I shook my head. "An armed sentry stands outside; a hundred soldiers are in the ravine; the path is closely watched. I would help you if it were possible."
"It will be dark to-night."
"That would help us little. Even if you escaped from the hut, you would be challenged at every dozen yards. No, I can see no way out."
I think that at this time he began to fully realize the danger he was in. He had a hunted look in his eyes, and again the perspiration stood on his forehead. Fear was fast killing shame, and he seemed to care nothing that I was the son of the man whom he had tried to murder.
"Juan," said he, "can't you make an excuse to visit me after dark?"
"I should think so," I replied.
"And will you cut these cords?"
"If you think it will help you at all."
"Leave that to me," said he, speaking almost hopefully. "By St. Philip, I shall escape the ruffian yet!"
What his plan was he did not tell me, but it seemed to please him greatly. He even laughed when I again mentioned Rosa, and said he would carry his message himself. And with hope there came back to him something of the old cunning and smoothness of speech for which he was so noted.