lves."

CHAPTER XVII.

A TIMELY WARNING.

The involuntary bath which saved our lives served also to restore our
strength. When we entered it we were well-nigh spent; we went out of it
free from any sense of fatigue, a result which was probably as much due to
the chemical properties of the water as to its high temperature.

But though no longer tired we were both hungry and thirsty, and our
garments were wringing wet. Our first proceeding was to take them off and
wring them; our next, to look for fresh water--for the _azuferales_ was
like the ocean-water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.

As we picked our way over the smoking waste by the light of the full moon
and the burning forest, I asked Carmen, who knew the country and its ways
so much better than myself, what he proposed that we should do next.

"Rejoin Mejia."

"But how? We are in the enemies' country and without horses, and we know
not where Mejia is."

"I don't think he is far off. He is not the man to retreat after a drawn
battle. Until he has beaten Griscelli or Griscelli has beaten him, you may
be sure he won't go back to the llanos; his men would not let him. As for
horses, we must appropriate the first we come across, either by stratagem
or force."

"Is there a way out of the forest on this side?"

"Yes, there is a good trail made by Indian invalids who come here to drink
the waters. Our difficulty will not be so much in finding our friends as
avoiding our enemies. A few hours' walk will bring us to more open
country, but we cannot well start until--"

"Good heavens! What is that?" I exclaimed, as a plaintive cry, which ended
in a wail of anguish, such as might be given by a lost soul in torment,
rang through the forest.

"It's an _araguato_, a howling monkey," said Carmen, indifferently.
"That's only some old fellow setting the tune; we shall have a regular
chorus presently."

And so we had. The first howl was followed by a second, then by a third,
and a fourth, and soon all the _araguatoes_ in the neighborhood joined in,
and the din became so agonizing that I was fain to put my fingers in my
ears and wait for a lull.

"It sounds dismal enough, in all conscience--to us; but I think they mean
it for a cry of joy, a sort of morning hymn; at any rate, they don't
generally begin until sunrise. But these are perhaps mistaking the fire
for the sun."

And no wonder. It was spreading rapidly. The leafless trees that bordered