CENTRAL CHIHUAHUA. 137 
affair, and would not stoop to drive to 
the hotel for passengers, not even for 
extra money). The rigid rules of the 
corporation had to be enforced, and 
were above all price ; so we went floun¬ 
dering around in utter darkness until we 
were waylaid by a friendly policeman 
with a lantern, who doubled us back on 
our tracks, and assisted us to reach the 
dark door of the diligence office, which, 
at that hour, was not distinguishable from 
any other door. At first we were sure 
the policeman had made a mistake, for 
there was no sign of life about the place, 
and it was full time for departure. 
Soon, however, a frowzy-headed man 
with a candle in his hand opened the 
door and bade us enter ; but I preferred 
walking up and down outside in the cool 
morning air, and had a good half hour’s 
