During the day they saw several parties of troops following the road; and many couriers passed along, at a swift run.
"The whole country is up," Bathalda said.

"We shall have to be very careful, in future." The first night, while passing through the low, hot country near the lake, Roger had cut a strong bamboo; together with a bundle of smaller rods, suitable for arrows.

Bathalda had brought with him a bag of sharp obsidian arrowheads, and some feathers for winging them, together with a bowstring of twice the ordinary strength.

He had looked on with amusement when Roger cut the bamboo, making it, as was the custom of English archers, of his own height.
"My lord is not intending that, surely, for a bow ?" he said.
"Yes, Bathalda, I think that will do well," Roger said, trying with his knee the stiffness of the cane.
At the halt next day, Roger had cut the notches for the string.
"Now, Bathalda," he said, "can you string this ?" "No, my lord; nor can any other man." "I think it is about the strength of the bows we use at home," Roger said.

"The stringing them is a matter of knack, as well as of strength." And, to the amazement of the Aztec, he strung the bow.
"Now," said he, "let us make some arrows.