A DANGEROUS JOURNEY.
"I think," remarked Alzura, one day toward the end of June, "I'll get
the sergeant to put me in irons."
"Why?" I asked in surprise.
"Because sitting here and looking at the land is driving me crazy."
"Then don't look at it."
"I can't help it, and that's the truth. Wouldn't it be grand if we
could only cross that morass safely!"
"But we can't!"
"No," said he; "but suppose we could? Suppose there came a night when
it was just dark enough to hide us, and yet light enough to show us the
track? Wouldn't it be a feather in our caps if we could get back
safely to Miller?"
"It would; but we should lose our nerve in that horrible swamp, even if
we reached it."
"Very likely; and our lives too. Let's go back to the hut."
We had often talked like this, but now there seemed more purpose and
earnestness in my chum's manner. I looked at him closely as we
returned to our quarters, and wondered if he had decided to run the
risk.
"A quarter of a mile isn't a long swim, is it?" he said, after a time.
"Oh no!" I agreed cheerfully.
"And we might easily save sufficient food from our rations to last a
long while."
"Most likely we shouldn't need it long."
"It would be very useful if we did."
"Look here, Alzura," said I, turning on him suddenly, "let's make an
end of this business. What are you driving at? Are you going to risk
your life in that morass?"
"I'm very tired of this place," he answered moodily.
"So am I; but that doesn't lessen the danger of the swamp. Now, let us
make no mistake. There is, perhaps, one chance in a hundred. Is it
worth risking? Death in a morass must be rather horrible. Don't you
think so?"
"Well, it can't be very pleasant; but you admit we stand a chance of
getting across."
"One in a hundred, no more."
"Ah, well," said he thoughtfully, "let us sleep on it."
I could not help thinking that my chum must want his freedom badly to
even suggest such a venture. Any hot-blooded enterprise, I knew well,
appealed to him strongly; but this one required cool, dogged patience
and nerves of iron. Barriero was a brave fellow too, but he honestly
admitted he would rather be shot than try to cross the morass in the
dark. As for me, I trembled at the thought of taking part in so
hazardous an enterprise.
However, it seemed to me that Alzura was making up his mind to go.
Every day he let fall broad hints, and at last stated his intentions
without reserve.
"Juan," said he one evening, "I'm going. The war may last a couple of
years yet. Are you coming with me? Don't if you'd rather not risk it."
"Have you counted the cost?"
"Yes. I know it's a touch-and-go affair; that is why I won't press you
to join me."
"Two will stand a better chance than one," said I thoughtfully, "and
you mustn't try it alone. Shall we ask Barriero to come with us?"
"May as well pass the compliment," answered Alzura, laughing. "But he
won't, I'm positive."
And he was right; for Barriero, on being asked, said hotly,--
"You're a pair of idiots, and I don't know which is the bigger."
"It must be neither or both, if we're a pair," chuckled Alzura.
"Why can't you be satisfied?" growled Barriero. "You've plenty of
food, no work to do, and are well treated. And there isn't one chance
in a thousand of your getting through."
"Crawford said one in a hundred!"
"Well, anyway, you're certain to lose your lives, and I shall be blamed
for not stopping you. It's my duty to inform the sergeant, and have
you chained up."
"You can't," said Alzura--"you can't betray us."
"You're two lunatics--stark, staring lunatics--and I wish you had told
me nothing of your mad scheme."
"It's awfully risky," said I, "but not so mad as you think. We shall
choose our night, and we know just where to land. Then we shall take
provisions to last us three or four days."
"You won't need them," interrupted Barriero, in a tone of conviction
which was far from encouraging.
But now that the affair had really been decided on, the dangers of the
morass soon lost some of their terrors. We were able to talk about
them calmly, and thus grew familiar with them, at least in imagination.
Every day we set aside a portion of the dried meat and biscuit which
formed the chief part of our food, until at last we had as much as
could be carried easily. It would be stupid to load ourselves with too
heavy a burden, as Barriero rather unkindly reminded us.
We waited three whole weeks after coming to our decision before
starting on the venture, and then, one favourable night, slipped down
to the edge of the islet. Barriero, who had kept the secret, came to
wish us good-bye, and the poor old fellow shook like a timid child.
"It is a mad game," said he, "a downright mad game. I shall never
forgive myself for allowing you to go. It isn't too late now to draw
back. Do take my advice, and don't risk it. I shan't sleep a wink all
night if you go."
"Never mind, my boy," replied Alzura, laughing; "you'll have plenty of
time afterwards for a nap.--Now, Juan, off with your clothes."
The other prisoners were sound asleep in their huts; so were the
soldiers, with the exception of the two sentries. These men were
supposed to keep a sharp lookout, but nothing had happened for so long
a time that their duty was mostly a matter of form. However, Barriero
kept watch while we each stripped and made a bundle of our food and
clothes to carry on our heads.
"Good-bye, old man," we said to him when we were quite ready; and he,
gripping our hands, whispered back,--
"Good luck; but I wish you would not go. Take care, and come back here
rather than lose your lives, if you cannot find the track."
We promised to do so, and then took quietly to the water. The first
part of the journey gave us no trouble whatever. We were both good
swimmers, and quickly arrived at the spot which we had selected as the
landing-place. Here we crouched on a patch of firm ground, undid our
bundles, and proceeded to dress quickly. A smothered exclamation from
Alzura made me glance at him. In his hurry he had whisked his shirt a
yard or two away, and it had settled in the liquid mud.
"There's an end to that garment!" said he. "Well, after all, it's no
great loss; 'twas mostly made of holes. What have you found, Juan?"
"A stout staff tipped with iron, left here by the soldiers, most
likely. What a piece of luck, my boy! Now we shall be able to test
the ground."
"Yes, the balance is on our side," said he happily, buttoning his
tunic. "Are you ready? Give me the staff, and I'll go first."
Of course I could not let him do that; so turning it off with a laugh,
I cried,--
"No, thank you. I'm not going to trust my life to your hands, or
rather feet. Now, follow me closely. Walk just where I do, and if you
see me disappearing, pull me back sharp. We're on the track now, and
must try to keep on."
"Spoken with the wisdom of a sage!" said Alzura saucily. "I say, Juan,
how shall I know when you're moving?"
There was certainly reason for his sarcasm. As often as not, when I
raised my foot I brought it down in the same place again, or, according
to Alzura, even went a step backward. The night was not particularly
dark--indeed, we had doubted whether it was dark enough for us to swim
ashore unobserved--but the marsh was fearfully deceptive.
In places the track was merely a dry hump here and there, for which I
had to feel with the staff. Twice, in spite of every precaution, I
missed my footing, and the second time had sunk to the waist before
Alzura could pull me out.
"I can't see you very well, Juan," said he, laughing, "but I have an
idea that you would cut a fine figure in a ballroom just now."
"Especially if it were a fancy-dress affair," I replied in the same
tone.
We were in no merry humour, mind you; but the weakest joke was better
than dwelling on the horrors which surrounded us. Each of us knew
that, but for Alzura's quickness, I should have disappeared for ever,
leaving no trace behind me. Twice before the break of day I had saved
him from a similar fate.
We left the islet about ten o'clock, and at midnight were still in the
morass, unable to move. Alzura had joined me on a piece of firm
ground, just large enough for us to stand on, and no more. It was
darker now, so that we could see nothing clearly, while I failed to
touch any solid substance, except that behind us, with my pole.
Alzura's attempts were equally unsuccessful.
"You're a pretty guide!" said he. "You've got off the track; we had
better try back. Give me the staff."
"Be careful; mind how you turn. Can you feel the ground where we stood
just now?"
"Yes; here it is," and the next minute he stepped back to feel for the
proper path, while I stood trembling lest he should slip in and be
smothered before I could get to his assistance.
"Can you find a place?" I asked.
"Only towards the lake. It's nothing but marsh to right and left. I
think I'll come to you again. What is it? Did I hurt you?"
"Oh no, not at all!--only crushed my toes a bit with the pole! What
are we going to do now?"
"I suppose it's too early for breakfast?" he began, and then in a
different tone he added hastily, "Oh, I say, what a joke! I've dropped
my bundle of food somewhere. Perhaps it's just as well; I shall walk
lighter."
"But you'll want something to eat," I suggested.
"Of course I shall. How dense you are! Don't you see how the accident
will benefit us both? There are two now instead of one to eat your
rations, so you will have all the less to carry."
"Oh," said I doubtfully, not quite appreciating the logic. "Well, we
don't want breakfast yet, and the question is, what are we to do? The
sergeant's bound to discover our escape at breakfast-time, and a
search-party will be sent ashore immediately."
"It will be light in an hour or two," observed Alzura cheerfully--"at
least light enough for us to find the track again. Let us sit down; it
won't be so tiring, and we can't make ourselves any wetter or dirtier.
It's a good thing I didn't start on this journey alone; I should be
with my provisions now."
"It's always pleasanter to have company," said I, shivering, and not
noticing the absurdity till Alzura laughed.
There was certainly very little pleasure in our position just then. We
were wet through, chilled to the marrow, and plastered with mud from
head to foot. Our limbs felt horribly cramped, yet we almost feared to
stretch them, and the enforced delay was fast diminishing our chances
of escape. The dawning light might show us the route, but it would
also set the soldiers on our heels. Altogether, I was rather inclined
to envy Barriero, sleeping peacefully in his hut.
As soon as ever it became light enough, Alzura jumped up, saying,
"Where is the pole?" and grasping it, he began trying to touch bottom.
He poked long and vigorously in all directions, but without success,
till it seemed as if our only plan was to return and give ourselves up.
"Yet there must be a way out," said I impatiently. "The track leads
here plainly enough, and it wouldn't come to an end just in the middle
of the morass."
"I shouldn't think so," said Alzura. "I wonder whether they've missed
us yet. How old Barriero will grin on seeing us back again!"
"We aren't back yet," I replied. "Look at that hump yonder. It seems
solid, doesn't it? Lend me the pole. Ah, too short! What d'you
think, Alzura?"
"It looks all right," said he; "but appearances are often deceptive.
Besides, we can't reach it."
"We can jump it, perhaps."
"Yes," said he thoughtfully, "we might. It's a big risk, though. If
it isn't firm ground, the one who jumps will go to his death."
"I'll chance it," said L
"No, you won't; it's my venture. Stand aside, and give me room for a
take-off. Remember me to the others if I go down."
"Wait," said I; "there's no need for you to go. We can put it to the
test without risking life," and I hastily unslung the packet of
provisions which hung over my shoulder.
"Bravo, Juan! that is a good dodge. Mind your aim, though!"
"All right," and raising the bundle, I swung it carefully to and fro,
trying to gauge the distance. Then giving it an upward sweep, I let it
go, and we watched breathlessly as it fell plump on the spot.
"Firm as a rock," cried Alzura. "Viva! now for the jump, my boy; it's
easy enough."
"As long as we come down in the proper place. Stand back," and pulling
myself together, I took the leap, landing close beside the bundle.
This I picked up, and, telling Alzura to throw me the pole, proceeded
to investigate.
"Is it all right?" he cried softly.
"Yes," said I, and stood back while he jumped across.
"Caramba!" said he, "that's a nasty bit well over!" and I noticed that
his limbs trembled.
"All's well that ends well," I replied. "Come on, my boy; we've done
the worst part, and the track's as plain as a pikestaff now. If we can
reach the hill we came down months ago, 'twill be an easy matter to
hide."
"I wonder if the sergeant has discovered anything yet? According to
his account, the guards will think us dead."
"So much the better for us; they'll give up the search sooner. Hurrah!
the ground's getting firmer at every step. I believe we're out of the
morass."
The words were hardly spoken, when, my foot catching in some coarse
grass, I fell sprawling, face downwards.
"Not quite," observed Alzura, pulling me up, while I tried to get the
mud from my mouth and eyes. "It's a lucky thing you didn't try that
trick before. Faith, Juan, you do look a picture! I'd willingly give
a hundred dollars to be able to pop you down in Lima!"
"Come along, and don't be idiotic, or we shall find ourselves back on
the islet."
"Yes," said he, still grinning all over his face; "we can't stay here
laughing all day."
"I'm not laughing," I cried indignantly.
"Aren't you? Well, you see, old fellow, it's rather difficult to tell
what you're doing through that black mask. I shouldn't try to rub it
off. Let it cake, and we'll chip it off with a stone."
"This way," said I gruffly, taking no notice of his attempts to be
funny. "We'd better make straight for the mountains and hide
ourselves."
"We've need to," he replied, with a meaning laugh.
We were now in a wide plain, dotted with numerous hillocks, and a good
deal cut up by streams from the overflow of the lake. The ground was
damp, while here and there we plumped straight into a marsh. By this
time, however, we were in such a state that nothing mattered, and being
unwilling to lose time, we took the shortest though not the most
pleasant route.
We had a good start of the soldiers, who, as it happened, were
completely thrown off the scent through finding Alzura's bundle.
Knowing the terrible nature of the morass, they concluded we were both
dead, and returned to the island with the tidings.
We learned this long afterwards from Barriero, who told us how he had
mourned our sad fate, and blamed himself repeatedly for having let us
go. At the time, however, we expected every moment to hear the patter
of feet behind us, and raced on till, breathless and panting, we
reached the base of the mountain.
Here we stopped a few moments to recover breath, and then, climbing
some distance, proceeded to search for a cavern.
"There ought to be several," said Alzura, "for the mountain has been
mined. Didn't you notice the _rodados_ as we came down?"
"Those heaps of rubbish?"
"Yes. All that refuse has been taken out of the mountain. Here's a
heap, and the mouth of the tunnel won't be far away. Now, keep your
eyes open."
I did my best; but Alzura found the cavern, and in a short time we were
both inside. The place was dark, and smelt dreadfully, the roof almost
touched our heads, and the passage was very narrow.
"A nice trap!" I remarked. "If the soldiers catch us here, there's an
end to our freedom."
"I'm not so sure of that. The gallery may run a long way back, and
perhaps communicate with another. Shall we explore it?"
"Not now; I'm hungry and tired."
"So am I, and wet and cold too. I wish we had a fire. Better take
your things off and wring them; you'll be a bit more comfortable."
I followed his advice, and then we sat down to feast on the dried beef
and biscuits, which, happily, we had been able to keep in good
condition. It was not a brilliant banquet, but we were hungry, and our
teeth were sharp.
"I think it's a pity I lost my stock," remarked Alzura, lazily enjoying
the food. "That bit won't last long."
"You must eat less. I shall put you on short rations in the morning."
"Tell me that to-morrow; I'm sleepy now."
"Aren't we going to keep watch?"
"I don't think it's worth while. The soldiers aren't likely to look
here for us, unless you attract their attention by snoring too loudly,"
and the rascal chuckled himself off to sleep.
In a few minutes I lay down beside him, and slept soundly till he
wakened me by beating a tattoo on my ribs, and saying that he wanted
his supper. We had, in fact, slept through most of the day, and it was
too late to think of making a fresh start till the first thing in the
morning.
However, as soon as day broke we set out with a hazy idea of making our
way to Lima. By dint of careful economy, our provisions would last for
three days, and then we must trust to luck. We had no notion how the
war had gone, and I should not have been surprised to hear that the
Royalists were again masters of the country.
About noon on the third day of our journey we sat down beside a
pleasant stream in a picturesque ravine. There was sufficient food
left for one meal, and Alzura voted for having it at once.
"It's a long time since breakfast," said he, "and this mountain air
sharpens one's appetite. Besides, it's good policy to make sure of a
thing while one has the chance."
"All right," said I, laughing, and opening the bundle, "here you are.
Don't grumble with me when we have to go to bed without supper."
"We may get a fresh supply before then; who knows?"
I did not think it likely; but all the same I joined him in an attack
on the provisions, which we devoured to the very last morsel. Then we
had another drink of water, and rose to resume our journey. As if this
were a signal, the rocks round about suddenly became alive with armed
men, who yelled some orders which we could not understand. Then
clambering over the boulders, they surrounded us, and in a short time
had bound our arms tightly with strips of hide. They were
fierce-looking fellows--Indians, never seen westward of the Andes--and
apparently unfamiliar with the Spanish language. I tried to question
them, but they did not understand, while neither of us could make out a
word of their patois. It was clear, however, that they meant to take
us with them; and as we marched off, Alzura said, with a laugh,--
"What a lucky thing, Juan, that we ate our supper in good time!"