Near it was the town-house.

We summoned the _presidente_, and while we waited for him, the men, women, and children of the town thronged around us and watched our every movement, commenting the while on our actions and words.

When the _presidente_ came, we made known our wants and soon had supper for ourselves, food for our animals, a shelter for the night, and a _mozo_ as guide for the morrow.

The town-house was put at our disposition; it was sadly in need of repairs, and consisted of two rooms, one larger than the other.

In the larger room there was a long and heavy table, a bench or two, and some wooden chairs.