Oh, for a long interval of darkness!
Our hearts beat anxiously--at least I can answer for my own. Rube
watched the guerrilleros, permitting his head to be seen by them. My
eyes were bent upon the rocky wall, but through the thick darkness I
looked in vain for our comrade. I listened to hear how he was
progressing; I could distinguish a slight scratching against the cliff,
each moment higher and farther away; but Garey climbed with a moccasined
foot, and the noise was too faint to reach the ears of our enemies. Oh,
for a long interval of darkness!
It appeared a long one; perhaps it was not five minutes, but it _felt_
twice that, before the lightning again blazed forth.
With the flash, I ran my eyes up the precipitous wall. Oh, God! Garey
was still upon its face, as yet scarce midway up. He was standing on a
ledge--his body flattened against the rock--and with his arms extended
horizontally, he presented the appearance of a man crucified upon the
cliff!
So long as the glare lasted, he remained in this attitude, motionless as
the rock itself.
I turned with anxious look towards the guerrilleros. I heard no voice;
I observed no movement. Thank Heaven! they saw him not!
Near where he was resting, some bushes of the trailing cedar grew out of
the cliff; their dark foliage mottled its white face, rendering the form
of the climber less conspicuous.
Another long spell of darkness, another blaze of light.
I scanned the gorge: no human form was visible. I saw a dark line that,
like a crack, vertically intersected the cliff from parapet to base: it
was the rope Garey had carried up. He had reached the summit in safety!
It was my turn next--for Rube insisted on retaining the post of danger--
and with my rifle slung on my back, I stood ready. I had given the
parting whisper to my brave steed, and pressed his velvet muzzle to my
cheek.
With the last flicker of the electric gleam, I seized the hanging lazo,
and drew myself upward.
I had confidence in the rope: I knew it was fastened above, or safe in
the strong grasp of Garey.
With its aid, the ascent was rendered easy. I experienced no difficulty
in climbing from ledge to ledge, and before the light came again, I had
reached the crest of the cliff.
We lay flat among the bushes that grew by the very brink, scarcely
showing our faces to the front.