iness, the men again mounted, and, with the Indian
walking in front, swung away to the right, finding themselves in a few
minutes upon a rough but wide road traversing the edge of a ravine, the
inner side of the path being bounded by a high cliff which leaned
outward until its top edge actually overhung the chasm, so that it was
impossible for any one at the top to molest a force passing along the
road by hurling rocks down upon it. As the Indian had remarked, the
road was undoubtedly rough; they could not therefore get along very
rapidly; but the half-hour had not quite expired when Jose laid his
finger on his lips and held up his hand as a sign for the troop to halt.

"Now, _mi libertador_," said the man, "we have managed to make the
journey undetected. The fort is round the bend which you see in the
road, and lies among the brushwood a little to the left of it. There is
a broad slope leading up from the road to a gate in the fort which is
small and very seldom used. The guerillas will not expect an attack
from that quarter, for they are looking for you to approach from the
opposite direction. Horses will be of little or no use for the attack;
but if you can run up your guns, you will be able to blow in the small
gate and rush into the fort over its ruins before the Bolivianos can
offer any resistance."

Jim accordingly dismounted his men, telling them, however, to take their
carbines with them; and the horses were hobbled. The guns were then
unlimbered and loaded, when the pieces were dragged quietly along the
road by the men; and presently the whole force drew up, just out of
sight of the fort, ready to make their rush as soon as Douglas gave the
signal. This he did by waving his sword, so as to obviate the necessity
for shouting a command, and then swiftly the men swept out beyond the
concealment of the cliff into the open space fronting the fort, dragging
the field-pieces with them, which were immediately levelled at the gate
and fired.

When the Chilians dashed into view, there was a sentry on the roof of
the fort, and he immediately squibbed off his rifle; but the alarm was
given too late; the report of his rifle was drowned in the roar of the
guns, and the splintering and rending of the fort gate was the first
intimation afforded the guerillas that the enemy was upon them--from a
different quarter from that whence he was expected. Over the ruined
gates dashed the Chilians, discharging their carbines a