Page:Pictures of life in Mexico Vol 1.djvu/96

70 country, about fifty leagues from this place, I almost overtook a man on horseback, cautiously threading the way before me, who glanced around him in such a suspicious manner, that an impression immediately entered my mind that the animal on which he rode was stolen. He turned round as I approached, and our eyes met—it was my old adversary! My appearance seemed to act like a stroke of lightning upon him: he shuddered, and almost fell to the ground; then he spurred on his horse to a furious pace, and though I urged myself to my utmost speed, he was soon far beyond my sight.

" 'Oh! what rage and mortification possessed me on my disappointment! I tore my hair, I foamed at the mouth, I thought that the little reason I had left would have gone for ever. I was only upheld by the consideration that I was on his track: this kept me from despair, and restored me eventually to my usual ardour and energy in the execution of my project.

" 'I travelled on for many weary stages in the same direction—not that I felt the journey difficult: I never thought of that—but my impatience begrudged every step and lengthened