:;:::::.m THE VOLCANO BY MOONLIGHT m:;::::::: 



thievlshness of the Mexicans, except that once in camp 

 a can-opener disappeared. This was at the time seri- 

 ous enough, for we found that a hatchet or stone, 

 instead of opening a tin can, merely changed its shape 

 from a cyhnder to a flat disc, then to a rectangle and 

 to other geometrical figures, the contents being as 

 inaccessible as ever ! 



In former days, conditions were much worse, and 

 bandits more numerous than now. A traveller in Mex- 

 ico writes that, not so many years ago, the stage-coach 

 running between Guadalajara and Zapotlan used to 

 be held up regidarly, sometimes at several places on 

 one trip. 



" The highwaymen who came last would take from 

 the passengers even their underwear, though with 

 inborn chivalry they allowed the ladies to keep their 

 crinolines. The unfortunate travellers would arrive 

 at Zapotlan gowned in newspapers and the curtains 

 of the coach. Whenever the curtains were seen not to 

 be in their proper places it was at once understood in 

 the town what had happened. On one occasion the 

 soldiers guarding the road succeeded in catchmg the 

 captain of a gang of brigands. They placed their 

 prisoner on a donkey and took him to the nearest vil- 

 laoe to deliver him to the mag^istrate. But wdien thev 

 inquired for the judge, the people replied, ' There 

 you have him on the donkey ! ' " 



The present administration has brought the Republic 



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