of a man, whose gait and
complexion proved him to be an Indian. In hopes of obtaining some
provisions from this man, or, at all events, an explanation of the
singular circumstances already mentioned, the student urged his horse
into a more rapid pace, heading him towards the Indian.

He saw that the latter was driving two cows before him, whose distended
udders proved them to be milch cattle. This increased the desire of the
horseman, hungry and thirsty as he was, to join company with the
cowherd.

"_Hola_! Jose!" cried he, at the top of his voice.

An Indian will always respond to the name _Jose_, as an Irishman to that
of _Pat_ or _Paddy_. On hearing it, the cow-driver looked round in
alarm. At that moment the _escapado_ of the bull-ring caught sight of
the two cows, and suddenly broke off into a gallop--unfortunately,
however, in a direction the very opposite to that which his rider
desired him to take!

Notwithstanding this, the student still continued to shout to the
cowherd, in hopes of bringing him to comprehend his dilemma. But the
odd spectacle of a horseman calling to him to approach, while he himself
kept riding off in the opposite direction, so astounded the Indian that,
uttering a cry of affright, he also took to his heels, followed in a
long shambling trot by the two cows!

It was not until all three were out of sight, that the student could
prevail on his affrighted steed to return into the proper path.

"In the name of the Holy Virgin!" soliloquised he, "what has got into
the people of this country? Every one of them appears to have gone
mad!"

And once more setting his horse to the road, he proceeded onward--now,
however, hungrier and more disconsolate than ever.

Just as night was coming down, he arrived at a place where two or three
small huts stood by the side of the road. These, like all the others,
he found deserted. At sight of them, however, the old horse came to a
dead stop, and refused to proceed. His rider, equally fatigued,
resolved upon remaining by the huts, until the assistance promised by
the dragoon captain should arrive.

In front of one of the huts stood two tall tamarind trees--between which
a hammock was suspended, at the height of seven or eight feet from the
ground. It was a capacious one, made of the strong plaited thread of
the _maguey_. It seemed to invite the wearied traveller to repose--as
if placed there on purpose for him.

As the heat was still suff