ot here?"

"Ask the man who betrayed us," said the major scornfully; and on
questioning the Indian, it appeared he had mistaken Santiago for the
famous colonel.

"Well," muttered Jose, "it's a disappointment; but it can't be helped.
What are we to do with the wounded? They can't go down the rope."

"Let me stay with them," I suggested, "and you can send a doctor back."

"Meanwhile," interrupted the major, "I have some little skill in
surgery, and, with your permission, I will remain also. You need not
fear that I shall run away. I will give my parole to come to Moquegua.
After that, matters must shape their own course."

"Very well," exclaimed Jose; "the plan has its advantages. I'll hurry
along the first doctor I come across, Jack. But you are hurt!"

"It's only a scratch; nothing serious at all."

Jose sent half a dozen of his men down the rope; then the dead Spaniard
was lowered, the prisoners followed, and Jose himself descended with
the remainder of the troopers.

"Haul up the rope, Jack," he cried in farewell, "and make sure of your
visitors before dropping it again."

CHAPTER IX.

A GLEAM OF HOPE.

As soon as the party had disappeared, I turned to the major and said
with a smile,--

"Now, my dear Santiago, let us attend to the needs of these poor
fellows."

I was now standing full in the firelight, and he glanced at my face
with a puzzled expression. Then a half gleam of recognition shone in
his eyes, and he exclaimed doubtfully--

"Surely you can't be the boy Crawford who vanished so mysteriously from
the fort?"

"I am, though!" said I, laughing at his amazement. "But we shall have
time for a talk presently; let us do what we can for these poor fellows
first. Is there any water in the cave?"

"Yes; there is a spring at the far end. I will fetch some. Put some
more wood on the fire; it smokes if allowed to go down."

Of the three wounded men only one was seriously hurt, and he, I feared,
was beyond the aid of the most skilled surgeon. However, we did our
best for all the sufferers, gave them water to drink, arranged them
comfortably on beds of straw, and bathed and bandaged their wounds.
Then I washed the cut in my cheek, and Santiago smeared it with a
native ointment, which he said possessed wonderful healing properties.

"Now," said he, "I judge you are ready for late supper or early
breakfast, whichever you may prefer to call it. The provisions are
homely, and I am an