"It's a camino, sure enough," cried Walt, the next instant.
"A what?"
"A camino, a trail, you know."
"Well, I don't care what you call it, so long as it gets us out of here," exclaimed Ralph, eagerly pressing forward.
As Walt had guessed, the darker shadow, on closer investigation, proved to be a rugged trail leading at a steep incline out of the sunken valley. In a few seconds after its discovery their horses' hoofs were clattering up it.
"Great heavens, if there is any one about they'll think there's a charge of cavalry coming," cried Ralph.
"Can't be helped," rejoined Walt, "we've nothing to muffle them with. In any event, if they were to discover us, we shouldn't stand a chance."
But they reached the apparent summit of the trail, and a rough gate, without adventure. It was only the work of a few instants to open the portal, and, after riding a few hundred yards, they found themselves on a billowy expanse of rolling foothills. Far off flashed lights, and to their north the vague outlines of the Sierra de la Hacheta faintly showed.