Every moment the scenery became more savage and more picturesque, the rush of waters from the valley and its offshoots more distinctly audible, and the slopes we were descending more steep, slippery, and rock-encumbered.
The swarthy Sancho, however, glided on before us, and led the way without a moment’s hesitation. He was a lithe, well-built fellow of about forty, and looked wiry and active. He carried in his right hand a sharp cutlass, with which he occasionally cut down a creeper or some underwood that obstructed the way. There was no path. We followed him blindly, putting entire trust in him for the time being.
“Well, this is a queer, wild sort of a place,” I heard Ned Burton say to one of his mates; “just the sort of diggings one would expect to come across bandits and buccaneers in, and them sort of gentry.”
“I hope we’ll find some good Havana tobacco amongst the spoils, that’s all I’ve got to say,” answered his comrade. “I left my pouch behind aboard the old hooker, worse luck, and don’t want to have to borrow from my pals when perhaps they’re short themselves.”
“Shilling cigars will be your ticket, mate, I reckon,” said Ned with a laugh. “You may depend the skipper of the Flying-fish had some weeds of that quality aboard, if only to sell again when he got back to the old country.”
“Poor chap! he’s lost the number of his mess and no mistake. Hallo! what in thunder is the matter with the guide?”
He might well ask. We were all horrified to hear Sancho give vent to a loud cry of terror, and see him wildly slash at something on the ground with his cutlass. Then he dropped his weapon upon the ground, and gave a heartrending shriek of agony. In an instant we had sprung to his side.
The poor fellow’s face was convulsed with mingled pain and horror, and he would have fallen to the ground had not Ned Burton supported him.
“He suffers from epilepsy, I’m afraid,” exclaimed the gunner as he ran up. “I wish the surgeon was here.”
But Ned pointed to the ground with a horrified expression upon his face which spoke volumes.