o follow his example and
share his fate.

"While this conversation was passing among us, the Indian
commanders held a conference apparently as grave and important. But
just as Senor Huertis and myself had agreed to advance towards them
for a parley, they separated without deigning a reply to our
salutation--the elder and more highly decorated, galloped off
towards the city with a small escort, while the other briskly
crossed our front at the head of his squadron and entered the
forest nearer the entrance of the valley. This opening in the
hills, was scarcely a quarter of a mile wide, and but a few minutes
elapsed before we saw a single horseman cross it toward the wood on
the opposite side. Presently, another troop of horse of the same
uniform appearance as the first, were seen passing a glade of the
wood which the single horseman had penetrated, and it thus became
evident that a manoeuvre had already been effected to cut off our
retreat. The mountains surrounding the whole area of the plain,
were absolutely perpendicular for three-fourths of their altitude,
which was no where less than a thousand feet; and from many parts
of their wildly piled outline, huge crags projected in monstrous
mammoth forms, as if to plunge to the billows of forest beneath. At
no point of this vast impassible boundary was there a chasm or
declivity discernable by which we could make our exit, except the
one thus formidably intercepted.

"To retire into the forest and water our mules at a copious stream
which rushed forth from its recesses, and recruit our own exhausted
strength with food and rest, was our first necessary resource. In
tracing the rocky course of the current for a convenient watering
place, Antonio discovered that it issued from a cavern, which,
though a mere fissure exteriorly, was, within, of cathedral
dimensions and solemnity; we all entered it and drank eagerly from
a foaming basin, which it immediately presented to our fevered
lips. Our first sensations were those of freedom and independence,
and of that perfect security which is the basis of both. It was
long since we had slept under a roof of any kind, while here a few
men could defend our repose against an assault from thousands; but
it was horribly evident, to my mind, that a few watchful ass