The plaster for our bust-making had not yet been received, but Senor Cordova promised, in case it came, to forward it after us promptly, and, in case it did not come, to send twenty miles into the mountains for the raw plaster, which he would have prepared and sent on to Chicahuastla.

It was late in the afternoon, before we started for Cuquila, where we planned to pass the night.

It was a mistake to make so late a start.

For a time, the road was fairly level, but at last we went up a brisk ascent, reaching the summit near sunset.

The road down would have been a bad one, even in the daytime.