I had no idea of abandoning the enterprise. That would have been a still greater disgrace. I but stayed to consider some plan of approach, involving less risk of a failure. A few minutes spent in reflection, and a few more words exchanged with the stage-driver, helped me to what I conceived a better: the men to remain where they were; myself and the guide to go up the ravine alone, reconnoitre the house, and then take such measures as circumstances might suggest. If we should find that the brigands were "abroad," my troopers would be spared a toilsome ascent, and the chagrin of a disappointment. If "at home," it might then be worth while to pay them a visit in full force. The guide thought there would be no danger in our going alone--so long as we made our reconnoissance with proper caution. There was no scarcity of cover, both underwood and tall timber. In the event of our being perceived while making approach, we could fall back upon our friends, before much harm could be done to us. Should we be close pressed, the men could meet us half-way. I had the means of making them hear me at three times the distance. I had no lieutenant with me--only my first sergeant, who had seen service in three out of the four quarters of the globe. Above all, he had "fit Injun, both in forest and prairie;" and could be trusted on an enterprise like that we had in hand. Having arranged the signal in a whisper, and communicated to him such other instructions as occurred to me, I dismounted from my horse; and followed "Don Samuel Bruno" in the direction of the "shanty." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The night was far from being a dark one. These are rare under the skies of Southern Mexico. There was no moon, but myriads of stars; and at a later hour the moon might be expected. The atmosphere was tranquil--scarce a breath of air stirring the suspended leaves of the pines. The slightest sound could have been heard at a remarkable distance. We could distinguish the bleating of sheep on the plain below, and the screaming of wildfowl on the sedgy shores of Lake Chalco! Less light, and more noise, would have answered our purpose better. We ourselves made but little of the last. Though the path was steep, it was not so difficult of ascent--only here and there, as it extended from terrace to terrace by a more precipitous escarpment--and up these we were assisted by the shrubbery. We had agreed to proceed by signs; or, when near enough, by whispers. We knew that the slightest sound might betray us. At short intervals we stopped to obtain breath--less from actual exhaustion, than to keep down the noise of our heightened respiration. At one place we made a more lengthened pause. It was upon a shelf-like terrace of some extent--where there were hoof-prints of horses, and other indications of a trodden path. My guide pointed them out-- whispering to me, that it was the road of which he had spoken.