Then, after giving us a few pieces of tasajo and a handful of cigars, the two men rode off; for the night was at hand, and if we did not escape before light of moon, the chances were very much against our escaping at all.
[Chapter XVIII.]
A New Departure.
“We seem always to be escaping, amigo mio,” said Carmen, as we sat in the shade, eating our tasajo. “We got out of one scrape only to get into another. Your experience of the country so far has not been happy.”
“Well, I certainly have had rather a lively time of it since I landed at La Guayra, if that is what you mean.”
“Very. And I should almost advise you to leave the country, if that were possible. But reaching the coast in present circumstances is out of the question. All the ports are in possession of the Spaniards, and the roads thither beset by guerillas. I see nothing for it but to go on the llanos and form a guerilla band of our own.”
“Isn’t guerilla merely another name for brigand?”
“Too often. You must promise the fellows plunder.”
“And provide it.”