"With your permission, my lord, I think that as you absolutely are determined on a foolish thing, would it not be more suitable to do it in a logical way?" "Which means--" "That tomorrow will be too late." "So, in your opinion, it would be necessary--" "To leave immediately, my lord." "Well, let it be so; let us set out." In this circumstance, as in all the preceding, Diogo did not neglect any precaution. Four of his soldiers, tried and experienced men, were at first dispatched by him in advance. In the preceding assault the waggons and the baggage had been burnt, and the greater part of the mules had been killed, so that the caravan, relieved of its load, was in a position to accelerate its march. Diogo caused the horses' feet to be covered with bags of sheepskin, filled with sand, in order to stifle the sound of their steps, and ordered the mouth of each animal to be fastened with a lasso. "Companions," said he, when each man was in his saddle, "not a cry, not a sound! We are attempting; at the present moment an expedition on which safety depends; if we are discovered we shall be lost." "One word, Diogo," said the marquis to him. "Why have you insisted on our leaving so suddenly?" "Because the Indian bravos, your Excellency, ordinarily guard themselves very badly, and pass the night in sleeping instead of watching." "Thank you; now let us set out." "One moment, my lord;" and then addressing all the soldiers:-- "I am about to march first," said he; "you will follow me one by one, holding your horses by the bridle to prevent them from stumbling; and thus arousing the attention of the enemy. You will try to march in my steps, in order to leave as narrow a track as possible. Now, pay attention and remember this:--The cry of the alligator will warn you to halt; the same cry twice raised will mean that you are to mount; the cry of the owl will order you to gallop. You thoroughly understand me, do you not?" The descent commenced. It was a strange spectacle, that offered by this long line of black spectres, which glided silently in the night, and appeared to climb the flanks of the hill. The noise of a branch broken off by the wind; the falling of a leaf, the unexpected flight of a nocturnal bird--everything was the object of fear; the bravest man felt, in spite of himself, the blood run cold in his veins, for behind each trunk of a tree, each angle of a rock, he feared he should see dart out suddenly the enemy whom he was trying to avoid. The descent was long; they could but march slowly. Diogo, who appeared to see at night as well as by day, chose his ground with the greatest care, and did not advance except when he was sure that the earth on which he placed his foot was firm. Sometimes they stopped for a few minutes, and then a shudder of alarm ran like an electric current through the whole line. At last, at the end of an hour, they reached the plain.