d
nuts, perhaps. The bell struck, and they moved in procession to their
places, when at another signal they placed the dishes upon the table.

Ah! there is _our_ bell, and we must go. Carrie, you may head the
procession.

IV.

From Panama to San Francisco.

"Aunty, where are you?" cried little Alice, and then a gentle knock on
my door reminded me that it was four o'clock. "We are all ready waiting
in the sitting-room, and Fanny Mason is there, too, because she wants to
hear our stories. You are willing; an't you, aunty?"

Oh, yes, Alice, any of your friends may come that wish. So I took my
little pet's hand, and went down to my waiting group to tell my story.

* * * * *

We had beautiful summer weather, and quite forgot that it was January.
On the 29th we passed a distant volcano, and early in the morning saw
the smoke at its summit. The name of the volcano is Colenso, and it is
in Guatemala. It was first seen in the night, and our men sent up a
rocket as a signal, supposing it to be the light of another steamer, but
they soon saw their mistake.

The coast is mountainous all the way to San Francisco; we kept it in
sight nearly all the time except when crossing the Gulfs of Tehuantepec
and California. The sea was almost invariably smooth.

We arrived at Acapulco, in Mexico, Saturday, Jan. 31, at daybreak;
having sailed 1,440 miles in six days. As grandpa and grandma were not
going on shore, I had not thought of doing so; but quite a party of our
acquaintance went, and I was invited to join them. I was glad to go; for
I longed to step on Mexican soil.

We had a native boat and four rowers. The sail was a very pleasant one,
and we were soon on the low, sandy beach. Part of the town was destroyed
by an earthquake two years ago; but the adobe houses are so simply
constructed that they can be rebuilt with little difficulty.

"What are _adobe_ houses?" asked Carrie.

Houses built of hardened clay. They take a mold like the sides of a box
with the bottom out, and press it full of mud; when turned out, it looks
like a great mud brick, and is left for the sun to dry.

We went up to the market-place, where the Mexican women, children, and
dogs were all huddled together, with their wares spread out in most
tempting array; coral, colored with most brilliant dyes; shells of
various kinds, some on long strings like necklaces, and some single and
highly polished. Fruits were plenty