a far-off people, though it seems that I am one of them, at any rate
among these fools, your kinsmen. But of dogs I can tell you something,
and it is that they bite."

"Yes, and cows toss dogs," said Soa, showing her teeth.

"Here is another complication," thought Leonard to himself; "one day
this woman will make friends with her venerable parent and betray us,
and then where shall we be? Well, among so many dangers an extra one
does not matter."

"I must go to bed," said Juanna faintly; "my head is swimming. I cannot
forget those horrors and that giddy place. When first I saw where I was,
I nearly fainted and fell, but after a while I grew more used to it.
Indeed, while I was speaking to the people I quite forgot my fear, and
the height seemed to exhilarate me. What a sight it was! When all
is said and done, it is a grand thing to have lived through such an
experience. I wonder if anyone has ever seen its like."

"You are a marvellous woman, Juanna," said Leonard, with admiration. "We
owe our lives to your wit and courage."

"You see I was right in insisting on coming with you," she answered
somewhat aggressively.

"For our sakes, yes; for your own I am not so sure. To tell you the
truth, I think that we should have done better never to have started on
this mad expedition. However, things look a little more promising now,
though Nam and his company have still to be reckoned with, and we don't
seem much nearer the rubies, which are our main object."

"No," said Juanna, "they are gone, and we shall be lucky if we do not
follow them into the home of that hideous snake. Good night."

"Francisco," said Leonard, as he rolled himself up in his blanket, "you
had a narrow escape to-night. If I had missed my hold!"

"Yes, Outram, it was lucky for me that your arm is strong and your mind
quick. Ah, I am a dreadful coward, and I can see the place now;" and he
shuddered. "Always from a child I have believed that I shall die by a
fall from some height, and to-night I thought that my hour had come. At
first I did not understand, for I was watching the Senora's face in the
moonlight, and to me she looked like an angel. Then I saw, and my senses
left me. It was as though hands were stretched up from the blackness
to drag me down--yes, I saw the hands. But you saved me, Outram, though
that will not help me, for I shall perish in some such way at last. So
be it. It is best that I should die, who cannot conquer the evil of my
h