244 THE WOODLANDS ORCHIDS 



track they had cut through the forest was the only one 

 connecting the tableland with the Atlantic coast. 



I have travelled that ' road ' myself in the days when 

 peril and discomfort were welcome for the promise of 

 adventure ; but had we known what lay before us when 

 bidding a joyous adieu to the capital, we should have meekly 

 returned to the Pacific harbour by coach. Oversluys was a 

 man of business, and to men of business adventure commonly 

 means embarrassment and loss of time, if no worse. Varied 

 experiences, all unpleasant, told him that to seek orchids in 

 a country like that must be a thankless enterprise, attended 

 by annoyance, privation, and even danger. But he had 

 undertaken the work. It must be done. 



As cheerfully then as such untoward circumstances per- 

 mitted, Oversluys set forth from San Jose, and in due time 

 reached the Disengagno. This is a blockhouse raised by 

 some charitable person on the edge of the tableland ; a very 

 few yards beyond, the path dips suddenly on its course to 

 the Serebpiqui river, 6000 feet below. The spot is bitterly 

 cold at night, as I can testify, or seems so, and for this reason 

 the hut was built, as a shelter for travellers. But they, too 

 lazy to seek wood in the forest at arm's length, promptly 

 demolished the walls and burned them. Only the roof 

 remained in a few months, with the posts that upheld it. 



A group of ill-looking peons occupied this shed when 

 Oversluys arrived. They began to pick a quarrel forthwith ; 

 in short, he heartily wished himself elsewhere. It was not 

 yet dusk. Drawing the guide apart Oversluys questioned 

 him, and learned that there was one single habitation within 

 reach. The report of it was not promising, but he did not 

 hesitate. As the little party filed off, one of the peons 

 shouted, ' A good night, ynacho ! We'll wait for you at La 

 Vergen ! ' — the first halting-place on the descent. A pleasant 

 beginning ! 



