he almost perpendicular precipice by the same route was
impracticable. Even the slight ledge on which he stood, and from which
the little shrub grew, seemed to be crumbling away beneath his great
weight. With that feeling of alarm which the sudden and unexpected
prospect of instant death brings, we presume, even to the stoutest
hearts, Lawrence clutched the line convulsively. He was ignorant at
that time of the great strength of the South American lasso, and
hesitated to trust his life entirely to it. Pedro guessed his feelings.

"Don't fear to trust it," he said, "many a wild bull it has held, four
times your size; but wait till Quashy and I get our feet well fixed--
we'll haul you up easily."

"Have you made the end fast?" cried Lawrence, looking up and
encountering the anxious gaze of the Indian maiden.

"Yes, massa, all fast," answered Quashy, whose look of horror can be
more easily imagined than described.

"Hold on, then, and _don't_ haul."

The two men obeyed, and the active youth pulled himself up hand over
hand, making good use in passing of any hollow or projection that
afforded the slightest hold for his toes. At the top he was roughly
grasped by his rescuers and dragged into safety.

"Poor fellow!" he exclaimed, on reaching the top.

"Well, massa," said Quashy, with a broad grin, "das jist w'at I's agwine
to say, but you's too quick for me."

"I meant the bandit, not myself," said Lawrence, looking over the cliff
at the pool with an expression of great pity.

"Ha! don't be uneasy about him," said Pedro, with a short laugh, as he
resumed the binding of the stunned robber. "If he's killed or drowned
he's well out o' the way. If he has escaped he'll be sure to recover
and make himself a pest to the neighbourhood for many a day to come.--
No, no, my good man, it's of no use, you needn't try it."

The latter part of this speech was in Spanish, and addressed to the
robber, who, having recovered consciousness, had made a sudden struggle
to shake off his captor. As suddenly he ceased the effort on finding
that the strength of the guide was greatly superior to his own.

In another minute Pedro stood up, having bound the bandit's hands in
front of him in a manner that rendered any effort at self-liberation
impossible--at least in a short space of time.

"There," said Pedro to Lawrence, "I'll warrant him to lead a harmless
life until to-morrow at any rate."

As he spoke he drew the man's pistols,