And we have just one chance.

We must hurry on and ride for our lives." "I don't quite see that.

We shall meet them all the sooner." Carmen made some reply which I failed to catch, and as the way was rough and Pizarro required all my attention, I did not repeat the question.
We passed rapidly up the brow, and when we reached more even ground, put our horses to the gallop and went on, up hill and down dale, until Carmen, uttering an exclamation, pulled his horse into a walk.
"I think we can get down here," he said.
We had reached a place where, although the mountain to our right was still precipitous, the ravine seemed narrower and the sides less steep.
"I think we can," repeated Carmen.

"At any rate, we must try." And with that he dismounted, and leading his horse to the brink of the ravine, incontinently disappeared.
"Come on! It will do!" he cried, dragging his horse after him.
I followed with Pizarro, who missing his footing landed on his head.

As for myself, I rolled from top to bottom, the descent being much steeper than I had expected..