with himself. He had really succeeded better so far than he had hoped,
and, guarded by the spikes and thorns, slumber took him before dawn had
spread from east to west.




CHAPTER IV

THE PALM


Ned awoke about noon. The morning had been cold, but having been wrapped
very thoroughly in the great serape, he had remained snug and warm all
through his long sleep. He rose very cautiously, lest the spikes and
thorns should get him, and then went to a comparatively open place among
the giant cactus stems whence he could see over the hills and valleys.
He saw in the valley nearest him the flat roofs of a small village.
Columns of smoke rose from two or three of the adobe houses, and he
heard the faint, mellow voices of men singing in a field. Women by the
side of a small but swift stream were pounding and washing clothes after
the primitive fashion.

Looking eastward he saw hills and a small mountain, but all the country
in that direction seemed to be extremely arid and repellent. The bare
basalt of volcanic origin showed everywhere, and, even at the distance,
he could see many deep quarries in the stone, where races older,
doubtless, than Aztecs and Toltecs, had obtained material for building.
It was always Ned's feeling when in Mexico that he was in an old, old
land, not ancient like England or France, but ancient as Egypt and