Brigands flourished amid the frequent
revolutions, and the humbler Mexicans found it wise to attend strictly
to their own business. They slept again in the open, but this time on a
hill in a dense thicket. They had previously drunk at a spring at its
base, and lacking now for neither food nor water they felt hope rising
continually.
Ned had no dreams the second night, and both awoke at dawn. On the far
side of the hill, they found a pool in which they bathed, and with
breakfast following they felt that they had never been stronger. Their
food was made up in two packs, one for each, and they calculated that
with economy it would last two days. They could also reckon upon further
supplies from wild fruits, and perhaps more frijoles and tortillas from
the people themselves. When they had summed up all their circumstances,
they concluded that they were not in such bad condition. Armed, strong
and bold, they might yet traverse the thousand miles to Texas.
Light of heart and foot they started. Off to the left the great silver
head of Orizaba looked down at them benignantly, and before them they
saw the vast flowering robe of the tierra caliente into which they
pushed boldly, even as Cortez and his men had entered it.
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