increased by two hundred or three hundred, and, as Ned saw no signs of
breaking camp, he judged that this was a rendezvous, and that there were
more troops yet to come.

He saw at once that his problem was increased greatly. He could not
dream of leaving the summit of the pyramid before the next night came.
Food he had in plenty but no water, and already as the hot sun's rays
approached the vertical he felt a great thirst. Imagination and the
knowledge that he could not allay it for the present at least, increased
the burning sensation in his throat and the dryness of his lips. He
caught a view of the current of the Teotihuacan, the little river by the
side of which the pyramids stand, and the sight increased his torments.
He had never seen before such fresh and pure water. It sparkled and
raced in the sun before him and it looked divine. And yet it was as far
out of his reach as if it were all the way across Mexico.

Ned went back to the place where he had slept and sat down. The sight of
the river had tortured him, and he felt better when it was shut from
view. Now he resolved to see what could be accomplished by will. He
undertook to forget the water, and at times he succeeded, but, despite
his greatest efforts, the Teotihuacan would come back now and then with
the most astonishing vividness. Although he was lying on the serape with
bushes and shrubs all around, there was the river visible to the eye of
imagination, brighter, fresher and more sparkling than ever. He could
not control his fancy, but will ruled the body and he did not stir from
his place for hours. The sun beat fiercely upon him and the thin bushes
and shrubs afforded little protection. Toward the northern edge of the
pyramid a small palm was growing out of a large crevice in the masonry,
and it might have given some shade, but it was in such an exposed
position that Ned did not dare to use it for fear of discovery.