eatures of my fair
fellow-traveller. Fra Miguel, however, balked my stratagem by topping
the fire with a stout log, as he said, "You are too spendthrift, Senhor;
we shall need to husband our resources, or we 'll not have enough for
the night long."

"Would you not like to come nearer to the blaze, Senhora?" said I,
respectfully.

"Thanks, sir, but perhaps--"

"Speak out, child," broke in the Father, "speak out, and say that you
are counting your rosary, and would not wish to be disturbed. And you,
Senhor, if I err not, in your eagerness to aid us have forgotten to
water your gallant beast: don't lead him to the stream, that would be
unsafe; take my sombrero: it has often served a like purpose before now.
Twice full is enough for any horse in these countries." I would have
declined this offer, but I felt that submission in everything would be
my safest passport to his good opinion; and so, armed with the "Friar's
beaver," I made my way to the stream.

Whatever his eulogies upon the pitcher-like qualities of his head-piece,
to me they seemed most undeserved; for scarcely had I filled it, than
the water ran through like a sieve. The oftener, too, was the process
repeated the less chance did there appear of success; for, instead of
retaining the fluid at all, the material became so saturated that it
threatened to tear in pieces every time it was filled, and ere I could
lift it was totally empty. Half angry with the Friar, and still more
annoyed at my own ineptitude, I gave up the effort, and returned to
where I had left him, confessing my failure as I came forward.

"Steep your 'kerchief in the stream, then, and wash the beast's mouth,"
said he, upon his knees, where, with a great string of beads, he was
engaged with his devotions.

I retired, abashed at my intrusion, and proceeded to do as I was
directed.

"What if all these cares for my horse, and all these devotional
exercises, were but stratagems to get rid of my company for a season?"
thought I, as I perceived that scarcely had I left the spot, than the
Friar arose from his knees, and seemed to busy himself about something
in the trees. Full of this impression, I made a little circuit of the
place; and what was my surprise to observe that he had converted his
upper robe of coarse blanket-cloth into a kind of hammock for Donna
Maria, in which, fastened at either end to the bough of a tree, she was
now swinging to and fro, with apparently all the pleasure of a h