“We no see dem, sah,” one of them answered at length; “but in de jongle away der we met one ole shentleman, one shentleman ob colour, dat we hab known in Santiago tree year ago, and he tell us all about de enemy cos he meet him on de way like.”
“This is hopeless,” said the lieutenant in despair. “It is a consolation at any rate to know that the other spies are not quite so crack-brained as these.”
At this moment Mr. Triggs and his detachment returned, and the former reported that all had gone well with the wounded and the prisoners, who had been safely conveyed on board the Rattler.
As it was not advisable to delay any longer, and as the remaining spies had not come in, we resumed our march under the direction of the guides, who were really competent men. The torrid heat was now tempered by a cool refreshing sea-breeze, but in half an hour we had entered the forest and were under the grateful shade of the giant trees.
We found ourselves on a rough cart-track, seamed with ruts, which wound its tortuous way through the jungle-depths; but as the trees obstructing the route had been felled and removed, the way was fairly clear, though here and there a few rotting trunks lay by the wayside in the last stages of decay. There was little or no underwood, and therefore no cover for a lurking enemy—a fact we were very grateful for. Nevertheless our armed scouts and advance-guard never relaxed their watchfulness; and we were all on the alert more or less, having our rifles and revolvers loaded and ready for use.
We saw numerous monkeys springing about from tree to tree. Parrots and macaws flitted about hither and thither, the sun’s rays, which fell through the vistas in the trees, glinting on their plumage with beautiful effect.
Quaint and innumerable insects filled the air with their drowsy hum; the agile little lizards darted about amid the stones and rocks which rather plentifully strewed the ground; and the ants were working away methodically and with wondrous energy at their pyramidal dwellings.
Mr. Triggs came to my side as we marched along.
“I’ve got a message from Mr. Balfour for you, sir,” he said.
“What is it?” I asked; “he is going on all right, I hope.”