Packs of youngsters chased behind and crowded upon them; they also pelted them with stones, and the head of one of the maskers was bleeding quite profusely, but he still kept up his headlong run and trilling.

We had counted upon the assistance of the _jefe_, but found him too dignified to receive us outside of office hours, and therefore we arranged the matter of our transportation to Huachinango.

The price was high, the coach inconvenient, and the _cochero_ unaccommodating.

In vain we tried to have all of our plaster taken in the load with us; only one-half could go, the balance must follow the succeeding day.

Finally, at about ten in the morning, we lumbered heavily away, and were soon out of the town, passing through a brown, hilly district, at first devoted to _pulque_ plantations, but further along becoming fine pastureland.