66 CENTRAL AMERICA. 



fastest mule I ever saw, seemed to have, pre- 

 viously on some former hunt, done what he 

 now did, for on arriving at a part of the 

 forest where the underwood was rather 

 thinner, he left us, and we saw no more of 

 him for some time. Still we followed the 

 trail as hard as we could press through the 

 wood ; but after a good half hour's gallop a 

 screech from right a-head informed us that 

 the lad had succeeded in heading the cattle, 

 and turning them away to the left ; and on 

 arriving at the spot where they were turned, 

 we found that the herd had taken an old 

 trail, that led to near the spot where we first 

 entered the river. They could not have 

 taken a better direction, for we knew that • 

 there were several clear savannahs a-head : 

 and so it proved ; though we had still a long 

 chase in store for us ; but this chase became 

 more exciting as we were evidently nearing 

 the game; and as we slid and scrambled 

 down the bank into the bed of the river, the 

 whole herd was in view, about three hundred 

 yards in front, galloping furiously down the 

 stream, and sending as much spray into the 

 air as a whole schoU of black fish. The 

 cattle lost ground, however, for as the pools 

 got more frequent, the banks higher, and the 



