between dem all, an' away straight to de Chili lines,
whar dere was a great cheerin', for dey t'ought it was a deserter. When
Conrad came up, he trotted quietly troo de ranks, till he got near to
whar de Chili commander stood wid his hofficers, wonderin' who he was.
As he couldn't 'spec' to git no furder, he rides quietly up to a
hofficer, takes de sword out ob his hand afore he understand what he
wants, den, diggin' de spurs into de big war-hoss, off he goes wid a
yell like a Red Inj--oh! I's mean like a--a buff'lo bull. Out comes de
swords. Dey close all round 'im. I no see him by dat time. He too fur
off; but a friend ob mine was near, an' he say dat Conrad swing de long
sword so quick, an' de sun was shinin' so clar, dat it look like a
circle ob fire all round him. Down dey hoed on ebery side. Off goed a
head here, an arm dere. One trooper cut troo at de waist, an' fall'd
off, but de legs stick on. Anoder splitted right down fro' de helmet,
so as one half fall on one side, an' de odour half fall--"

"Come now, Quashy," interrupted Lawrence, with a laugh, "you
exaggerate."

"What! you call _dat_ exaggerate, massa? Den Conrad exaggerate about
ten more afore he cut his way troo an' 'scaped to de hills. Oh, he's an
awrful man!"

"Truly he must be very awful, if all you relate of him be true," said
Lawrence; "and I sincerely trust that if we fall in with him we may find
him friendly. Now, I shall ride forward, and ask Pedro if we are far
from our halting-place."

This abrupt change of subject was usually understood by the amiable
negro to mean that our hero--whom he persisted in regarding as his
master--had had enough of his conversation at that time, so he reined
back his mule, while Lawrence pushed forward.

To his question Pedro replied that he expected to reach the next
sleeping-place very soon.

"It will not be as luxurious as the last," he said; "but, doubtless, one
who has traversed the mountains of Scotland is prepared to rough it in
South America."

"You speak as if you were yourself somewhat acquainted with the Scottish
mountains."

"So I am, senhor," replied the guide. "I had clambered up Ben Nevis
while I was yet a little boy."

"Surely you are not a Scot?" said Lawrence, with a quick glance.

"No, I am not a Scot, senhor. To have travelled in a country does not
render one a native, else might I claim England, Ireland, and
Switzerland as my native lands. See, yonder lies the littl