He had scarcely finished speaking, when the lightning gleamed a second time, and the prairie was lit up like a theatre during the grand scene in a spectacle. We could see the guerrilleros standing by their horses, in cordon across the plain; we could distinguish their arms and equipments—even the buttons upon their jackets! With their faces rendered ghastly under the glare, and their bodies magnified to gigantic proportions, they presented to our eyes a wild and spectral appearance.
With the flash there was no thunder—neither the close quick clap, nor the distant rumble. There was perfect silence, which rendered the scene more awfully impressive.
“All right!” muttered Rube, as he saw that the besiegers still kept their places. “We must jest grope our way up atween the glimps; but fust let ’em see we’re still hyur.”
We protruded our faces and rifles around the rock, and in this position awaited another flash.
It came, bright as before: the enemy could not fail to have noticed us.
Our programme was already prepared: Garey was to ascend first, and take up the rope.
He only waited for the termination of another blaze. One end of the lazo was fastened round his waist, and the rope hung down behind him.
When the light gleamed again, he was ready; and the moment it went out, he glided forward to the cliff, and commenced his ascent.
Oh, for a long interval of darkness!