shortly of undertaking another
journey; and as his health is delicate, we are anxious you should bear
us company. I need not add, the zeal you have already shown, will not
fail to secure our interest in your future welfare.'

''Indeed! does his excellency intend starting very soon? May I be
allowed to ask where is he going?'

''To the same place,' said Arthur.

''Oh! oh! I see; the herbs and shells I brought were not enough to
answer his excellency's purpose; you want more of the shells--eh,
Senor?'

'Yes, a few more,' said Arthur, with a deep sigh, for he felt acutely
the ironical tone which the Mexican assumed.

''Well, what would you say, Senor Pride, if, instead of the few I handed
you, I had brought a sack full--you would not feel angry, would you?'

''Scoundrel! you have not dared to thus deceive me?' exclaimed Mr.
Livermore, starting to his feet and advancing toward Pepito, with an air
of menace.

''Unfortunately, I did not; but you have proved to me what a fool I was,
not to suspect their value. You evidently attach immense importance to
them.'

''Control your temper, Arthur,' said Adele, in English, 'or you will
ruin every thing.'

''After all,' resumed Pepito, 'it is only a chance deferred, not a
chance lost. With a good horse, I can soon make up for lost time.'

'His tone of defiance annihilated the self-possession even of Adele;
while as for Arthur, he looked the very picture of despair. I,
therefore, resolved to smooth matters over, and if possible, to bring
Pepito to terms. At first he listened to me very unwillingly, and
answered sulkily and laconically; but wearied at last by my pertinacity,
he suggested that it was scarcely fair play for me to assume to sit as
judge in a cause wherein I was an interested party.'

''You are strangely mistaken, Pepito,' I said, in reply; 'I can swear to
you on my honor, and by the holy Virgin of Guadalupe, that I am not in
any way a party to this transaction; and that its success or its failure
will not affect me to the extent of a real.

''Oh! I beg your pardon, Caballero,' muttered Pepito, on whom my
adjuration by the holy Virgin of Guadalupe, had produced an unexpected
effect. 'In that case I will trust to your advice; I rely on your honor.
Now tell me--I know very well these shells are valuable--how much would
a mule-load be worth--two thousand dollars?'

''Yes, and perhaps more.'

''You speak frankly, like a man!' he exclaimed with delight; 'you don