Through the Giant Cactus Forest 131 



I have ever heard, which seemed to be trying 

 to speak Spanish or Yaqui or Maya. 



All this, and more, as we moved slowly along 

 through a region that impressed itself upon me 

 as a part of some play, then the man who demor- 

 alized the Matabeles cried to the Yaqui runner, 

 "Aqui esta. Quedese Vd. aqui" and leaped out 

 into the sand. 



I fancy he knew it by some mountains that 

 cut the sky line to the south as he had no mark 

 in that maze of cacti. 



" I know that I am within a mile of it," he 

 said, and throwing off his coat, he started, as 

 near as I could determine, in a giant cactus 

 forest, where everything looks alike, to the south, 

 at a fast run ; while we dismounted and wan- 

 dered among the strange verdure. In half an 

 hour, there came a long resonant cry that told 

 of success, and following it up, I met Major 

 Burnham in the heart of the forest. A long- 

 horned bull had threatened and detained him, 

 and he had left the toro standing near the stone, 

 and so, not far away from the animal, we 

 found it. 



It was an ancient landmark; any one could 

 see that by the strange distinct earth line, sug- 

 gesting centuries undisturbed. The Yaqui could 

 not read it, but at a glance it resembled copies 

 of a Maya Yucatan inscription that I called to 

 mind. Some of the markings, as the inverted 



