"It's no good!" I exclaimed; "I must stay here till the morning, at least." And finding a kind of recess in the rocks, I crept in. Then it occurred to me to take off my boot; so opening my knife, I hacked at the leather till I succeeded in getting my foot free. This, after the first sudden rush of pain, was a great comfort. I felt easier and brighter, and lay down to sleep in a happier frame of mind, intending to make a fresh start as soon as daylight appeared. CHAPTER XVI. GLORIOUS NEWS. Many times during the night the pain and the cold wakened me; but I contrived to get some sleep, for which I fell much better in the morning. To my dismay, however, I found it impossible to walk; my ankle had swollen considerably, and the pain of putting my foot to the ground made me cry out in anguish. Yet, unless I wished to starve, something I must do. Unbuckling my sword, and hiding it in the recess, I began to crawl along, trailing my injured foot carefully. It was slow work, and I felt faint and dizzy, not only from my hurts, but also from want of food. Feeling sure that the Spaniards had by this time retired, I ventured to call for help, though little expecting to obtain it. I cried aloud, both in Spanish and in the native patois, but received no answer. Again I crawled on, but now even move slowly than at first; and when I again tried to shout, my voice seemed weak and quavering. My strength was nearly exhausted, when suddenly, and rather to my astonishment, I caught sight of a man peering at me curiously from behind a rock. He was evidently a Spaniard, and an ugly customer. He wore a long beard, a half-healed scar disfigured one side of his face, and on his head was jauntily set a small cap decked with gay-coloured ribbons. On his coming forward I saw that he was dressed in the most grotesque manner, and heavily armed. "By St. Philip," I muttered softly, "I should have done better to give myself up to the soldiers! Surely this fellow is the prince of ruffians." He stood a moment, leaning on his gun and regarding me with curiosity. "I don't know who you are," said I irritably, "but if you have a spark of human sympathy, you will give me what help you can." "Are you hurt?" he asked; and the cool tone in which he spoke made me angry beyond measure. Then he drew a step nearer, saying, "Perhaps the senor will give me his pistols; the mountain air makes one suspicious." "Take them," I cried, "and anything else you desire; but get me some food and drink, and I will pay you well." "Ah," exclaimed the fellow, with renewed interest, "the senor has money on him! I had better mind that also. There are lawless people in the mountains," and he grinned knowingly at me. "I have no money here," I answered, "but I will pay you well to get me carried to Lima." "That is a long way," he observed cautiously. "No doubt the senor has rings or some articles of jewellery?"