256 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



with all my strength. The stones went rolling and 

 crashing down the side of the mound, striking against 

 roots and tearing off branches. The perspiration 

 rolled from me in a stream, but I was so completely 

 carried away by the idea that had taken possession 

 of me, so sure of entering some chamber that had 

 been closed for ages, that I stopped at nothing ; and 

 with all this I considered myself cool and calm, 

 and with great method resolved, as soon as I reached 

 the doorway, to stop and send for Mr. Catherwood 

 and Doctor Cabot, that we might all enter together, 

 and make a formal note of everything exactly as it 

 was found ; but I was doomed to a worse disap- 

 pointment than at El Laberinto de Maxcanu. Be- 

 fore getting below the cornice I thrust the machete 

 through the earth, and found no opening, but a sol- 

 id stone wall. The ground of my hope was gone, 

 but still I kept the Indians digging, unconsciously, 

 and without any object. In the interest of the mo- 

 ment I was not aware that the clouds had dis- 

 appeared, and that I had been working in this deep 

 hole, without a breath of air, under the full blaze 

 of a vertical sun. The disappointment and reaction 

 after the high excitement, co-operating with the fa- 

 tigue and heat, prostrated all my strength. I felt 

 a heaviness and depression, and was actually sick 

 at heart, so that, calling off the Indians, I was fain 

 to give over and return to our quarters. In de- 

 scending the mound my limbs could scarcely sup- 

 port me. My strength and elasticity were gone. 



