The night lightened yet more.

He saw on the low banks of the canal green shrubs and many plants with spikes and thorns.

It seemed to him characteristic of Mexico that nearly everything should have its spikes and thorns.

Through the gray night showed the background of the distant mountains.
They overtook and passed two other bergantins returning from the city and they met a third on its way thither with vegetables for the morning market.

Benito knew the owners and exchanged a brief word with everyone as he passed.