Long after dark, we rode into Juquila.
[Illustration: CLOUD CATARACT; NEAR JUQUILA] [Illustration: DANCERS IN THE DANZA DE LA CONQUISTA; JUQUILA] The _cura_ had gone to bed; the _meson_ had no room for us and no food for our horses; our case seemed desperate.

We heard, however, noisy laughter and the loud voices of men drinking.

So I begged Ernst to seek the _presidente_ and tell him our needs while I looked after the animals.

The official was at the _tienda_, drinking with his friends.
Ernst made known our wishes, producing our letter from the governor.

At this, the _presidente_ became furious: "Who is this with orders from the governor?
Let me kill him," and with that he drew his _machete_ and made at Ernst.