It was here that the trees and shrubs, which lined thickly the lower parts of the dell first began to sprout; and, forming a dark screen between our eyes and the course of the stream, they would have cut off all view of what was passing below, had it been day; but at that hour, when all was darkness around us, and no glare of sunshine outshone any other light, we could just catch through the foliage the sparkling of a fire, about forty yards below us; and as we gazed, a very musical voice broke out in a Spanish song. Being directly above the singer, the sounds rose distinctly to our ears, so that we could very well distinguish the words that he sang, which were to the following tenour, as near as I can recollect:-- SONG. Tread thou the mountain, brother, brother! Tread thou the mountain wild! In each other land men betray one another; Be thou then the mountain's child. I. Hark! how hidalgo to hidalgo vows, To serve him he'd hazard his life-- But woe to the foolish and confident spouse If he leave him alone with his wife.-- Tread then the mountain, brother, brother! Tread then the mountain wild! In each other land men betray one another; Be thou then the mountain's child. II. Lo! how the merchant to merchant will say, His credit and purse to command: But let him fall bankrupt, I doubt, well-a-day! No credit he'll have at his hand. Tread then the mountain, brother, brother! Tread then the mountain wild! In each other land men betray one another; Be thou then the mountain's child. III. Lo! how the statesman will promise his tool, To raise him to honours some day: But when he's done all he would wish, the poor fool Will regret taking fine words for pay. Tread then the mountain, brother, brother! Tread then the mountain wild! In each other land men betray one another; Be thou then the mountain's child. IV. Hark! what the courtier vows to his king, To serve him whatever befal; But if evil luck dark misfortune should bring, The courtier turns sooner than all. Tread then the mountain, brother, brother! Tread then the mountain wild! In court, crowd, and city, men cheat one another; Be thou then the mountain's child. "He says true! By Saint Jago, he says true!" cried Garcias, who had been listening as well as myself. "Thank God, for being born a mountaineer!"