"Very good," said I, "do as you like; but unless that young man is brought in we shall send complaint to the _jefe_; send for a messenger at once to carry my report." At this stage, the policemen returned, telling me that the young man wanted did not belong to this town; that he could not be found, and probably had gone home.

We told them that we did not believe them, but that we would proceed with our work; however, I said, that, if he really were a stranger but appeared again, I should order his immediate arrest and jailing.

To this they all agreed; and we continued work until the town was again too drunk for anything to be done.
[Illustration: ORGANO CACTUS; TLACOLULA] [Illustration: WHERE TREE FERNS GROW] About the middle of the afternoon, when the bull-fighting was at its height, the young man wanted appeared in the ring as the chief fighter and attraction of the day.

Stepping at once to the policemen I told them that he must be brought immediately to the town-house,--that the bull-fight must cease while our matters were arranged.

With much grumbling and complaint they obeyed.