2-50 THE NATURALIST IN NICARAGUA. [Ch. XIY. 



them very conspicuous. Their formidable means of 

 defence makes for them the obscure colouration of other 

 dusk-roaming mammals unnecessary, as they do not 

 need concealment. 



Hour after hour passed, and we reached no house, 

 nor met any one on the road ; and at last, about nine 

 o'clock, we determined to stop at a spot where there was 

 a little grass, but no water, as the poor jaded mules had 

 been ridden since daylight, excepting for an hour at 

 midday. We spread our waterproof sheet from the 

 branch of a tree, and lay down dinnerless and suppeiiess, 

 having had nothing but a little sweet bread and native 

 cheese all day ; we were now too thirsty to eat even that. 

 Hearing some frogs croaking in the distance, Yelasquez 

 went awav in the direction from whence the sound came, 



V J 



hoping to find some water; but there was none, the 

 frogs being in damp cracks in the ground. About eleven 

 we heard the noises of men talking; and holloaing to 

 them, our shouts were returned. We ran across the 

 plain, through the bushes, and found two Indians, who 

 were returning from some plantations of maize to their 

 home, several miles distant. Both were nearly naked, 

 the youngest having only a loin-cloth on. When talking 

 to us, they shouted as if we were many yards distant ; 

 and as soon as one began to answer a question, the other 

 went on repeating, in a higher key, what the first said. 



They told us that we had come two leagues past 

 Palacaguina, and were on the road to a small town 

 called Pueblo Nuevo, and directed us how we should 

 find the right track in the morning for continuing our 

 journey to Ocotal. They were highly amused at our 

 misadventure, and laughed and talked to each other 



