Page:Pictures of life in Mexico Vol 2.djvu/32

10 At the end of the first day though the road had been rocky and difficult, his progress was considerable; for his spirits were buoyant his mule was hardy and active and the strength of both was yet unwearied. He stopped in the evening at a little rancho which was well known to him; it contained but two rooms and was the only place where it was possible to obtain shelter for many miles. Its owner was an old solitary Indian, who received him on this occasion with unwonted hospitality; and after partaking of a hasty meal of chilé and frijoles, by a wood fire upon the ground, in the company of the host, and making fast the bridle of his mule to the wall of his own apartment, he retired to his couch—composed of two skins and a blanket—to enjoy a night's repose.

After more than an hour of wakefulness, he was startled by hearing his own name spoken in subdued tones, by more than one person in the next room, where the fire was still burning brightly! Applying his eyes to a crevice in the partition dividing the two apartments, he perceived that the adjoining chamber was occupied by three figures beside the old Indian host; and overheard them planning the readiest way to rob and murder him. The unexpected guests