While Don Rafael hastened to obey the directions, the muleteer took a knife from his belt, and with a quick cut divided the transparent partition between the nostrils of the animal. The blood gushed forth in copious jets; and the horse, notwithstanding the efforts of Don Rafael to hold him to the ground, reared up on his hind legs, and struck forward with his hoofs. A hollow gurgling noise came forth from his nostrils as the air rushed in through the opening that had been made. "Now!" exclaimed the muleteer, "you need no longer fear for his wind. Your horse can run as far as his legs will carry him. You will be saved if you are to be saved." "Your name," cried Don Rafael, stretching out his hand to the muleteer; "your name, that I may always keep it in remembrance." "Valerio Trujano, a poor _arriero_; not very fortunate in his affairs, but who consoles himself with the belief that he has done his duty, and leaves the rest to God. Our lives are now in His hands. Let us pray that He may preserve them from the awful danger that is before us." Repeating these words with an air of solemnity, the muleteer took off his hat, displaying to view a mass of black curling hair. Then kneeling upon the sand, he raised his eyes to heaven, and in a voice of prayer pronounced the words:-- "_De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine! Domine, exaudi vocem meam_!" While the muleteer was engaged in his devotion, the dragoon tightened his girths for the last struggle; and both at the same time springing into their saddles, resumed the gallop that had been so unfortunately interrupted. The damp, chill wind which preceded the coming of the waters bore loudly to their ears the warning notes of the bell--mingled with the sinister sounds that betokened the approach of the inundation. CHAPTER SIXTEEN. LAS PALMAS AND ITS PEOPLE. The southern portion of the state of Vera Cruz, bordering on Tehuantepec, exhibits a singular hydrographic system. A number of great rivers, as the _Rio Blanc_, the _Plaza Vicente_, the _Goazacoalcos_, and the _Papatoapan_, with many of smaller note, form a complete network over the country. Most of these rivers have their sources in the _Sierra Madre_, and traversing the plains of the _tierra caliente_, debouch into the Gulf of Mexico. Every one has heard how profusely the rain falls in tropical countries during that period of the year known as the "rainy season." It is the American winter of these southern latitudes, commencing in the month of June, and ending in October. At this time the waters of the rivers above mentioned, augmented by torrents of rain falling daily, break over the boundaries of their channels, and, free as the wild horses upon their banks, rush impetuously over the surrounding plains.