Doubtless they had
endured much hardship recently and had secured little spoil. He heard
muttered sounds which he knew were curses. He became more uneasy than
ever. Certainly little human kindness lurked in the hearts of such as
these, and he believed that Carossa was playing with them for his own
amusement, just as a trainer with a steel bar makes the animals in a
cage do their tricks.
The mutterings among the men increased. Carossa spoke to one of them,
who brought forth a stone jar from a recess in the wall. Tin cups were
produced and all, including Carossa, drank pulque made from the maguey
plant. They offered it also to Ned and Obed, but both declined.
The pulque did not make the men more quarrelsome, but seemed to plunge
them into a lethargy. Two or three of them hummed doleful songs, as if
they were thinking of homes to which they could not go. One began to
weep, but finally spread out his serape, lay down on it and went to
sleep. Three or four others soon did the same. Two sat near the great
monolithic doorway, with muskets across their knees. Undoubtedly they
were intended to be sentinels, but Ned noted that their heads drooped.
"I shall sleep now, my Gringo guests," said Carossa, "and I advise you
to do the same.
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