Misled by a former experience, I fancied he was going to offer up a prayer for the success of his treasonable enterprise!
I was undeceived, on seeing him glide gently over the edge.
I craned my head outward, and looked below.
He was already half-way down the cliff, suspended on the llianas that had formed the swing bridge.
He was still rapidly descending.
In another score of seconds he had reached the base of the barranca; where a narrow shelf of rock afforded him footing by the stream.
On touching it, he stopped, looked upwards, and called out:—
“Hola! señor capitan! I’ve forgotten to tell you, that I require assistance. I shall not be able to raise the puente-hamaca myself. You must give me one of your men; or else one of my old camarados!”
“I know what he means,” said the stage-driver, stepping forth as a volunteer, and stooping to take hold of the llianas. “Thar may be treezun in the skunk. I don’t think thar is. But if there shed be, cap’n, jest keep a look out acrosst the gulley, an’ give ’em plenty o’ lead. I know enough o’ your fellows, to feel sure they won’t make a meal-sieve o’ my carcass. Here goes for a bit o’ gymnasticks!”
Before I could make reply to this extraordinary speech, Sam Brown had disappeared below the level of the doorstep. When I next saw him, he was standing on the ledge below, with the froth of the cataract clouting up around his ankles!