I hope not,鈥� replied Lawrence, earnestly.

Come now, Quashy,鈥� interrupted Lawrence, with a laugh, you exaggerate.鈥�

Well, massa, how鈥檚 you gittin鈥� along now?鈥�

The two men obeyed, and the active youth pulled himself up hand over hand, making good use in passing of any hollow or projection that afforded the slightest hold for his toes. At the top he was roughly grasped by his rescuers and dragged into safety.

But Cruz refused their well-meant advice. Regarding discretion as the better part of valour, and resolving, no doubt, to fight another day,鈥� he elected to be off.鈥� Collecting his men in sulky silence, he speedily rode away.