and in the interior was found one of the so-called
pilgrim's scallop-shells with the skull of a bird. Accustomed as I was,
by long apprenticeship, to such discoveries, I had no doubt whatever but
that a skeleton would soon present itself, and a skull was soon
discovered; then the vertebrae and tibiae of a human being. Next we found
some obsidian arrow-heads; and, last of all, some small broken clay
figures. Unfortunately, it was no use thinking about carrying away all
these relics; so I made up my mind to give up further labor. Directly
after dinner we busied ourselves in putting our baggage in order, so as
to be ready to start the next morning at day-break.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XVII.

A FORCED MARCH.--WILD-DUCKS.--VEGETABLE SOAP.--AN UNWELCOME GUEST.

It rained all night, and I awoke about seven o'clock in the morning
shivering with cold. It was Ascension-day, and l'Encuerado, before
making up the fire, chanted a canticle, and, after the manner of Roman
Catholics, piously crossed himself. We were soon comforted with some
coffee, and then, each of us resuming his burden, started off to reach
the foot of the mountain. Before plunging into the forest, I could not
help looking back with regret at the cave we had scarcely explored, and
in which so many archaeological curiosities remained buried. The sun only
showed itself at intervals through grayish-looking clouds driven
violently along by the east wind. The state of the earth, moistened by
rain which had lasted twenty-four hours, rendered our progression very
difficult, for we were traversing a ferruginous soil. Such wretched
walking put the finishing-stroke to our ill-humor by smearing and
soiling our clothes; for my part, I inwardly anathematized travelling in
general, more especially in rainy weather.

Just as we were emerging from this miserable ravine, Gringalet, who had
no doubt scented something, suddenly rolled himself upon the ground,
frantically. We had proceeded some distance before he rejoined us,
covered with a coating of red clay, which gave him as singular an aspect
as can well be imagined. The dog ran up and down, bounded about and
barked, as if he was making it a business to amuse us. Nor were his
efforts without success. We now reached a small plain, in which the sun
flooded us with its warm rays. This had the effect of putting us into
better humor; for our clothes dried, and with the warmth the feelings of
discomfort t