Page:Pictures of life in Mexico Vol 2.djvu/157

Rh insupportable, that he was glad to take shelter in the friendly nook; where he had slept, forgetful of the ill success attending his labours.

This young man was a Mestizo, or half-caste, called Lope Cluca, much handsomer in figure and feature than Mexicans of his class commonly are; though it was evident all care of his person was fast giving way to the slovenliness and neglect which his circumstances and occupation prompted: and which might be seen in such perfection among the Indians and earth-breakers, at a little distance beyond him. His hair was long and matted, his clothes were coarse, soiled, and much worn, his hands and face were darkened by the sun beyond their ordinary brown hue, and his beard was untrimmed; nevertheless, his fine figure and manly countenance sufficiently distinguished him from the dirty and repulsive looking beings, his companions. He had left the city of Mexico many months before, in the hope of mending his fortunes in these sterile northern districts, where rich veins of silver were often found by the meanest adventurers; and he had confidently assured the pretty Teresa. Alxarra—for whose sake he had left the