the mountains and trees. I shall be ready to send four barrels
of buck-shot among them when they come up. That is sure to stop them
long enough to allow us to get under the cover of your rifles before
they can overtake us.

"I don't think that you need be at all uneasy about him, senor. We will
start in an hour's time, so that Jose can get near them before they go
to sleep. They will probably have a fire burning, but if not the only
guide to their position will be the sound of their talking. He will
strip before he leaves me, so that if they catch sight of him, they
will suppose that he is one of themselves."

Bertie now relieved Jose, who came back and had a long talk with Dias.

"We are ready now, senor."

"Here is my fowling-piece. It is already loaded with buck-shot. Bertie
has taken down his rifle and gun, and will give you the latter as you
pass. I suppose Jose will take no weapons?"

"Only a long knife, senor, that may be useful if he comes upon one of
them suddenly."

At the barricade Jose stripped, retaining only a pair of sandals. These
were as noiseless as his bare feet, and would be needed, as in the dark
he might tread upon a thorny creeper, or strike against a projecting
rock.

"Good-bye, Jose!" Harry said. "Now, be careful. It would be a great
grief to us if anything happened to you."

"I will be careful, senor. The Indians won't catch me, never fear."

Harry and Bertie both shook hands with him, and then he and Dias
stepped into the water, and, keeping close along by the wall of rock,
started on their perilous expedition.

"I don't like it, Bert," Harry said as they lost sight of them. "It
seems a cowardly thing to let that lad go into danger while we are
doing nothing."

"That is just what I feel, Harry. I would have volunteered willingly,
but he will do it a great deal better than either you or I could."

"There is no doubt about that," Harry agreed. "Of course when he is out
with the mules he often travels at night, and certainly both he and
Dias can see in the dark a good deal better than we c