troops close to the port of Arica; but two unsuccess

l schooners captured from the enemy, and having taken on board food and water sufficient for

r with any degree of accuracy. Owing to this the trip occupied just double the calculated time, so that on landing we were half dead with hunger and thirst. The soldiers still

onfidence in their leader, while the gaiety and high spirits of the young doctor acted as a fine tonic. He

the summit of a steep mountain, where we stopped

ore resumed the march, "how do you like being on active service?

d with him, but I made an ef

we entertained no manner of fear; the sole terror lay in the route to be traversed. We were

If his strength or memory failed, it might well happen that the dreary desert would be our burial-place

at the rear, so that he might assist any unfortunate st

our way through the shifting sand, our

as I could judge, the gu

osé, in an excited wh

t he seemed very agitated, and there w

-but I can't be certain tha

ence of death, and I could ha

w. Stay here a minute while I ask the colonel to

d taking the guide's

, and let us see what can be done.

uide helplessly. "The saints

way, and that won't do. Pluck up your courage, man

do with breaking the guide down. He wrung his hands an

only you will collect your wits. Come, let us cast about

w, and if we stray away we shall certai

for the click of José's pistol and the st

.-Now go on without a word, until you can make

e time the troops in our rear were resting in fancied security. I shuddered to think what would happen if the guide failed to locate the track. Suddenly he ran forward q

apparently of consi

his knees and offered up a prayer of thanksgiving. The strangely-shaped hillock showed him that thus far he had led

found. Still we plodded on, parched and weary, until in the eastern sky the dawn rose slowly. For just a brief period we felt the cold, damp, but refreshing breath of m

rm, exclaimed, "Sama-water!" And looking ahead, we caught

ing their ranks, the men rushed forward eagerly in search of the welcome water. One who for the last mile had been crawling along, supported by the doctor, darted off like a champion runner, th

the people from Sama, who also procured for us about a dozen hor

t; but our leader had much to do, and the cheery young doctor spent half his time in attending on the sick. In thi

"or you will be left behind to-morrow. We hav

we going?

lage call

é. "Why, there are more than fou

doctor good-humouredly, "

d nook which I had selected as bed and bedchamber in one. I know nothing

ady preparing their simple breakfast, for they

feel, Jack?"

ving myself a shake, "but tremendo

n's over I daresay you will be glad to eat part

stirring words, and the march began. We did not anticipate an attack, but a few sturd

itants, who escorted us, with much noi

who was riding next me. "Hark how they cry 'Down with the Spaniard

to shout for one side as for the other.

ers were bullets, we need n

ke poison, and, in spite of himself, could hardly prevent his real sentiments from popping out at inconvenient times. However, either from fear or from policy, he

denly. José, the doctor, and I had been spending an evening with on

ile. "We march at dawn. The Spaniards are moving in three d

santly, "we can't grumble; we hav

dred and fifty, of which about a third part consisted of cavalry. The few days' rest had recruited our

t brought word that a strong Spanish force was stationed at Mirabe, a village some forty miles dista

r desolation. The horses picked their steps gingerly, and the foot-soldiers stumbled along as best they could, tripping now and then over the stones and

mighty precipices. The pass was so narrow that we had to march in single file, each horseman o

river which rushes through the Mirabe valley. In a hollow on the opposite side lay the village, and behi

have them in our power. We have but to

esign, by one of our men-rang out, and all chance of a surprise vanished. The Spaniards, in alarm, b

He's either a fool or a rogue, and has

" and he immediately dispatched two rocket parties-one to the righ

nd then returned for another, until in a short time all had safely effected a passage

of the random firing, but my mind was bu

d been assisting the regular army su

? Rather alarming at first, eh? But you'll get used to it. After hearing t

d, "but it is distinctl

uld be only a skirmish at the m

g to stay wit

t, you know. They get cramped on board ship. By George, those fellows inte

ep and snoring.

clear conscience. Take

aid I, laughing; "it's ver

nteringly; "which explains why so

he first streak of dawn, an order was quietly passed thr

ily, and declared that he could

of warfare," said he. "Why don't both sides agree

d!" cried the doctor; "it w

sé, who was saddling up. "Hullo, there goes

doctor merrily; "h

e shelter of the wood, we saw the Spaniards on

e on the left," cried José; "tha

th such force that they drew back, trying to retreat by the winding track through the mount

ctor, "they're in it now! It'

ht. The scene was to me so extraordinary that I had no sense of fear. I was

ught with desperate courage, I could see that, and they pushed our men hard. Fallen soldier

f men and horses inextricably mixed; of shining swords, of blinding red flashes; and my ears were de

omething in Spanish, whereat, gathering up the reins in my l

voice in my ear; and there was José, riding as coolly as

rang out, and we broke instantly into a gallop. Then in a flash I saw a body of Spani

ogress with queer fascination. On it went, right through the Spaniards, who edged aside to let it pass, straight to the brink of the precipice, over which it fell,

of me, José on my right hand, and the men pressing close behind. I saw nothing of the fight save that part only which concerned myself. Aga

de, and, still headed by the colonel, dashed once more into the fray. This time the resistance

young doctor, "hurra

d with excitement, his beautiful eyes were ablaze with light; he sat his ho

a flash of summer lightning. Before us rode a Spanish officer, calling fiercely on his men to come

spoke his left arm rose, there was a flash, a repo

ed the animal's bridle, the troopers swept on in hurricane fury, w