He was a citizen of Moquegua, very young, and utterly unsuited for his present errand. So great was his agitation that when he had planted his feet firmly on the floor of the cave his hands still clung like grim death to the rope. "You're all right now," I said, leading him away from the mouth of the cave. "Rather a queer way of getting into a house, isn't it?" "The saints preserve me!" he exclaimed, while his teeth chattered like castanets, "this is horrible. A dozen times, coming up that rope, I wished I'd never been born. But it's the last time I'll practise doctoring outside Moquegua." "You did very creditably, I assure you, doctor," observed Santiago, whose eyes gleamed with fun; "such grace, such agility, is given to few. I should have thought your life had been spent in scaling mountains." The doctor looked from Santiago to me, hardly knowing what to make of such flattery. "Faith," exclaimed he at last, "I hope there is an easier way of getting down than of coming up." "There is," said the major, "and much more expeditious. You have but to step outside the cave, and there you are. Most people, however, prefer to go down by the rope." The doctor groaned. "I shall never do it," said he, "never! I shall be shut up in this place for the rest of my life." "There will be one advantage in that," remarked Santiago pleasantly: "your patients will always be able to find you. Now I fear we must tear ourselves from your side." "Do your best with these poor fellows," I said. "The one in the corner yonder will not trouble you long; the others are getting on nicely. You will find this cavern quite a comfortable dwelling-place. There is plenty of food, a spring of clear water, and enough fuel to keep a fire going for weeks." "Meanwhile," observed Santiago, "we will ask the good folks of Moquegua to make a nice long ladder, so that you can get down without trouble." It was really very laughable to watch the doctor's face as the major prepared to descend. "He will be killed," said he dolefully. "It is a clear case of suicide. Look, he has missed his foothold, and will be dashed to pieces!" "Nonsense," I said, with a laugh; "there is no danger if you don't think about it. See, it is nothing but going down a flight of steps backwards." But he covered his face with his hands and shuddered. When the major had reached the ground, I grasped the rope, saying,-- "Farewell, doctor; I hope you will have a comfortable time. And don't worry about coming down; you'll find it an easy matter enough." "Good-bye," answered he gloomily; "I shall never see you or any one else again. I shall die up here for certain." The fellow was so genuinely frightened that I assured him we would devise some plan to rescue him; on which he brightened up considerably, and I began the descent. I asked the guide where he had left the horses. "At the village, senor," he replied, "on the other side of the mountain."