The fugitive had already gone ahead, with one of the negroes to show him the way.
Scarcely had they taken their places, at the top of the gorge; when the baying of the hounds, which had been increasing every minute in volume, became so loud that the Spaniards were clearly close at hand.

In another three or four minutes there issued from the wood a party of some twenty men, leading two dogs by chains.

The creatures struggled to get forward, and their eyes seemed almost starting out of their heads with their eagerness to reach the object of their pursuit.

Their speed was, however, moderated by the fact that the band, who were all on horseback, had to pick their way through the great boulders.

The wood itself was difficult for horsemen, but here and there were spaces, and they had been able to ride at a fair pace.
On entering the mouth of the gorge, however, they were obliged to fall into an order of two abreast, and sometimes even to go in Indian file.