ortion of my
past. For, says the Persian poet, "A finished book is a sealed casket.
To it nothing can be added. From it nothing can be taken away.
Therefore should we pray to Allah that its contents may be good."

The record that I am now ending was begun partly that I might find in
the writing of it relief from the more serious work in which I have been
engaged, and partly because I perceived that I could properly include in
a personal narrative many matters which were too trivial or too entirely
personal to be incorporated into my extended scientific treatise, but
which, I was persuaded, were of a sufficient interest to be preserved.
But I certainly should not have finished this history of our adventures
nearly so expeditiously had not Rayburn and Young taken a very lively
interest in it, and pressed me constantly to bring it to an end.

"You see, Professor," said Young, "I don't want t' say anything against
that big book you're writin'. I don't doubt that in its way it'll be a
daisy; but you know yourself there won't be more'n about three cranks in
th' whole o' God's universe who'll ever read more'n about ten lines of
it; an' that's why I want you t' rush ahead with th' little book--that
stands some chance o' bein' read outside o' lunatic asylums--so's
folks'll know what a powerful queer time we've had. Don't be too cussed
particular t' say just where that valley is--for, while it's not likely,
we might want t' take a fightin' crowd along an' dynamite our way back
there some day after more cash; but, exceptin' that, just give 'em th'
cold facts. I reckon they'll make some folks open their eyes."

From times to time, as my narrative has grown beneath my hand, I have
read aloud to my fellow-adventurers what I have written, and have
received from them suggestions in accordance with which it has been
corrected or amended in its several parts; and it is but just to add, in
this connection, that in every case where I have referred (as it seems
to me now in words not nearly strong enough) to the loyalty to our
common interests, and to the splendid bravery which Rayburn and Young
constantly exhibited throughout that trying time, I have been compelled
to exert the whole of my authority over them in order to win their
grumbling permission that my words might stand. Even Pablo--for the love
that there was between this boy and me was far too strong to permit me
to leave him behind in Mexico, and we are like to live together as