the entire landscape
assumed a hue of rich purple-grey, rapidly deepening in tone as the
darkness of the tropical night settled swiftly down; and the supreme
moment had arrived.

Returning at once to the interior of the cave, George briefly announced
that it was time to start; Walford, already securely lashed in his
hammock, was at once hoisted up between George and Tom as before, and,
issuing from the mouth of the fissure, the fugitives forthwith began the
last and most perilous part of the ascent.

They had scarcely risen a couple of yards when rapid hoof-beats were
heard in the valley below, and, pausing for a moment to glance down,
George saw a mounted figure galloping rapidly up the valley. He
recognised it at once as one of their former pursuers, and saw in a
moment how completely these pertinacious man-hunters had outwitted him.
It immediately became clear to him that, failing to pick up the trail at
the top of the precipice, these fellows had jumped to the conclusion
that, improbable as it might seem, their prey must still be lurking
hidden somewhere on the face of the precipice, and, doubtless during the
previous night, the individual just seen had returned, and, secreting
himself among the bushes below, had maintained an untiring watch on the
face of the cliff. There could be no doubt that he had seen George's
ascent of the cliff that morning, and, observing him to be alone, had
rightly concluded that the journey up the cliff had been made for the
purpose of a reconnaissance, and had therefore remained _perdu_,
satisfied that before long his patience would be rewarded, as it had
been, by witnessing the attempted flight of the whole party.

These reflections flashed like lightning through George's brain, and
helped him to an instant decision.

"We _must_ go on _now_!" he exclaimed to Tom. "They have discovered our
hiding-place, and if we were to return to it, they would simply blockade
the top and bottom of the precipice, knowing that, sooner or later, we
must inevitably fall into their hands; and, in addition to that, they
would spread the information of our position all over the country, and
perhaps offer a reward for our capture, in which case we should have
perhaps a hundred watching for us instead of half-a-dozen. We have a
chance yet; for it will take them fully twenty minutes to ride round, by
which time, if we are fortunate, we can reach the boat. Now, Tom, my
lad, do your utmost; in twenty mi