ckets. The next day a still
larger ambuscade was laid, which, fortunately for the freebooters, was
discovered and dispersed in time, the fleeing Spaniards leaving their
horses behind.

Two days later New Segovia was reached. Here the buccaneers expected a
severe engagement, and hoped to gain a supply of provisions. In both they
were mistaken; the inhabitants had decamped, carrying all food with them.
Their prisoners, who had served them as guides to this point, knew nothing
of the country beyond, but they succeeded in taking a new prisoner who was
familiar with the further route.

The country they were passing through was mountainous and very difficult.
Steep acclivities had constantly to be climbed, narrow paths on the
borders of deep chasms to be traversed, and rapid slopes to be descended.
The nights were bitterly cold, the mornings were darkened by thick fogs,
and their whole route was attended with danger, discomfort, and fatigue.

New Segovia lay in a valley surrounded on all sides by mountains, one of
which had to be ascended immediately on leaving the town. The next day's
dawn found them on its summit, with a valley far below them, in which, to
their joy, they beheld a large number of animals which they took to be
oxen. Their joy was dissipated, however, when the scouts they sent out
came back with the information that these animals were horses, saddled and
bridled, and that a series of formidable intrenchments had been built in
the valley, rising like terraces, one above another, and carried to the
mountains on each side, so as completely to close the route.

There seemed no way to avoid these defences. On one side of the mountain
flowed a river. A small eminence, surrounded by breastworks, commanded the
only passage which the freebooters could follow. The whole country round
was thick forest, through whose rock-guarded demesnes not the slightest
indication of a path could be seen. Yet to attack those works in front
promised quick and utter defeat, and if they wished to avoid destruction
they must find some way to outwit their foes. It was decided that the
forest presented less dangers and difficulties than the fortified road,
and that the only hope of safety lay in a flank movement which would lead
them to the rear of the enemy.

During that day active preparations were made for the proposed movement.
The three hundred Spaniards who had ambushed them some days before still
hung upon their rear. Their horse