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Updated: June 10, 2025
This was quite true, but not all his kindness could make up to us for loss of liberty. Barriero and the other three prisoners seemed quite resigned to their fate, but Alzura was always hankering after the delights of Lima and home, while I, too, longed very much to see my parents and friends. So we often sat for hours watching the margin of the lake, envying the men who went ashore.
We were able to talk about them calmly, and thus grew familiar with them, at least in imagination. Every day we set aside a portion of the dried meat and biscuit which formed the chief part of our food, until at last we had as much as could be carried easily. It would be stupid to load ourselves with too heavy a burden, as Barriero rather unkindly reminded us.
The men who had rowed us over did not land, but took the boats to another islet, much larger than ours, which we guessed to be the headquarters of this novel prison. "The governor of this place is a clever warder," remarked Barriero; "there's no getting away from here." "Why not?" I asked. "The risk is too great. Just think for a minute.
We waited three whole weeks after coming to our decision before starting on the venture, and then, one favourable night, slipped down to the edge of the islet. Barriero, who had kept the secret, came to wish us good-bye, and the poor old fellow shook like a timid child. "It is a mad game," said he, "a downright mad game. I shall never forgive myself for allowing you to go.
As it was, he presented a miserable appearance, and showed us how terrible was the danger. Several boats were moored at the edge of the lake, and an officer directed us to get in, one by one. Barriero, Alzura, and I entered the same boat; which was fortunate, as the prisoners were divided into three groups and taken to different islets.
We shall choose our night, and we know just where to land. Then we shall take provisions to last us three or four days." "You won't need them," interrupted Barriero, in a tone of conviction which was far from encouraging. But now that the affair had really been decided on, the dangers of the morass soon lost some of their terrors.
"The track leads here plainly enough, and it wouldn't come to an end just in the middle of the morass." "I shouldn't think so," said Alzura. "I wonder whether they've missed us yet. How old Barriero will grin on seeing us back again!" "We aren't back yet," I replied. "Look at that hump yonder. It seems solid, doesn't it? Lend me the pole. Ah, too short! What d'you think, Alzura?"
"You're a pair of idiots, and I don't know which is the bigger." "It must be neither or both, if we're a pair," chuckled Alzura. "Why can't you be satisfied?" growled Barriero. "You've plenty of food, no work to do, and are well treated. And there isn't one chance in a thousand of your getting through." "Crawford said one in a hundred!"
I know it's a touch-and-go affair; that is why I won't press you to join me." "Two will stand a better chance than one," said I thoughtfully, "and you mustn't try it alone. Shall we ask Barriero to come with us?" "May as well pass the compliment," answered Alzura, laughing. "But he won't, I'm positive." And he was right; for Barriero, on being asked, said hotly,
"You and Barriero Barriero is wonderfully strong stroll down to him presently. Pretend you want to ask him a question. That will put him off his guard. What happens? You spring on him suddenly, clap a rag in his mouth, and with our help hold him so that he cannot struggle. Then you exchange clothes and stand on guard. When the relief comes you march away. Understand?"
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