was; so, as
soon as all the poor fellows were free, we set off towards it. They
were all well able to run without the ropes, and out of sight of our
tyrants. Fortunately the sand-cloud wheeled round before it reached us,
and we were safe.

"You must know that on the previous night I had stowed away the
wine-skins full of water in your portmanteaus, and I thus had enough to
give a good draught to each of the men, and to my beasts also. Our
first care was then to get out of the desert. I knew where the ground
was hard, so I led them to it, and we then could travel at a fast rate.
About a league beyond where we were, there is a fountain of pure water
gushing up out of a hard black rock. Here we were all able to refresh
ourselves; and still a little farther on, marks are to be seen, by which
I could direct my companions how to escape from the desert. They
quickly availed themselves of my advice, and are now on their way to
hide themselves among the mountains, where there is no fear of the
Spaniards searching for them."

"But what did you do, my friend?" I asked, stretching out my hand for
another bunch of tempting grapes.

"Just as I was parting from them I saw a party of fruit-sellers crossing
the desert, with several mules laden with fruit. I purchased some, as
also some bread and baked platanos, and then set off to search for you.
I knew, by the feel of the atmosphere, that there would be no more
sand-storms; and hoped, it you had escaped that of yesterday, to find
you. I know my way across any part of the desert blindfold, for I can
tell by the smell of the sand alone where animals have before passed.
As soon as it was daylight I returned to where I last had seen you. I
saw where the sand-cloud had settled down, forming huge mounds, beneath
which many of the Spaniards, I found, lay overwhelmed. At last I fell
in with the tracks of your two horses. I guessed they were yours, for I
thought the Spaniards would have kept together. I followed them up
steadily. I came to where you had found the Spanish officer, and given
him a pistol with which to d