TWO NIGHTS IN SOUTHERN MEXICO. 89 



Wearied by our ride, weakened by the fever and 

 sufferings of the preceding night, we are in no con- 

 dition to strive much longer with the furious ele- 

 ments. For one step that we gain, we lose two. 

 The waters rise ; already they are nearly up to our 

 armpits. It is in vain to resist any longer. Our fate 

 is sealed. 



" Eowley, all is over let us die like men. God 

 have mercy on our souls ! " 



Eowley was a few paces higher up the barranca. 

 He made me no answer, but looked at me with a 

 calm, cold, and yet somewhat regretful smile upon 

 his countenance. Then all at once he ceased the 

 efforts he was making to resist the stream and gain 

 the bank, folded his arms on his breast and gave a 

 look up and around him, as though to bid farewell 

 to the world he was about to leave. The current 

 was sweeping him rapidly down towards me, when 

 suddenly a wild hurrah burst from his lips, and ho 

 recommenced his struggles against the waters, striving 

 violently to retain a footing on the slippery, uneven 

 bed of the stream. 



" Tenfja ! Tenga ! " screamed a dozen voices, that 

 seemed to proceed from spirits of the air ; and at .the 

 same moment something Avhistled about my ears and 

 struck me a smart blow across the face. With the 

 instinct of a droAvning man, I clutched the lasso that 

 had been thrown to me. Eowley was at my elbow 

 and seized it also. It was immediately drawn tight, 



