PRESSING WANTS. 



129 



them, some holding perhaps as much as one or two 

 pails of water. I led my horse to one of the lar- 

 gest. He was always an extraordinary water drink- 

 er, and that evening was equal to a whole temper- 

 ance society. The little Indian looked on as if he 

 had sold -his birthright, and I felt strong compunc- 

 tions; but, letting the morrow take care of itself, I 

 sent up the other horses, which consumed at a sin- 

 gle drinking what might, perhaps, have sufficed the 

 family a month. 



In the mean time our own wants were not shght. 

 We had been on the road all day, and had eaten 

 nothing. Unluckily, the old sexton had taken for 

 his load the box containing our table furniture and 

 provisions for the road, and we had not seen him 

 since we left him at Sacbey. All the other carriers 

 had arrived. I had hired them to remain with us 

 and work at the ruins, and then carry the luggage 

 to the next village. Part of my contract was to 

 feed them, and, knowing the state of things, they 

 scattered in search of supphes, returning, after a 

 long absence, with some tortillas, eggs, and lard. 

 We had the eggs fried, and would, perhaps, have 

 been content but for our vexation with the sexton. 

 While we were swinging in our hammocks, we 

 heard his voice at a distance, and presently he enter- 

 ed in the best humour possible, and holding up his 

 empty bottle in triumph. 



The next morning at daylight we sent Albino 



Vol. IL— R 



