Ch. XIV.] LOST IX THE HILLS. 249 



the proprietor, Don Estevan Espinosa. Had Nicaragua 

 many such sons they would soon change the face of the 

 country, and turn many a wilderness into a fruitful 

 garden. 



Parsing over a stony range, we descended by a steep 

 pass into the valley of the Estely, and followed it down 

 to the westward across low dry hills with prickly bushes 

 and scrub. About five o'clock we reached an extended 

 plain covered with prickly trees and shrubs, and pressed 

 on to reach the village of Palacaguina, where we pro- 

 posed to pass the night. There were many paths leading 

 across the plain, and there was no person to be seen to 

 direct us which to take ; whilst the scrubby trees inter- 

 rupted our view in every direction. Bito had once 

 before been in the neighbourhood, and thought he knew 

 the way, so we submitted ourselves to his guidance ; but, 

 as it proved, he took a path which lead us past, instead 

 of to, the town. Night set in as we were pushing across 

 dry weed-covered hills, destitute of grass or water, every 

 minute expecting to meet some one who could tell us 

 about the road. Eito was still confident that he was right, 

 although both Velasquez and myself had concluded we 

 must have got on the wrong road. The only animal we 

 met with was a black and white skunk, with a young 

 one following it. The mother ran too fast up a rocky 

 slope for the young one, which was left behind, and 

 came towards us. It was very pretty, with its snow- 

 white bushy tail laid over its black back ; but we were 

 afraid to touch it, fearing that, young as it was, it might 

 have a supply of the foetid fluid that they discharge 

 with too sure an aim at any assailant. The skunks 

 move slowly about, and their large white tails render 



