othing could be found in the empty houses--neither
food to satisfy his hunger, nor water to quench his thirst--the
traveller was compelled to ride on without halting. "_Cosa estrana_!"
muttered he to himself, "what on earth can be the meaning of this
complete depopulation?"

In addition to the desertion of the houses, another odd circumstance had
struck his attention. Almost at every hut which he passed, he saw
canoes and _periaguas_ suspended from the branches of the trees, and
raised many feet above the ground! In a part of the country where there
is neither lake nor river--not so much as the tiniest stream--no wonder
the sight astonished our traveller, considering that he was a stranger
to the district, and had not yet encountered a single individual who
might explain the ludicrous phenomenon.

Just as he was pondering over an explanation of these singularities, a
sound fell upon his ear, that produced within him a feeling of joy. It
was the hoof-stroke of a horse, breaking upon the profound solitude. It
came from behind him; and betokened that some horseman was approaching
in his rear, though still invisible on account of a turning in the road,
which the young traveller had just doubled.

In a few seconds' time the horseman appeared in sight; and galloping
freely forward, soon came side by side with our traveller.

"_Santos Dios_!" saluted the new-comer, at the same time raising his
hand to his hat.

"_Santos Dios_!" responded the young man, with a similar gesture.

The meeting of two travellers in the midst of a profound solitude is
always an event, which leads to their regarding one another with a
certain degree of curiosity; and such occurred in the present instance.

He who had just arrived was also a young man--apparently of twenty-four
or twenty-five years; and this conformity of age was the only point in
which the two travellers resembled each other. The new-comer was
somewhat above medium stature, with a figure combining both elegance and
strength. His features were regular and well defined; his eyes black
and brilliant; his moustache thick and curving, and his complexion
deeply embrowned with the sun. All these circumstances tended to show
that he was a man of action; while a certain air of energy and command
bespoke fiery passions, and the hot Arabian blood, which flows in the
veins of many Spanish-Mexican families.

His horse was a bay-brown, whose slender limbs and sinewy form declared
h