ly
upon the runaways.

Just as Castro had foretold, they were taking to a mountain pass,
eastward of Copari, and the main body was already toiling up the
ascent. Their stores lay about everywhere; horses and mules were
abandoned; only a handful of horsemen, constituting the rearguard,
preserved any appearance of order. For a time they stoutly held the
mouth of the pass, but at length, leaving their animals, they too
disappeared.

Plaza went at the entrance like a bull at a gate, Castro followed, and
I toiled after them with the men. Up we went, some cheering, but the
majority with closed lips, saving their breath. In our fatigued state
the climb was fearfully distressing: men sank to the ground gasping, or
fell while trying to grasp the overhanging rocks with nerveless fingers.

As for me, though straining every nerve, I could not keep pace with the
leaders. My eyes smarted and ached; my head seemed to spin round; more
than once I should have fallen but for a friendly hand. Presently I
heard Plaza cheer; but he was out of sight, and the sound seemed to
come from a long distance. Then I was placed gently against a rock by
a soldier, who pushed on after the rest.

Had I been hit? I really did not know. There was blood on my hands,
but they had been gashed by the jagged rocks. But hit or not, I must
do my best to keep up; so trying to steady myself, I took another step
forward. The pass was filled with strange sounds and with strange
shapes too. Large birds hovered over my head, men and animals stood in
my path; I had to dodge here and there in order to find a way through.

Suddenly a man placed his arm round my waist, and saying, "You must lie
down, lieutenant," carried me a little distance, and then placed me on
the ground.

"No, no," I murmured drowsily; "the captain is calling! Don't you hear
the captain calling?"

"Yes," said he: "the Spaniards have escaped, and the captain has
sounded a halt."

I did not know then that the man was tricking me for my own good, so I
answered innocently, "Thank goodness! Now we shall have a little rest.
Waken me when they return."

"Never fear, sir," said he; "I will waken you," and even before he
turned away I had lost all knowledge of the situation.

CHAPTER XIII.

HOME AGAIN.

Several days passed before I could recognize any one or anything, and
then I found myself lying in bed in a strange room, but with Jose
sitting near me. He rubbed his hands