But he soon forgot his pious irritation amid those marvelous ruins of past grandeur.

In our early ramble he lost no opportunity to tell the indians that he would repeat mass on the morrow at seven, and that they should make a special effort to be present.
[Illustration: WITH THE PADRE IN MITLA RUINS] [Illustration: THE PADRE, ERNST AND THE DOGS] But as we wandered from one to another of the ancient buildings, the thought of the morrow's duty lost its sweetness.

He several times remarked that it was a great pity to lose any of our precious morning hours in saying mass, when there were ruins of such interest to be seen.
These complaints gained in force and frequency as evening approached, until finally, as we sat at supper, he announced his decision to say mass before daybreak; he would call me at five o'clock, we would go directly to the church, we would be through service before six, would take our morning's coffee immediately after, and then would have quite a piece of the morning left for the ruins, before the coach should leave for Oaxaca.
The plan was carried out in detail.

At five we were called from our beds by the anxious padre.

Herman and I were the only members of the party who were sufficiently devout to care to hear mass so early.