travellers, he had
heard firing, and concluded that there had been a fight between some
Liberals and the Godos. "I hope the last were well beaten," he
muttered, looking at Uncle Richard's military cap.

"So do I," I observed. "You do not take us for Godos?"

"I judge of people by their conduct, and as yet I have had no
opportunity of learning how you behave," answered the young Indian, with
a laugh.

"He is the right sort of fellow," observed Uncle Richard; "we may trust
him."

I asked him if he had any food for my dog; and going out, he at once
returned with some pieces of flesh, off which, although somewhat
odorous, Lion made a substantial supper.

"It is the remains of a bear we killed some days ago," observed the
young Indian.

We all lay down round the fire,--Lion sleeping between Uncle Richard and
me, and both of us feeling assured that he would give us timely notice
should any danger be at hand.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

OUR JOURNEY CONTINUED--BEAUTIFUL SCENERY--PREPARING TO CROSS THE
PARAMO--DESCRIPTION OF A PARAMO--COMMENCE THE PASSAGE--SKELETONS OF MEN
AND MULES--INTENSITY OF THE COLD--ANTONIO SUFFERS GREATLY--HE RECOVERS
BY DRINKING A DRAUGHT OF COLD WATER--DARKNESS--OUR SUFFERINGS ON THE
INCREASE--A STRONG INCLINATION TO SLEEP--I SINK TO THE GROUND--LION
AROUSES ME--WE REACH THE TAMBO--A NIGHT IN THE HUT--INTENSE COLD--
DAYLIGHT AT LAST--OUR PASSAGE ACROSS THE PARAMO--SAD SIGHTS--THE DESCENT
OF THE MOUNTAINS--REACHING A FOREST--PADILLO GOES OFF TO OBTAIN
INTELLIGENCE--WE BUILD A HUT, AND GO TO SLEEP--OUR HUT ON FIRE--A NARROW
ESCAPE.

For several days we had been travelling westward over the mountains.
The young Indian, Padillo, as he called himself, had proved a faithful
guide. If we were pursued, we had evaded our enemies, and, we hoped,
had done so effectually. The scenery through which we passed was
extremely wild and grand. Round us appeared mountains piled on
mountains, rocks heaped on rocks; and when we fancied that we had
reached the summit of an elevation whence we could look down below,
another mountain, more grand and terrific, appeared through the veil of
mist which before had shrouded it from our sight. It seemed as if we
should never escape from this chaos of rocky pinnacles and snow-covered
heights. The sky above us was of a clear, bright blue; in some places
beautifully streaked, and varied with a silvery hue or pale straw
colour, but not a cloud dimming its lustre. Severe as