80 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



one of Bernaldo's best miscellaneous preparations 

 of fowls, rice, and frigoles, and finished the last meal 

 that we were able to pay for. This over, we had 

 recourse to a small paper of Havana cigars, three in 

 number, containing the last of our stock, reserved 

 for some extraordinary occasion. Satisfied that no 

 occasion could offer w^hen we should be more in 

 need of extraneous support, we lighted them and 

 sat down under the arbour, and, as the smoke rolled 

 away, listened for the tread of the trotter. It was 

 really perplexing to know what to do ; but it was very 

 certain that if we remained at the rancho, as soon 

 as a medio was not forthcoming the moment it was 

 wanted we were undone. Our chance would be 

 better at the village, and we determined to break up 

 and go on. 



Leaving special charge for Albino to follow, at 

 three o'clock we set out. The proprietor accom- 

 panied us, and at half past five we made a dashing 

 entry into the village of Xul, with horses, and ser- 

 vants, and carriers, and just one solitary medio left. 



The casa real was the poorest we had seen in 

 the country, and, under any circumstances, it was 

 not the place for us, for, immediately on dismounting, 

 it would be necessary to order ramon and maize for 

 the horses, and the money must follow the order. 

 There was a crowd of gaping loungers around the 

 door, and if we stopped at this place we should be 

 obliged to expose ourselves at once, without any op- 



