"Pizarro!" I exclaimed, greatly delighted by the sight of my old favorite. "You have brought Pizarro! How did you manage that, Gahra?" "He came to the camp last night. But mount at once, señor. We got away without difficulty--stole off while the men were at supper. But we met an officer who asked us a question; and though Guido said we were taking the horses by order of General Mejia himself, he did not appear at all satisfied, and if he should speak to the general something might happen, especially as it is not long since we left the camp, and we have been waiting here ten minutes. Here is a spear for you, and the pistols in your holsters are loaded and primed." I mounted without asking any more questions. Gahra's news was disquieting, and we had no time to lose; for, in order to reach the llanos without the almost certainty of falling into the hands of our friend Griscelli, we should have to pass within a mile of the patriot camp, and if an alarm were given, our retreat might be cut off. This, however, seemed to be our only danger; our horses were fleet and fresh, and the llanos near, and, once fairly away, we might bid defiance to pursuit. "Let us push on," said Carmen. "If anybody accosts us don't answer a word, and fight only at the last extremity, to save ourselves from capture or death; and, above all things, silence in the ranks." The night was clear, the sky studded with stars, and, except where trees overhung the road, we could see some little distance ahead, the only direction in which we had reason to apprehend danger. Carmen and I rode in front; Gahra and Guido a few yards in the rear. We had not been under way more than a few minutes when Gahra uttered an exclamation. "Hist, señores! Look behind!" he said. Turning half round in our saddles and peering intently into the gloom we could just make out what seemed like a body of horsemen riding swiftly after us. "Probably a belated foraging party returning to camp," said Carmen. "Deucedly awkward, though! But they have, perhaps, no desire to overtake us. Let us go on just fast enough to keep them at a respectful distance." But it very soon became evident that the foraging party--if it were a foraging party--did desire to overtake us. They put on more speed; so did we. Then came loud shouts of "_Halte!_" These producing no effect, several pistol shots were fired. "_Dios mio!_" said Carmen; "they will rouse the camp, and the road will be barred. Look here, Fortescue; about two miles farther on is an open glade which we have to cross, and which the fellows must also cross if they either meet or intercept us. The trail to the left leads to the llanos. It runs between high banks, and is so narrow that one resolute man may stop a dozen. If any of the _gauchos_ get there before us we are lost. Your horse is the fleetest. Ride as for your life and hold it till we come."