initial difficulties he had at first encountered, in
acquiring Tabascan--the latter language serving as a medium.

The year which had elapsed, since the Swan sailed from Plymouth,
had effected great alteration in Roger's figure. He had grown
several inches, and had widened out greatly; and was fulfilling the
promise of his earlier figure, by growing into an immensely large
and powerful man. He was, even now, half a head taller than the
very tallest of the natives of Tabasco; and in point of strength,
was still more their superior. Thus, although the belief in his
supernatural origin was rapidly dying out, a certain respect for
his size and strength prevented any of his opponents from any open
exhibition of hostility. The fact, too, of his perfect fearlessness
of demeanor added to this effect. Roger carried himself well, and
as, with head erect, he strolled through the streets of Tabasco,
with a step that contrasted strongly with the light and nimble one
of the slenderly built natives, men made way for him; while his
sunny hair, which fell in short waves back from his forehead, his
fearless gray eyes, and the pleasant expression of his mouth,
rendered him a source of admiration to the women; who, with scarce
an exception, still believed firmly that he was no ordinary human
being.

One day, when Roger was dressing in the morning, he heard excited
talking in the street, and the sound of hurrying feet.

"What has happened this morning, Malinche?" he called out.

"The merchants have come," she said. "The merchants from my
country."

As Roger had heard, from her, that a trade was carried on by Mexico
with the surrounding countries, by merchants who traveled in
parties, with strong bodies of armed men, and that they had been at
Tabasco but a few days only before he had first arrived there, and
might be expected again in about a year, he was not surprised at
the news. He had, indeed, been looking forward to this visit; for
he felt that his position was getting more and more unsafe, and
that the cazique would not be able, much longer, to support him
against the hostility of the majority of the men of importance in
the town. What he had heard from Malinche had greatly raised his
curiosity with regard to her country, and his longing to see these
people, whom she described as invincible in war, and so infinitely
superior in civilization to the Tabascans.

He had closely inquired, from Malinche, whether she thought he
would