THE DESERT AND THE ROSE 117 



both loud and deep. Suddenly the head of the house 

 hurried away, returning with a large rat trap. As 

 we have few rats in our country the existence of a 

 rat trap was somewhat of a puzzle, but we had no 

 time to worry over so small a matter. With the 

 enthusiastic assistance of two young sons he affixed 

 the contraption to the bat hole in the wall, and we 

 adjourned for supper — a meal abbreviated by the 

 excited shouts of the boys. Their father scaled the 

 ladder, shoved down the door of the trap next the 

 wall and descended with caution — as well he might, 

 for in that trap were one hundred and fifty bats! 

 To say that the disgusting pests were inconvenient- 

 ly crowded is to say nothing. Now what were we 

 to do with our prisoners ? Oh, that's easy, was the 

 cry — sulphur and a sack! Sulphur and a sack were 

 tried exhaustively, and at the end of an hour or 

 more the creatures were still hopping up and down 

 in as lively a manner as close quarters would admit 

 of. The evening slipped away in futile endeavor. 

 At last by some lucky chance the acequia filled up, 

 and total immersion made an end of our troubles 

 and those of the bats. 



Nevertheless bats have their uses. At intervals 

 in both mountain and valley occur caves of all 

 depths, sizes and formation, a few of which remain 

 impenetrable mysteries alike to antiquarian and 

 geologist. Through some one may walk as through 

 a series of "banquet halls deserted," others are mere 

 holes in the ground whose depths no man has 

 plumbed. But about the bat caves there is no 

 mystery; they are productive only of filthy lucre. 



