l yer in a minit, Cap'n."

The hunter waved his hand to enjoin silence, and, striding to the edge
of the glade, fell flat to the ground. We knew he was listening, and
waited for the result. We had not long to wait, for he had scarce
brought his ear in contact with the earth when he sprang suddenly up
again, exclaiming:

"_Houn's trailin' us_!"

He wore a despairing look unusual to the bold character of his features.
This, with the appalling statement, acted on us like a galvanic shock,
and by one impulse we leaped from the fire and threw ourselves flat upon
the grass.

Not a word was spoken as we strained our ears to listen.

At first we could distinguish a low moaning sound, like the hum of a
wild bee; it seemed to come out of the earth. After a little it grew
louder and sharper; then it ended in a yelp and ceased altogether.
After a short interval it began afresh, this time still clearer; then
came the yelp, loud, sharp, and vengeful. There was no mistaking that
sound. _It was the bark of the Spanish bloodhound_.

We sprang up simultaneously, looking around for weapons, and then
staring at each other with an expression of despair.

The rifle and two case-knives were all the weapons we had.

"What's to be done!" cried one, and all eyes were turned upon Lincoln.

The hunter stood motionless, clutching his rifle and looking to the
ground.

"How fur's the crik, Rowl?" he asked after a pause.

"Not two hundred yards; this way it lies."

"I kin see no other chance, Cap'n, than ter take the water: we may
bamfoozle the houn's a bit, if thar's good wadin'."

"Nor I." I had thought of the same plan.

"If we hed hed bowies, we mouter fit the dogs whar we air, but yer see
we hain't; an' I kin tell by thar growl thar ain't less nor a dozen on
'em."

"It's no use to remain here; lead us to the creek, Raoul;" and,
following the Frenchman, we dashed recklessly through the thicket.

On reaching the stream we plunged in. It was one of those mountain
torrents common in Mexico--spots of still water alternating with
cascades, that dash, and foam over shapeless masses of amygdaloidal
basalt. We waded through the first pool, and then, clambering among the
rocks, entered a second. This was a good stretch, a hundred yards or
more of still, crystal water, in which we were waist-deep.

We took the bank at the lower, and on the same side, and, striking back
into the timber, kept on parallel to the course of the stre