18 A NATURALIST IX MEXICO. 



inventory of our surroundings. It was an ordinary freight- 

 car turned into a house. In each end were two cot beds, 

 in the center the table at which we were eating, and about 

 the walls hung hats, coats, guns, and other objects. Three 

 lamps with powerful reflectors gave us ample light. 



After supper we paid our respects to Mrs. Glenn, an 

 estimable lady, who was braving the hardships of a con- 

 struction camp that she might be with her husband. As we 

 walked from our ''dining" car to that occupied, by the 

 colonel, we passed the camp of the men engaged on the 

 construction. Fires were burning, and groups of men 

 standing or lying about them. Here was a group amusing 

 itself singing songs, there another listening to the jokes or 

 stories of one of its members- The night was beautifully 

 clear, and objects about us could be as plainly distinguished 

 as by day. The queen of night sailed high in the heavens, 

 which were bespangled with millions of stars. Having paid 

 our respects to the "lady of the camp," we returned to our 

 car and were soon in the ''arms of Morpheus." 



