For several hours the traveller kept on his slow course--his spirit alternately exasperated and depressed. Mid-day had arrived, and the tropic sun, glaring down vertically from a cloudless sky, was causing a degree of heat almost intolerable. The breeze had ceased to cool the atmosphere; and even the dry leaves of the trees hung motionless from the boughs. At every moment the horse, crawling painfully forward, threatened to become motionless as they. Suffering from thirst, and wearied with the journey he had already made, the young traveller at length dismounted, and threw his bridle-rein over the neck of his horse. He had no fear that the animal would take advantage of the freedom thus given him. There was not the slightest danger of its running away. Leaving the steed to himself, therefore, the rider walked towards a clump of _nopals_--in hopes of finding some fruit upon them, by which he might relieve his thirst. As good luck would have it, he was not deceived in his expectation. The _nopals_ were in fruit; and having plucked a number of these "Indian figs," and stripped them of their spinous skins, he was enabled, by swallowing a quantity of the sweetish pulp, to allay in some measure the excessive thirst that had been hitherto torturing him. Thus satisfied, he once more mounted into his saddle, and continued his interrupted journey. CHAPTER THREE. AN ENIGMA. After riding several miles farther, he arrived at a small village, situated in the same plain through which he had been journeying. There, as all along the route, he found the houses deserted and abandoned by their owners! Not a soul was to be seen--no one to offer him hospitality; and as nothing could be found in the empty houses--neither food to satisfy his hunger, nor water to quench his thirst--the traveller was compelled to ride on without halting. "_Cosa estrana_!" muttered he to himself, "what on earth can be the meaning of this complete depopulation?" In addition to the desertion of the houses, another odd circumstance had struck his attention. Almost at every hut which he passed, he saw canoes and _periaguas_ suspended from the branches of the trees, and raised many feet above the ground! In a part of the country where there is neither lake nor river--not so much as the tiniest stream--no wonder the sight astonished our traveller, considering that he was a stranger to the district, and had not yet encountered a single individual who might explain the ludicrous phenomenon. Just as he was pondering over an explanation of these singularities, a sound fell upon his ear, that produced within him a feeling of joy. It was the hoof-stroke of a horse, breaking upon the profound solitude. It came from behind him; and betokened that some horseman was approaching in his rear, though still invisible on account of a turning in the road, which the young traveller had just doubled.