The mountain sloped so steeply back that it was like climbing the roof of a very steep house, and hand and foot were, alike, called into requisition to enable them to get forward; indeed, to many it would have been impossible, had not the leaders lowered their ropes down from above, affording an immense assistance to those following.
At last, the whole body reached the top and, descending upon the other side, plunged into the forest.

They directed their course to a valley, ten miles distant, where considerable supplies of provisions had been stored up; and where some of their crops had been planted, a few weeks before the arrival of the Spaniards.

Here for two days they feasted, secure that a considerable time might elapse, before the Spaniards discovered that they had vanished from the fortress.
Then they prepared to put into execution the plan upon which they had resolved.

They knew that in the town, there would be no watch of any sort kept; for all believed them cooped up, without a chance of escape.

The four troops then, commanded as before, issued from the forest as the sun went down, and marched towards the town.