TWO NIGHTS IN SOUTHERN MEXICO. 83 



On looking round us, however, we were involun- 

 tarily struck with the sudden change in the appear- 

 ance of the heavens. The usual golden black-blue 

 colour of the sky was gone, and had been replaced 

 by a dull gloomy grey. The quality of the air ap- 

 peared also to have changed; it was neither very 

 warm nor very cold, but it had lost its lightness and 

 elasticity, and seemed to oppress and weigh us down. 

 Presently we saw the dark cloud rise gradually from 

 behind the hills, completely clearing their summits, 

 and then sweeping along until it hung over the 

 valley, in form and appearance like some monstrous 

 night-moth, resting the tips of its enormous wings on 

 the mountains on either side. To our right Ave still 

 saw the roofs and walls of Quidricovi, apparently at 

 a very short distance. 



" Why not go to Quidricovi ? " shouted I to the 

 guides " we cannot be far off." 



" ]More than five leagues," answered the men, shak- 

 ing their heads and looking up anxiously at the huge 

 moth, which was still creeping and crawling on, each 

 moment darker and more threatening. It was like 

 some frightful monster, or the fabled Kraken, work- 

 ing itself along by its claws, which were struck deep 

 into the mountain-wall on either side of its line of 

 progress, and casting its hideous shadow over hill and 

 dale, forest and valley, clothing them in gloom and 

 darkness. To our right hand and behind us, the moun- 

 tains were still of a glowing golden red, lighted up by 



