Jose sent half a dozen of his men down the rope; then the dead Spaniard was lowered, the prisoners followed, and Jose himself descended with the remainder of the troopers. "Haul up the rope, Jack," he cried in farewell, "and make sure of your visitors before dropping it again." CHAPTER IX. A GLEAM OF HOPE. As soon as the party had disappeared, I turned to the major and said with a smile,-- "Now, my dear Santiago, let us attend to the needs of these poor fellows." I was now standing full in the firelight, and he glanced at my face with a puzzled expression. Then a half gleam of recognition shone in his eyes, and he exclaimed doubtfully-- "Surely you can't be the boy Crawford who vanished so mysteriously from the fort?" "I am, though!" said I, laughing at his amazement. "But we shall have time for a talk presently; let us do what we can for these poor fellows first. Is there any water in the cave?" "Yes; there is a spring at the far end. I will fetch some. Put some more wood on the fire; it smokes if allowed to go down." Of the three wounded men only one was seriously hurt, and he, I feared, was beyond the aid of the most skilled surgeon. However, we did our best for all the sufferers, gave them water to drink, arranged them comfortably on beds of straw, and bathed and bandaged their wounds. Then I washed the cut in my cheek, and Santiago smeared it with a native ointment, which he said possessed wonderful healing properties. "Now," said he, "I judge you are ready for late supper or early breakfast, whichever you may prefer to call it. The provisions are homely, and I am an indifferent cook, but I can at least give you enough to eat. Those brigands of yours have stored sufficient food here for an army." Carrying a torch, I accompanied him round the cavern, gazing in wonder at the piles of Indian corn, the heaps of potatoes, and the strings of charqui, the last suspended from the walls. "Come," said I, "there is no need to starve in the midst of plenty. What shall we have? Roast potatoes and jerked beef? The potatoes will require the least attention." "And they are not bad if you are downright hungry, as I was when we crept in here after the affair at Mirabe. There's a smart soldier leading your men, Crawford." "Yes; he is an Englishman named Miller, and a very fine fellow. But how come you to be here?" "We'll talk over these things presently. Meanwhile, let us cook the potatoes. Bring another handful; I daresay two of the men will be able to eat a little breakfast." "If it is breakfast!" "It must be for us, because we had our supper before you paid us so unceremonious a visit. Of course we were betrayed." "Well, as to that," I replied, "you must ask the colonel; I only acted under orders." "Just so. Well, I am very pleased to see you, though I dislike the way in which you introduced yourself. Cut this piece of beef up finely while I fetch some salt." "Have you any?" I asked, in some surprise.