RUINS OF NOHPAT. RETURN TO UXMAL.293 



The village was under the pastoral charge of the 

 cura of Ticul, and in the suburbs I met his ministro 

 on horseback, waiting, according to the directions 

 of the former, to escort me to the ruins of Nohpat. 

 At a league's distance we turned off from the main 

 road, and, following a narrow path leading to some 

 milpas, in fifteen minutes we saw towering before 

 us lofty but shattered buildings, the relics of another 

 ruined city. I saw at a glance that it would be 

 indispensable for Mr. Catherwood to visit them. 

 Nevertheless, I passed three hours on the ground, 

 toiling in the hot sun, and at four o'clock, with 

 strong apprehensions of another attack of fever, I 

 mounted to continue my journey. 



A little before dark I emerged from the woods, 

 and saw Mr. Catherwood standing on the platform 

 of the Casa del Gobernador, the sole tenant of the 

 ruins of Uxmal. His Indians had finished their 

 day's work, Bernaldo and Chaipa Chi had gone, 

 and since Doctor Cabot left he had slept alone in 

 our quarters. He had a feeling of security from the 

 tranquil state of the country, the harmless character 

 of the Indians, their superstitions in regard to the 

 ruins, and a spring pistol with a cord across the 

 door, which could not fail to bring down any one 

 who might attempt to enter at night. 



It had happened most fortunately for our opera- 

 tions that Mr. Catherwood had held out. Without 

 any resources or anything to occupy him except 

 work, he had accomplished an enormous deal, and 



