ving done so. He had been offered life, on some
traitorous condition, and could have lived. The Indian whom I had
hurled over the rocks, if still alive, would explain my escape. The
cunning savages would easily understand it. My brave comrade would take
my place upon the crucifix?

For Wingrove I had less fear. Surely love--even slighted love--would
save him from the sacrifice? Yet, after what had occurred, I had but
little reason to hope even for him. I could think of but one chance of
rescuing them: to overtake the train, and prevail upon the escort to
return. I wondered at the dragoons having abandoned the waggon, and
left the poor fellows who were with it to their fate! I could only
explain such conduct, by supposing that these had been far behind, and
that their disaster was still unknown to the people of the caravan. The
six men who had fallen might have been the only ones along with the
waggon; and their firing, as they defended themselves, might not have
been heard? The roar of the water in the canon might have drowned the
reports of their guns; and, as I now listened to its deafening sound, I
could believe in this hypothesis.

Indulging in such conjectures, I had groped my way some two or three
miles up the gorge, when I became sensible of a singular faintness
stealing over me. A chill crept through my frame--not like that
produced by cold from without; but as if the blood was freezing in my
veins! The feeling was accompanied by a sense of torpor and lassitude--
like that experienced by one dropping to sleep in a snow-storm. I made
an effort to rouse myself--thinking it was sleep that was oppressing me.
It might well have been--since it was more than thirty hours since I
had slept, and then only for a short while. It occurred to me that, by
dismounting and walking for a distance, I might recover warmth and
wakefulness. With this design, I alighted from my horse. Once upon the
ground, I discovered that I could not walk--that I could not even keep
my feet! My limbs tottered under me, as if I had been for months
bed-rid. Only by holding on to my horse could I stand erect! What
could it mean? My Arab turned his face towards me, as if making the
same inquiry! I endeavoured to remount him, but could not. I was
unable even to clamber upon his back; and after an unsuccessful effort,
desisted--still supporting myself against his body. Had he moved away,
at the moment, I should have fallen. And