In the four individuals who had now entered there was all this variety, if he who directed their movements was what the Condesa Almonte described him. In any case, he appeared familiar with the place and its ways, saying to Kearney, as they went on-- "No thanks to me for knowing all about the Pedregal. I was born on its edge; when a boy bird-nested and trapped armadilloes all over it. Twisted as this path is, it will take us to a spot where we needn't fear any soldiers following us--not this night anyhow. To-morrow they may, and welcome." Their march was continued, but not without great difficulty, and much exertion of their strength. They were forced to clamber over masses of rock, and thread their way through thickets of cactus, whose spines, sharp as needles, lacerated their skins. With the coupling-chains still on, it was all the more difficult to avoid them. Luckily, they had not far to go before arriving at the place where their conductor deemed it safe to make a stop. About this there was nothing particular, more than its being a hollow, where they could stand upright without danger of being seen from any of the eminences around. Descending into it, Rivas said-- "Now, Don Florencio, you can finish the little job you were interrupted at, without much fear of having to knock off again." At which he raised the chain, and held it rested on something firmer than the cushion of a carriage. So placed, the file made better progress, and in a short time the link was cut through, letting them walk freely apart. "_Caballero_!" exclaimed the Mexican, assuming an attitude as if about to propose a toast; "may our friendship be more difficult to sever than that chain, and hold us longer together--for life, I hope." Kearney would not have been a son of Erin to refuse reciprocating the pretty compliment, which he did with all due warmth and readiness. But his work was not over. Rock and Zorillo had yet to be uncoupled; the former, perhaps, longing to be delivered more than any of the four. He had conceived a positive disgust for the hunchback; though, as already said, less on account of the creature's physical than moral deformity, of which last he had ample evidence during the short while they were together. Nor had it needed for him to understand what the latter said. A natural physiognomist, he could read in Zorillo's eyes the evil disposition of the animal from which he drew his name. As Kearney approached him with the file, the Texan raising his foot, and planting it on a ledge of rock, said-- "Cut through thar, Cap--the link as air nixt to my ankle-clasp." This was different to what had been done with the other, which had been severed centrally. It was not intended to take off the whole of the chains yet. The Mexican said there was no time for so much filing; that must be done when they got farther on.