I turned back; and we walked on towards our tents, in which direction we had not far to go, before arriving at a coffee-shop. There he drank some water, with a glass of brandy; and then, ordering a breakfast, he went out to have a wash in the river--an operation of which I had never seen a human being in greater need. He ate his breakfast in haste--scarce speaking a word until he had finished. Then, starting suddenly from his seat, he hurried out of the house; and moved on along the road towards the place where our tents were pitched. "Come on!" cried he. "I cannot stop to talk. I've work to do. I want revenge. Look here!" He stopped till I came up--when, lifting the long dark hair from the sides of his head, he permitted me to see that he had _no ears_! "Will you aid me in obtaining revenge?" he asked. "Yes," I answered, "with my body and soul!" "I knew you would!" he exclaimed. "Come on! we have no time to lose." As we walked homeward, I learnt from him the particulars of the terrible misfortune that had befallen him. On the Saturday morning, after starting off for the town, he had got about a mile beyond the place where I had met him, when he was overtaken by a party of four Mexicans. Before he was well aware that they had any intention to molest him, a lazo was thrown over his shoulders; and he was dragged to the ground-- where his arms were instantly pinioned. By signs, he was made to understand: that his captors claimed the mule, upon which he had been riding. Guinane could speak but few words of Spanish; and therefore could not make the Mexicans understand, how the mule came into his possession. After holding a consultation amongst themselves, they took his revolver from him; and, whilst three of them held him, the fourth cut off both of his ears! They then mounted their horses, and rode away--taking with them the mule Guinane had borrowed from the miner. After going about three hundred yards, they halted, took off the saddle and bridle--which they did not claim to own--threw them on the ground, as also Guinane's revolver; and then continued their course. Nothing can be said to justify these men for what they had done; but probably they could have alleged some excuse for their conduct. They undoubtedly believed that Guinane had stolen the mule; and they knew that if one of their own countrymen had been caught in a similar act, he would have been fortunate to have escaped with his life. They saw no reason why an American should not be punished for a misdeed--as well as a Mexican. Guinane pursued them at the top of his speed, insane with grief, and burning with indignation. They soon rode out of his sight; but he continued on after them--until he fell exhausted to the earth. He must have lain for some hours in a state of insensibility, partly caused by loss of blood--partly by the fatigue that had followed the wild raging of his passions.