Page:Pictures of life in Mexico Vol 2.djvu/171

Rh under the large table at which their proprietory were seated; for the business was prosperous and the stock in hand usually a large one. The room behind was only a repetition of the other, but still more densely crammed with similar articles.

The hilarity of the festive meeting was just at its height, and the capitaz, Pulf—a stalwart, tall, dark, hairy-faced man—was raising a brimming cup of spirit to his lips, toasting success to the cause, when a young contrabandista entered the apartment in haste, with news that the custom-house officers were out on the coast a little below, and had seized upon several hogsheads of theirs, by chance remaining there, as property confiscated to the government.

In place of this intelligence causing consternation among the band, however, they received it with a most uproarious burst of laughter, and, after quaffing another cup of aguardiente each, they rose to their feet and quitted the rancho; good-humouredly swearing, by St. Peter and St. Paul, that they would trundle the meddling officials inside their barrels, bring them to their own quarters there, and cook and eat them for supper, as