poor prisoners, already worn out with their long journey, appeared
scarcely able to drag on their weary limbs through it. Of its extent we
were unable to judge, but the commander seemed to fancy that in a short
time we should reach firmer and more fertile ground, where we should
find water and halt to breakfast. The sun, which rose in a cloudless
sky on our right, showed that we were proceeding in the direction we
wished to follow--towards the north.

"Forward, my men," shouted the officer. "In an hour or two we shall be
out of this ill-conditioned spot, and find rest and refreshment."

The soldiers lighted their cigars and urged on their horses, while they
dealt their blows freely on the backs of the Indians to quicken their
speed.

I observed a peculiar smile on the countenance of Ithulpo, as the
officer spoke of soon reaching a place of rest. Our attendant had, I
found, managed to distribute a supply of the highly prized cacao among
his countrymen; and while their features wore a look of sullen
indifference as they received the ill-merited blows, I remarked that
they seemed to bear up against the fatigue better than they had before
done. As the sun rose higher the heat increased, till it became almost
insupportable. The officers spoke earnestly together for some time, and
were evidently growing anxious as to the road we were taking. At length
their voices grew louder and louder, as if disputing on the point, for
there was very little semblance of discipline among them. Then they
called up several of their men one after the other, but could not gain
the information they required. Some of the prisoners were next brought
up, but they either could not or would not say whether we were pursuing
the proper course, their countenances assuming an expression of the most
perfect ignorance and apathy. Still we pushed on, the Spaniards trying
to urge their horses still faster through the heavy sand. Before us
rose a bright glittering haze, through which objects every now and then
appeared seemingly in the far distance--hills, and trees, and rocks, and
lakes, and streams of pure water; but as we advanced they vanished, and
a few barren mounds and loose stones alone were found, while the
supposed water was altogether a mocking deception. To the right hand
and to the left, the same inhospitable desert seemed to stretch out far
away; and we had already advanced so deeply into it, that the officers
probably supposed tha