We could see through the trunks of the olives a clear distance of a hundred yards.

Beyond this, the mezquite and the scarlet leaves of the wild maguey marked the boundary of the forest.
It was equally puzzling to us whither the girls had gone, or whence "Pepe, Ramon, and Francisco" were to come.
The tinkling of a little bell startled us from our conjectures, and the voice of Don Cosme was heard inquiring: "Have you any favourite dish, gentlemen ?" Someone answered, "No." "Curse me!" exclaimed the major, "I believe he can get anything we may call for--raise it out of the ground by stamping his foot or ringing a bell.

Didn't I tell you ?" This exclamation was uttered in consequence of the appearance of a train of well-dressed servants, five or six in number, bringing waiters with dishes and decanters.

They entered from the porch; but how did they get into it?
Certainly not from the woods without, else we should have seen them as they approached the cage.
The major uttered a terrible invocation, adding in a hoarse whisper, "This must be the Mexican Aladdin!" I confess I was not less puzzled than he.

Meantime the servants came and went, going empty, and returning loaded.