But, _caramba_, how they might have been trapped, Senor Fortescue! A few men on that height hurling down rocks, the defile lined with sharp-shooters, half a hundred of Mejia's _llaneros_ to cut off their retreat, and the regiment of Irun could be destroyed to a man." "Or taken prisoners." "I don't think there would be many prisoners," said Carmen, grimly.

"These must almost be the last, I think--they are.

See! Here come the tag-rag and bobtail." The tag-rag and bob-tail consisted of a string of loaded mules with their _arrieros_, a dozen women riding mules, and as many men on foot.
"Let us get out of this hole while we may, and before any of them come back.

Once on the road and mounted, we shall at least be able to fight; but down here--" "All the same, this hole has served our turn well.

However, I quite agree with you that the best thing we can do is to get out of it quickly." This was more easily said than done.