Having stated the matter fully, I consented to receive back the money, and tore up the receipt much to their relief.
[Illustration:] Still the work went slowly.

No one was left in town but the officials and some women.

The latter locked and barred their doors, at the approach of any of the town authorities, and neither threats to burn their houses above their heads nor bribes would bring them forth.

It was only after three days of hard work that eighty men and twenty-five women were secured.

By that time, it was plain that the other men were safely out of reach, and we concluded that naught remained but to return to Cuicatlan, to complete our work with representatives from other towns.
This we did, although we found our _jefe_ still gentle, mild, and slow.
Once in the hot valley, we concluded that we might as well see more of it.