CHAPTER XVII. 



A FORCED MARCH —WILD-DUCKS — VEGETABLE SOAP — AN UNWELCOME 



GUEST. 



IT rained all night, and I awoke about seven o'clock in the 

 ;@Ov4 morning, shivering with cold. It was Ascension-day, 

 and I'Encuerado, before making up the fire, chanted a 

 canticle, and, after the manner of Roman Catholics, piously 

 crossed himself. We were soon comforted with some coffee, and 

 then, each of us resuming his burden, started off to reach the 

 foot of the mountain. Before plunging into the forest, I could 

 not help looking back with regret at the cave we had scarcely 

 explored, and in which so many archaeological curiosities re- 

 mained buried. The sun only showed itself at intervals through 

 grayish-looking clouds driven violently along by the east wind. 

 The state of the earth, moistened by a rain which had lasted 



M 



