62 



THE MONTE PENULCO. 



low him to go forward to his home in the town of Za- 

 cualtipan, between three and four leagues distant, to pre- 

 pare his wife for the reception of our party : and I have 

 now further to narrate the defection of our scapegrace 

 Juliano, who, after going about his work in the evening 

 like a man in a maze, was reported early the next morn- 

 ing by his comrade to be dead— or dying— or drunk ; 

 at all events incapable, or unwilling to move another 

 step. We therefore visited him, and inquired into the 

 particulars of his case. We examined his tongue— 

 well-coloured and healthy ; felt his pulse — free and regu- 

 lar; and punched him affectionately in the stomach, that 

 being, according to the mute indication of the sufferer, 

 the main seat of the unknown disease. He bore this 

 professional treatment with great meekness. We ascer- 

 tained that he had, in conformity to his invariable habits, 

 made a very hearty supper : to wit, a dozen and a half 

 of tortillas smeared with Chile; a dish of rice; a dish 

 of frigoles, forbye an egg or two ; a huge pot of pulque, 

 and a couple of yards of sugarcane ; and we had great 

 suspicion, from what we learned, that he intended, as soon 

 as the coast was clear, to make an equally hearty break- 

 fast. But what were we poor, innocent, helpless trav- 

 ellers to do? There he lay under a group of Palma 

 Christi, on his armas oVagua, or goatskin knee wrappers, 

 like a man who has completely lost his hold upon the 

 world — made his last testament — left to others the con- 

 solations to be derived from the possession of his goods 

 and chattels — his battered green velvet pantaloons, and 

 short jacket; his mighty sword, and mightier carbine; 

 and was only waiting for the priest to give him his 

 viaticum. 



It is true, we had all good reasons to believe him 

 66 playing possum," as the Anglo Americans express it, 

 otherwise shamming ; indeed, we had proof positive 

 showing this to be the case, and that, moreover, he had 

 excellent reasons for doing it, and for quitting us here. 

 He was deeply in our debt. He was tired of his mas- 

 ters, as he found that his vilianies, small and great, were 

 detected. He knew that from this day forward, the 



