Page:Face to Face With the Mexicans.djvu/115

 By far the most charming sights were several beautiful mountain cascades which gushed at intervals from the rocks in clear streams of sparkling purity. Far up in the ledge of a precipice or declivity, a spring burst forth suddenly, then dropping in a glistening fall, broke away down the scraggy mountain side in a foaming cascade, and, having disported itself in a thousand lights and shapes of beauty, quietly gathered itself together, and flowed away, a musical murmuring brook.

But Cosme took heed to none of these agreeable interludes in the monotony, nor of the monotony itself. He was otherwise engrossed. Intent upon keeping bravely in front of us, where custom had placed him, it became necessary for him to travel faster and faster, until his gallant steed was finally dashing along at the maddest possible rate. There was no restraining our fiery team, and, of course the faster they traveled the worse for poor Cosme. Oblivious to passing objects, the merciless animal bounced Cosme

up and down, but he held on bravely, his arms broadly akimbo, his linen blouse floating out in horizontal lines, his sombrero dancing up and down, as if to keep pace with himself. He swayed backward and forward, jolted and jostled as he kept up his wild career! Now and again he ventured to turn and look back, as if to implore us not to go so fast; but our horses' spirits could not be checked; there was no help for Cosme!

Once, when hedged in by an impassable barrier of stone on one side, and a line of determined burros on the other, we were near enough to call aloud: "Cosme, go more slowly! ride in the rear!"

The temptation and pressure of circumstances were too great, and once again, after an interval of rest, my ears were greeted by the