en to his dear mother and his sister Hortense, and he had to
open his letter at least twenty times to add postscripts, often dictated
by l'Encuerado.

[Illustration]

In the evening we bade adieu to our kind hosts, for we were to start
early. Thanks to them, we had renewed our stock of salt, rice, coffee,
sugar, and maize-cake. In default of black pepper, we took with us some
red capsicums; but the most precious of our acquisitions was the powder
and shot I had received in exchange for the telescope.

On the next morning I learned that Torribio was already on his way
towards Puebla. He had started about midnight, so as to avoid crossing
the plain during the heat of the day. I now hastened our own departure.
We were in possession of good hats, but our garments, which had been
mended with some soft leather, gave us the appearance of mendicants;
this, however, did not trouble us much. My shoes, and also Sumichrast's,
had been strongly, if not elegantly, repaired, and were quite as good as
new; Lucien, too, now possessed a pair of spare sandals.

The inhabitants of the little colony ranged along our path, and,
overwhelming us with good wishes, bid us another adieu. I pressed all
the hands that were held out to me, and then, guided by the band of
children, who still surrounded the young traveller, we commenced to
ascend the path which had led us down into this hospitable little oasis.
When I reached the summit of the hill, I waved my hat as a last
salutation to Coyotepec; l'Encuerado fired off his gun as a farewell,
and we plunged into the labyrinth of cactuses, taking a straight course
towards the east.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XXIII.

AGAIN ON THE ROAD.--THE BIRD-CATCHING SPIDER.--THE MARTEN AND THE
SKUNK.--THE FLYING SQUIRREL.--THE OTTER-HUNT.--L'ENCUERADO WOUNDED.

Three days of difficult travelling brought us into the midst of the
_Terre-Temperee_. Thus we had traversed the whole breadth of the
Cordillera, at one time shivering on their summits, at another
perspiring, as we penetrated narrow and deep-sunk valleys, just as the
chances of our journey led us. Every now and then we caught a sight of
the pointed cone of the volcano of Orizava, which assisted us in taking
our bearings. At last, four days after taking leave of Coyotepec, we
established our bivouac at the foot of a mountain, close to a clear and
icy stream.

While l'Encuerado was making the fire, Lucien discovered under a st