They were on the point of climbing, when Ned exclaimed:
"Listen! I can hear the sound of bells."
Listening intently, they could make out the sound of little bells, such as are carried by horses or mules.
"It must be a train to one of the mines. If we can reach that, we shall be safe."
Laying aside all further thought of fighting, the boys now ran, at headlong pace, in the direction of the sounds. The natives, who were far fleeter of foot, gained fast upon them; and the arrows were flying round them, and several had inflicted slight wounds, when they heard ahead of them the cry of:
"Soldiers on guard. The natives are at hand. Fire in the bushes."
The boys threw themselves upon their faces as, from the thickets ahead, a volley of musketry was heard.
"Load again," was the order, in Spanish. "These black rascals must be strong, indeed, to advance to attack us with so much noise."
Crawling forward cautiously, Ned exclaimed, in Spanish:
"Do not fire, senors. We are two Spaniards who have been carried away from the settlements, and have for long been prisoners among the natives."