been laid aside for the day, it had been his custom to indulge his quizzical humor in trolling for fun, and it was a rare occasion that did not offer a European or American gudgeon, isthmus bound, ready to take his bait. As before mentioned, it had been his intention to return from his river voyage by a Brazilian steamer, but the varied characteristics of the members of the scientific corps, with the chance additions, made him resolve to forego the obligations of his business relations for the indulgence offered to his humorous inclinations. Meeting unexpectedly with his old friend Dow at Santa Anna, he eagerly seconded the exploring adventure of the Pilcomayo, from the prospective novelty it offered for the cultivation of his humorous studies. In addition to the incompatible whimsies of scientific association, the questionable reports of an undiscovered inland city provoked a second incentive. With this more explicit introduction of Mr. Welson, who from accident and inclination became one of the most important aids in directing and harmonizing the attainable objects of the expedition, we will resume the thread of our narrative. CHAPTER IV. Notwithstanding the confirmed assurance of the sufficient efficacy of the antidote applied by Waantha for counteracting the poisonous inoculation of the padre’s arm, he still continued the use of whiskey with the thoughtless lack of consideration that fosters habits of indulgence and self-imposed penalties. In verification of the advanced statement, that artificial stimulation gave birth to war and the three curative professions, the padre, in common with his paternal ancestors, became polemically disposed when subject to the influence of his imposed habits. Waantha’s happy manifestations of “regeneration” caused him to urge dogmatically, “You must acknowledge, Mr. Welson, that the Jesuit fathers have done much good, for of all nations and sects they alone have succeeded in bringing tribes of Indians under the influence of civilized control.” “Yes,” replied Mr. Welson, but with the reprobating clause, that “they have manifested in all their missionary labors a paramount zeal for the selfish aggrandizement of their partisan order in the extension of its power for enforcing the control of a hypocritical despotism; the real welfare of the heathen converts being held as a blind of nominal consideration. Indeed, the Jesuitical method enacts the part of whiskey in its habitual rule over the faculties of civilized society; in conjuring for the subjugation of reason superstition for the supremacy of fanatical instinct.” The padre startled, exclaimed, “Upon my conscience, Mr. Welson, I am afraid you are little better than an infidel!”