"Sad, very sad, that such things should be," observed Don Jose; "but the general believes that the only way of overthrowing the Republican principles which have gained ground in the country, is to exterminate all who hold them." "Does he remember the tale of `the dragon's teeth'?" I asked. "The blood of that young girl cries for vengeance, and I feel assured that thousands will rise up to answer the call." "What! do you Englishmen side with the Liberals?" he asked. "My countrymen are ever ready to espouse the cause of the oppressed and suffering; and such, Don Jose, you must acknowledge the inhabitants of this country have long been," I answered boldly, for I was sure that my worthy host would not be offended. Indeed, I suspect that he himself leaned towards the independent side, although a professed Royalist. "Time will show," he remarked; "but I wish that all this bloodshed could be avoided." I remarked that every time a volley was fired he shuddered. CHAPTER ELEVEN. AN INTERVIEW WITH MURILLO--WE GAIN NOTHING FOR OUR PAINS--I STILL ENDEAVOUR TO RESCUE THE PRISONERS--MEET ANTONIO, WHO BELONGS TO THE GUARD AT THE PRISON--MY CONVERSATION WITH HIM--HE PROMISES ASSISTANCE, BUT GIVES ME BAD NEWS--OUR PLAN ARRANGED--DON JOSE SUSPECTS US, AND REQUESTS US TO LEAVE HIS HOUSE--WE REMAIN TILL THE FOLLOWING DAY--DR. CAZALLA AND SENOR MONTEVERDE, WITH MANY OTHERS, SHOT--DOMINGO BRINGS ME A DISGUISE, AND ADVISES ME TO ESCAPE WITHOUT DELAY--DON JOSE REQUESTS ME NOT TO SEE HIM AGAIN--MR. LAFFAN AND I SEPARATE--HE STARTS FOR HONDA; I GO TOWARDS THE PRISON, FOLLOWED BY LION--OUTSIDE THE PRISON WALLS-- JOINED BY UNCLE RICHARD--OUR ESCAPE FROM THE CITY--WE REACH THE MOUNTAINS--OUR ARRIVAL AT A RIVER--NO MEANS OF CROSSING--SPANISH SOLDIERS IN PURSUIT--A TARABITA OR ROPE-BRIDGE--DANGEROUS CROSSING--THE BRIDGE CUT--OUR ESCAPE--SOUNDS OF FIRING--WE FIND SHELTER IN THE HUT OF AN INDIAN, WHOSE SON UNDERTAKES TO GUIDE US. By the aid of Don Jose and other friends to whom I had letters, I ascertained that Dr Cazalla and Mr Duffield had been brought into Bogota, and were confined, with several other persons whom I knew, in the chief prison of the city--although they had not yet undergone the mockery of a trial, which would precede their execution. Don Jose had made every exertion to obtain their liberation, but in vain. The savage Murillo, it was said, had resolved to shoot the whole of them. As there was no English Consul at that time in Bogota, and no one who dared openly to take Uncle Richard's part, I determined, according to the advice I had received, to beard the lion in his den, and threaten him with the vengeance of England should Mr Duffield be injured. I was also to point out to Murillo the disgrace of destroying a man of such high scientific attainments as Dr Cazalla, and to plead that he might be banished to England, where he could render service to the human race.