Two minutes passed, and our feet were set upon the winding way, and now I breathed again, for we were beyond the sight of the women.
On we rushed swiftly as the cramped limbs of the Spaniards would carry them, till presently we reached that angle in the path where the breach began.

The attacking Spaniards had already come to the further side of the gap, for though we could not see them, we could hear their cries of rage and despair as they halted helplessly and understood that their comrades were beyond their aid.
'Now we are sped,' said the Spaniard with whom I had spoken; 'the road is gone, and it must be certain death to try the side of the pyramid.' 'Not so,' I answered; 'some fifty feet below the path still runs, and one by one we will lower you to it with this rope.' Then we set to work.

Making the cord fast beneath the arms of a soldier we let him down gently, till he came to the path, and was received there by his comrades as a man returned from the dead.

The last to be lowered was that Spaniard with whom I had spoken.
'Farewell,' he said, 'and may the blessing of God be on you for this act of mercy, renegade though you are.

Say, now, will you not come with me?
I set my life and honour in pledge for your safety.