To be convinced of this, we had only to look down to the bottom of the _barranca_--sheer fifty feet, before the eye rested on the white froth flakes gliding below! It was superfluous in Sam Brown to tell us, there was no crossing for a mile above or below. A glance at the twin cliffs, as they faced frowningly towards each other, seemed to say: that they had parted in anger, not soon to come together again! A mile in either direction meant as much as ten--ay, twenty, upon an ordinary road. It meant the ruin of Mercedes! "O God!" I exclaimed in my anguish, "is there no chance of our getting across?" I was answered by the groaning of the torrent beneath my feet, and the maniac laugh of the eagle that soared majestically over my head--both seeming to mock the impuissance of man. "A thousand dollars!" I shouted out, loud enough to be heard by the remotest of my followers, "a thousand dollars to the man who can show a way by which this chasm may be crossed!" "_Por dios, caballero_!" replied a voice, coming from a quarter where it was not expected. "For the tenth part of that pretty sum I'd be willing to pledge my soul: more especially, if by so doing I can redeem my body." The words were in Spanish. I turned in the direction whence came the voice. I could see that it had proceeded from one of the prisoners, we had taken in the first attack. The speaker declared himself by endeavouring to struggle to his feet, and making other gestures to attract our attention. I hastened towards him, and gave an order for his limbs to be set free of their fastenings. This was done. "You know--?" I was about to ask. "A way to get across the _quebrada_," said the brigand, interrupting me, "if you'll let me show it to you. I only stipulate--" "Hang your stipulations!" interposed one of my men. "We'll shoot you, if you don't show it! Like a dog we'll shoot you!" The rude rebuke, with which I punished the interference of my over zealous follower, had its effect upon the bandolero. It secured me his confidence--while strengthening his treasonous intention. "Senor capitan," he said, "I perceive that you are a true caballero, and can be trusted with a secret. How much, then, for taking you across? I know you're not in earnest about the thousand _pesos_. Say a hundred, and the thing's done. I don't bargain for my life. That, of course, will be part of the price I should claim for my services." "Your life, and a thousand dollars, if within ten minutes you take us to the other side!" "Ten minutes!" answered the robber, reflectingly. "Ten! It's but short time to do it in. Say twenty, senor capitan?" "Twenty, then--if it must be." "Agreed! And don't suppose that I'm going to earn the reward without some risk. _Carrambo_! I'm staking my life against it! _Silencio, senores_!" he continued in a commanding tone, "_Hay Moros en la costa_! I must listen a bit before it will be safe to proceed."