We were now in a wide plain, dotted with numerous hillocks, and a good deal cut up by streams from the overflow of the lake. The ground was damp, while here and there we plumped straight into a marsh. By this time, however, we were in such a state that nothing mattered, and being unwilling to lose time, we took the shortest though not the most pleasant route.
We had a good start of the soldiers, who, as it happened, were completely thrown off the scent through finding Alzura's bundle. Knowing the terrible nature of the morass, they concluded we were both dead, and returned to the island with the tidings.
We learned this long afterwards from Barriero, who told us how he had mourned our sad fate, and blamed himself repeatedly for having let us go. At the time, however, we expected every moment to hear the patter of feet behind us, and raced on till, breathless and panting, we reached the base of the mountain.
Here we stopped a few moments to recover breath, and then, climbing some distance, proceeded to search for a cavern.
"There ought to be several," said Alzura, "for the mountain has been mined. Didn't you notice the rodados as we came down?"
"Those heaps of rubbish?"
"Yes. All that refuse has been taken out of the mountain. Here's a heap, and the mouth of the tunnel won't be far away. Now, keep your eyes open."
I did my best; but Alzura found the cavern, and in a short time we were both inside. The place was dark, and smelt dreadfully, the roof almost touched our heads, and the passage was very narrow.
"A nice trap!" I remarked. "If the soldiers catch us here, there's an end to our freedom."
"I'm not so sure of that. The gallery may run a long way back, and perhaps communicate with another. Shall we explore it?"