Aragon, to whom for the occasion Pepe Garcia confided his
remarkable fowling-piece.

[Illustration: "ARAGON AND HIS MEN FELL UPON THE DESERTERS WITHOUT
MERCY."--P. 138.]

In the afternoon the extemporized police reappeared. The fugitives had
been found tranquilly sitting on the banks of the river, distending
their abdomens with the stolen preserves and chocolate. Aragon and his
men fell upon the deserters without mercy. The former, battering away
at them with the stock of his gun, and the latter, exercising upon
their shoulders whatever they possessed in the way of lassoes,
axe-handles and sabre-blades, maintained the argument effectually for
some time in this way, and did not descend to questions until muscular
fatigue caused them to desist. The catechism subsequently put to the
porters elicited the reply, from the spokesman of the recusants,
that they were tired of being afraid of the wild Indians; that they
objected to marching into the dens of tigers; that, perceiving their
rations diminished from day to day, they had imagined the time not far
distant when the same would be withdrawn altogether. It was curious,
as it seemed to Marcoy when the argument was rehearsed to him
presently, that the fellows made no complaint of being footsore,
overcharged with burdens or conducted into paths too difficult for
them. A lurking admiration for the vigor with which, after all, they
played their crushing part of beasts of burden, procured them immunity
from further punishment after their return. Their bivouacs were simply
watched on the succeeding nights by Bolivian sentinels.

After a few minutes allowed the strayed sheep to rub their bruises,
the march was continued. The afternoon afforded a succession of the
same sandy riverbanks, dressed with reeds, false maize, calceolarias
and purple passion-flowers, and yielding for sole booty a brace of
wild black ducks, and an opossum holding in her pouch five saucy and
scolding little ones. The natural civet employed as a cosmetic by this
animal forbade the notion of using it for food, and it was thrown with
its family into the river, after being deprived of its glossy skin.

As evening approached, and as all eyes were exploring the banks for a
suitable camping-ground, a spacious and even beach was fixed upon as
offering all the requisite conveniences. It was agreed to halt there.
Attaining the locality, however, they were amazed to find all the
traces of a previous occupation. Sev