44 



THE WOODLANDS ORCHIDS 



A low wall encircled the church. The Indians did not 

 think it prudent to use the entrance — of which those idols 

 were the gate-posts, as it may be said. Oversluys, reassured, 

 had drawn close enough now to see them creep up to the 

 wall. Suddenly there was a roar ! A multitude of figures 

 leapt up the other side of the wall, yelling ! 



That was ' Boot and Saddle ' for Oversluys. Off he set 

 full gallop, for the risk of a broken neck is not worth count- 

 ing when vengeful Indians are on one's trail. But though 

 all the village must have heard him thudding past, no one 

 pursued. Very extraordinary, but the whole incident was 

 mysterious. After fifteen years' experience the collector — a 

 shrewd man at the beginning — knew Indians well, but he 

 could never explain this adventure. Sometimes he thought 

 it might have been a trick from beginning to end, devised 

 by Don Hilario to get the Cura into a scrape. I have no 

 suggestion to offer, but the little story seems worth note as 

 an illustration of manners. 



Oversluys had good reason to remember it. Uncom- 

 fortably enough he waited for dawn in the dank wood, 

 holding his mule by the bridle, not daring to advance. As 

 soon as the path could be faintly traced he started, and 

 happily found the corral where his mules and servants had 

 been left. The cattle were streaming out already, bulls in 

 advance. They blocked the gateway, and with the utmost 

 promptitude Oversluys withdrew into the bush. Making 

 his way to the fence he shouted for his mozos — in vain ; 

 climbed over with no small difficulty and entered the shed. 

 His mules were safe enough but both mozos had vanished, 

 having found or made friends in the neighbourhood. And 

 all his precious Cattleyas, left defenceless, had been munched 

 or trampled flat by the cattle ! He never ceased to mourn 

 that loss. 



