ow and then drawled out, and
sounding strange in that solitary place. Ruperto Rivas conducted his
trio of companions clear of the Pedregal, and beyond the line of
enfiladement.

In twenty minutes after they were mounting the steep slope of the Cerro
Ajusco, amid tall forest trees, with no fear of pursuit by the soldiers,
than if separated from them by a hundred long leagues.

After breasting the mountain for some time, they paused to take breath,
Rivas saying--

"Well, _caballeros_, we're on safe ground now, and may rest a bit. It's
been a close shave, though; and we may thank our stars there are none in
the sky--nor moon. Look yonder! They're at it yet. `_Soto en la
puerto--mozo_!' Ha, ha, ha!"

He referred to a faint light visible at a long distance below, on the
edge of the Pedregal, where they had passed that of a picket fire-camp,
which enabled the _monte_ players to make out the markings on their
cards.

"We may laugh who have won," he added, now seemingly relieved from all
apprehension of pursuit.

Nevertheless the fugitive party stayed but a short while there; just
long enough to recover wind. The point they were making for was still
further up the mountain, though none of them could tell where save Rivas
himself. He knew the place and paths leading to it, and well; otherwise
he could not have followed them, so thick was the darkness. In daylight
it would have been difficult enough, yawning chasms to be crossed
_barransas_--with cliffs to be climbed, in comparison with which the
escarpments of the Pedregal were but as garden walls.

In a groping way, hand helping hand, all were at length got up and over,
as the tolling of distant church bells, down in the valley below,
proclaimed the hour of midnight. Just then Rivas, once more making a
stop, plucked a leaf from one of the grass plants growing by, and
placing it between his lips gave out a peculiar sound, half screech,
half whistle--a signal as the others supposed; being assured it was, by
the response soon after reaching their ears.

The signal was given again, with some variations; responded to in like
manner. Then a further advance up the mountain, and still another halt;
this time at hearing the hail:

"_Quien viva_!"

"_El Capitan_!" called out Rivas in answer, and received for rejoinder
first an exclamation of delighted surprise, then words signifying
permission to approach and pass.

The approach was not so easy, being up a steep