for your permission that we should part from you," said Zapote;
"but, Senor Cavallero, a word before you go. If you take my advice, you
will climb back into that tree where no one will suspect your presence."

"No," interrupted Don Rafael. "Up there I should be as a jaguar pursued
by hounds--without the power to defend myself; and I am like the
Indians, I wish, on entering the other world, to send as many enemies
before me as possible."

"Well, then, do better still--make towards the river; keep due south
from this place; and, on reaching the banks of the Ostuta, you will see
a vast thicket of bamboos--in which my comrade and myself have just
found a refuge, and where we might have remained safe from enemies till
the day of judgment, had we not to go forward upon our errand. If you
can only succeed in reaching the bamboos, you are saved."

Saying this El Zapote, followed by his companion, turned his face
northward, and striking off into the thicket but were soon lost to Don
Rafael's sight.

CHAPTER SIXTY ONE.

THE FUGITIVES IN DANGER.

El Zapote and his confrere, the messenger, after making a wide detour
through the forest, came out on the Huajapam road. Their intention was
to journey on to Huajapam--where they supposed the royalist army still
held the place in siege, and where they expected to find Colonel
Tres-Villas, to whom the messenger had been sent. Little did either the
ex-guerillero or his companion suspect that it was the colonel himself
from whom they had just parted.

"By my faith!" remarked the messenger, as they journeyed along, "it's a
pity now that we did not ask that gentleman his name. It is likely
enough that he is some grand officer belonging to the royalist army."

"Bah!" replied Zapote. "What good would it be to us to know his name?
He's a lost man, I fear. It matters little, therefore, what name he
carries."

"_Quien sabe_?" doubtingly rejoined the messenger.

"I am more vexed," continued Zapote, "that we were not able to do
anything for him. It can't be helped, however; and just now, let me
tell you, my brave Gaspar, that we have got to look out for ourselves.
We are yet far from being out of danger."

The two men pursued their route, gliding silently and cautiously under
the shadow of the underwood.

Scarce ten minutes had elapsed when they again heard the voices of those
who were beating the wood in search of the hiding-place of Don Rafael.
Both stepped behind a scr