The house contained a hammock and two beds of poles, comforts we had not known for days.

I threw myself into the hammock; Ernst lay down upon one of the beds; the man and woman, squatting, were husking corn for our horses; a little girl was feeding a fire of pine splints, built upon the floor, which served for light.

As they worked and we rested the man asked that question which ever seems of supreme importance to Mexican indians, "_Como se llama Ud.

senor_ ?" (What is your name, sir ?).

"Ernst," replied our spokesman, to whom the question was addressed.