I had bidden adieu to my new acquaintances knowing nothing of Don Santiago beyond the fact that he was an officer on board the Spanish ship of war, and a relation of Don Cosme.
"Oh, yes! Don Santiago is on board! Ha! there was an evident interest.
Her look as she said it; her manner--furies! But he is a relation, a cousin--_a cousin--I hate cousins_!" I must have pronounced the last words aloud, as Lincoln, who walked in my rear, stepped hastily up, and asked: "What did yer say, Cap'n ?" "Oh! nothing, Sergeant," stammered I, in some confusion.
Notwithstanding my assurance, I overheard Lincoln whisper to his nearest comrade: "What ther old Harry hes got into the cap ?" He referred to the fact that I had unconsciously hooked myself half a dozen times on the thorny claws of the pita-plant, and my overalls began to exhibit a most tattered condition.
Our route lay through a dense chaparral--now crossing a sandy spur, covered with mezquite and acacia; then sinking into the bed of some silent creek, shaded with old cork-trees, whose gnarled and venerable trunks were laced together by a thousand parasites.

Two miles from the rancho we reached the banks of a considerable stream, which we conjectured was a branch of the Jamapa River.
On both sides a fringe of dark forest-trees flung out long branches extending half-way across the stream.

The water flowed darkly underneath.
Huge lilies stood out from the banks--their broad, wax-like leaves trailing upon the glassy ripple.
Here and there were pools fringed with drooping willows and belts of green _tule_.

Other aquatic plants rose from the water to the height of twenty feet; among which we distinguished the beautiful "iris", with its tall, spear-like stem, ending in a brown cylinder, like the pompon of a grenadier's cap.
As we approached the banks the pelican, scared from his lonely haunt, rose upon heavy wing, and with a shrill scream flapped away through the dark aisles of the forest.

The cayman plunged sullenly into the sedgy water; and the "Sajou" monkey, suspended by his prehensile tail from some overhanging bough, oscillated to and fro, and filled the air with his hideous, half-human cries.
Halting for a moment to refill the canteens, we crossed over and ascended the opposite bank.