TWO NIGHTS IX SOUTHERN MEXICO. 67 



had pack-saddles, intended apparently for the con- 

 veyance of numerous sacks, cases, and wallets that 

 were scattered about on the ground. Several mus- 

 kets and rifles were leaning here and there against 

 the trees ; and a dozen or fifteen men were occupied 

 in various ways some filling up saddle-bags or 

 fastening luggage on the mules, others lying on the 

 ground smoking, one party surrounding a fire at 

 which cooking was going on. At a short distance 

 from my bed was another similarly composed couch, 

 occupied by a man muffled up in blankets, and 

 having his back turned towards me, so that I was 

 unable to obtain a view of his features. 



"What is all this? Where am 11 Where is 

 Eowley our guide where are they all 1 " 



" Non entiendo," answered my brown - visaged 

 Ganymede, shaking his head, and with a good- 

 humoured smile. 



" Adonde estamos ? " 



" In el valle de CJiihuatan, in el gran valle de 

 Oaxaca y Guatimala ; diez leguas de Tarifa. In 

 the valley of Chihuatan ; ten leagues from Tarifa." 



The figure lying on the bed near me now made a 

 movement, and turned round. What could it be? 

 Its face was like a lump of raw flesh streaked and 

 stained with blood. No features were distinguishable. 



" Who are you 1 What are you ] " cried I. 



" Eowley," it answered : " Eowley I was, at least, 

 if those devils haven't changed me." 



