At nightfall Roger and his guide continued their journey, but now moved with great caution, keeping but a short distance from the road.

Several times they saw fires burning, and had to take long detours to avoid them.

Consequently the moon had set when they were still more than ten miles from the pass.

Next morning they continued their journey, avoiding as much as possible crossing tracts of cultivated land; and when forced to do so, lying down and crawling between the rows of the maize or yuccas.
"They are sure to have scouts, high up on the mountainside," Bathalda said; "and they thence can look down upon all these fields; and although, as we cross them we are perfectly hidden from people standing on the same level, they can see us clearly enough from there." "The distance is very great to make out a man." "The air is very clear, my lord, in these mountains; and a figure can be seen a vast distance off.

However, we can do nothing but what we are doing, and must take our chance." "If we are attacked," Roger said, "we must make straight up the mountains.