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Page 43
"I have no doubt he would if he had a chance," replied Ridge, "but we
must take turns at watching, and see that he doesn't get one. I will
remain on guard the first half of the night, since you need sleep more
than I, and will also show how fully I trust you by restoring your
pistol."
"Your confidence will not be misplaced, se�or."
With these arrangements perfected, the little camp sank into quiet, the
only sounds being the chirping of insects, the harsh cries of night
birds, and those made by the horses, which occasionally snorted at some
fancied alarm. The two white men lay in their respective hammocks
under the rude thatch of palm leaves, while Dionysio occupied a similar
but smaller shelter beyond the fire.
For a long time Ridge watched the flicker of its flames, until they
finally died down, and the darkness was only illumined by the fitful
flashing of fire-flies. As these were the most brilliant he had ever
seen, his eyes followed their zig-zag dartings until they exercised a
hypnotic influence, and his heavy breathing showed him to be fast
asleep.
A few minutes later the occupant of the other hammock lifted his head
and listened. Then he slipped noiselessly to the ground and
disappeared in the profound darkness at the back of the hut. For an
hour longer the peace of the camp was unbroken. At the end of that
time one of the horses snorted more loudly than usual, while the other
dropped heavily to the ground as though lying down.
After awhile, if Ridge had been awake, he might have noted a slight
rustling in the grass, as though some animal were making a cautious way
through it towards the hut. But his slumber was too profound to be
easily broken, and no instinct warned him of approaching danger.
The rustling drew closer, until it sounded within a few feet of the
unconscious sleeper. Then a black bulk slowly lifted from the ground,
and gradually assumed the proportions of a man standing motionless. Of
a sudden this figure, whose blurred outlines were barely discernible,
made a quick movement, and the hammock of the young Spaniard was cut in
twain by the sweeping blow of a machete.
At the same moment a pistol-shot rang out, followed by another and
another. There was a smothered yell, a rush of feet, a brief struggle
from the place where the horses were tethered, a crash, and directly
afterwards Se�orita, trembling in every limb, made her way to where her
young master stood, as he had leaped from his hammock, dazed, and
uncertain what to do.
CHAPTER XVII
IN THE HANDS OP SPANISH GUERILLAS
In addition to his alarm, Ridge was overcome with a guilty knowledge of
having fallen asleep while on guard. Of course, he felt certain that
he had only closed his eyes for a minute; but in that minute something
dreadful, for which he was responsible, had happened. He had no idea
what it was, but imagined the worst, and was greatly relieved to hear
the voice of his prisoner-comrade at his side.
"What on earth--" he began; but just then Se�orita dashed up to him in
a state of terror, and for the moment demanded his attention. As he
soothed her he called loudly for Dionysio, but there was no response.
"I am afraid he has escaped," said the young Spaniard, in rather a
faint voice, from the ground, to which he had dropped exhausted by
weakness and the intense strain of the past few hours. "He tried to
kill me, you know."
"Tried to kill you!" exclaimed Ridge, incredulously. "But wait a
moment. We must have a light. This darkness is awful."
Thus saying, he stepped to where a few coals of the camp-fire still
smouldered, and began to throw on sticks, which, after a little
coaxing, sprang into a bright blaze. By its light he detected two dark
forms lying motionless a short distance away, and, with pistol held
ready for action, went to discover their nature.
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