e steep and narrow road.

"We will wait here till they pass," said the guide, pulling up at a
point where the width of the track was considerable. "I see by the
escort that they carry something of value--probably bars of silver from
one of the mines. They have reached the worst part of the pass. I
shouldn't wonder to see one of the mules go over--they often do."

"And always get killed, I suppose," said Lawrence.

"Not always. Now and then they have wonderful escapes, but many
hundreds have been lost here. See!"

As he spoke one of the baggage-mules of the party touched the cliff with
its load. This caused the animal to stagger; his hind-legs actually
went over the precipice, and the loose stones began to roll away from
under his hoofs. With his fore-feet, however, still on the narrow
track, he held on bravely, even sticking his nose on the ground, so that
he had the appearance of holding on by his teeth! Two of the peons
rushed to render assistance, but before they reached him he had slipped,
and rolled down the awful slope which ended in a sheer perpendicular
precipice. Here he bounded off into space, and next moment fell,
baggage and all, with a tremendous splash into the river.

It seemed impossible that the poor animal could have escaped with life,
but in another moment his head reappeared above water, and he made a
brave struggle to gain the bank. The current, however, was too strong
for him. Down he went below the foaming water, his scraggy tail making
a farewell flourish as he disappeared. But again his head appeared, and
once again he struggled for the bank. This time with success, for he
had been swept into a shallow in which he was able to maintain his
foothold and slowly drag himself out of the river. When in safety, he
stood with drooping head and tail, as if in a state of the most thorough
dejection at having made such an exhibition of himself.

"Clebber beast!" shouted Quashy, who had stood with his ten fingers
expanded, his great mouth open, and his whole emotional soul glaring out
of his monstrous eyes.

"Well done!" echoed Lawrence, who was scarcely less pleased than his
servant.

The party now drew near, and very striking was their appearance--the
variously coloured mules, following the bell-mare which went in advance
as a leader, winding slowly down the crooked path, and the peons in
their picturesque costumes shouting, laughing, or singing wild snatches
of song as they were mo