“Arrida! Alto ahi!” (Up! Up there!) shouted one of the brigands; and in a moment Raymond appeared at the opening, with his hands tied behind him, urged forward by the leader of the beggars.
They evidently intended to make sure of their prisoner, and were driving him out of the cave before them. The moment the first beggar appeared, he was seized by a couple of the soldiers; and in like manner four others were captured, for their number had been increased since Raymond was captured. Bark was overjoyed when he found that his friend was safe. He cut the rope that bound his hands behind him, and then actually hugged him.
“Who are you?” demanded Raymond; for it was too dark, coming from the bright light of the fire, for him to identify the person who was so demonstrative.
“Why, don’t you know me, Henry?” asked Bark, wringing the hand of his friend.
“What! Is it Bark?” demanded Raymond, overwhelmed with astonishment to find his late associate at this place.
“Of course it is Bark.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I came after you; and I think, under the circumstances, it is rather fortunate I did come,” added Bark.
“God bless you, Bark! for you have saved me from these vagabonds, who might have kept me for months, so that I could not join my ship.”
That was all the harm the fugitive seemed to think would come of his capture. The soldiers had led the brigands down into the cavern, and the young men followed them. The fire was still burning briskly, and the pot over it was boiling merrily. Everybody was happy except the brigands; and the leader of these did not appear to be much disturbed by the accident that had happened to him.