And, adding example to precept, Valentine shook the ash from his pipe, returned it to his belt, lay down on the ground, and almost immediately slept. His comrades probably found the advice good, for they followed it without hesitation, and in ten minutes all were asleep excepting Curumilla.
How long their sleep had lasted when Valentine awakened them, they could not say, but the night had set in. The sky, studded with an infinity of stars, stretched out over their heads its dark blue vault: the moon appeared to be floating in a sea of mist, and spread over the landscape a melancholy light, which imparted a fantastic appearance to objects.
"Up with you," Valentine said in a low voice, as he tapped his comrades in turn on the shoulder.
"Are we off?" General Ibañez asked, as he checked a yawn, and drew himself up, as if worked by a spasm.
"Yes," was all the hunter answered.
Ere long all were ready to start.
"We must profit by the darkness," Valentine remarked, "our enemies are doubtless watching round us."
"We are at your orders, my friend," Don Miguel answered.
By a sign, the hunter collected his comrades round him.
"Listen to me carefully," he said, "for, before attempting the bold enterprise I have conceived, I wish to have your full consent. Our position is desperate: remaining longer here is death: death by hunger, cold, thirst, and wretchedness, after enduring intolerable sufferings for I know not how many days. You are quite convinced of this, I fancy?"