The Wanderers | Page 8

companions while they were
crossing. Uncle Paul and Arthur then took up Marian and placed her on
their shoulders, putting their arms round each other's necks to support
her. Tim then waded back to meet them; while I went behind, beating
the water furiously with my stick, so that no alligator or shark would
have ventured near us. My uncle and Arthur, being both of good height,

were able to keep Marian out of the water, and we happily got across
without any accident. She then insisted on being put down, declaring
that she was not tired, and could walk as well as any of us.
Nearly the whole day had been spent on the journey, and we were
anxious to find a place where we could rest. Had it not been for the
somewhat exposed position, we would gladly have stopped on the
banks of the river; but Uncle Paul thought it wiser to continue on till
the natives should overtake us.
Evening was approaching, and it would soon be dark, when, looking
back along the forest glade through which we had come, we saw a
person running towards us; we quickly made him out to be Camo, one
of the native guides. He signed to us not to stop, and as he ran much
faster than we could, he soon overtook us.
"Hasten on," he exclaimed; "we are not far from the place to which I
wish to lead you. Already your flight has been discovered, and the
alguazils are searching for us."
"If they come, I will be after giving them a taste of my shillelagh,"
exclaimed Tim, flourishing the thick stick he carried.
"It will be far better to hide ourselves than to oppose them," observed
the guide, in his peculiar dialect, which I cannot attempt to imitate.
He went ahead, while Uncle Paul and Arthur helped on Marian
between them, Tim and I bringing up the rear; Tim every now and then
looking back and flourishing his stick, as if he already saw our pursuers,
and was resolved to give them a warm reception. Though very tired, we
made rapid progress; Camo guiding us through a part of the forest
which we should have been unable to discover by ourselves.
Just as the shades of evening were stealing amid the trees, we caught
sight of the glimmer of water before us, and Camo led the way up a
steep ascent to the right, amid the trunks of trees, through between
which often only one person could pass at a time; and we soon found
ourselves in a small open space, so closely surrounded by dense

underwood that it would have been impossible for anyone to discover
us, unless acquainted with the spot. Above us a precipitous hill rose to
a considerable height; while the branches of the trees, joining overhead,
would completely shut us out from the sight of any person looking
down from the hill.
"Here you will be perfectly safe, for there is no other path besides the
one by which we have come," said Camo. "I will go back, however,
and so arrange the branches and creepers that the sharpest eyes among
our pursuers will be unable to discover that anyone has passed this
way."
An opening towards the east admitted the only light which reached the
spot. Through it we could see the sea, from which we were not far
distant. Uncle Paul expressed himself perfectly satisfied with the place
of concealment which Camo had selected, and declared that he had
little fear of our being discovered.
Weary as we were, we were thankful to throw ourselves on the ground;
and after we had eaten some of the provisions we had brought with us,
we sought that rest we so much required. The wind being completely
excluded from the place, it was almost as warm as inside a house, and
we had no need of any covering. As our shoes and stockings were wet,
however, we took them off and hung them up on the trees to dry, rather
than sleep in them.
Uncle Paul had placed Marian by his side, and allowed his arm to serve
as her pillow. Poor girl, it was only now that, all cause for exertion
being for the present over, she seemed to feel her sad bereavement, and
the dangerous position in which we were placed. Her grief for a time
prevented her from closing her eyes; but at length, overcome by fatigue,
she dropped into a peaceful sleep. I sat for some time talking to Arthur;
while Tim insisted on standing sentry at the entrance of the passage till
the return of Camo, who had gone to look after his companions. We
had great difficulty in keeping awake, and even Tim found it a hard
matter