Whatever his eulogies upon the pitcher-like qualities of his head-piece, to me they seemed most undeserved; for scarcely had I filled it, than the water ran through like a sieve. The oftener, too, was the process repeated the less chance did there appear of success; for, instead of retaining the fluid at all, the material became so saturated that it threatened to tear in pieces every time it was filled, and ere I could lift it was totally empty. Half angry with the Friar, and still more annoyed at my own ineptitude, I gave up the effort, and returned to where I had left him, confessing my failure as I came forward.
“Steep your 'kerchief in the stream, then, and wash the beast's mouth,” said he, upon his knees, where, with a great string of beads, he was engaged with his devotions.
I retired, abashed at my intrusion, and proceeded to do as I was directed.
“What if all these cares for my horse, and all these devotional exercises, were but stratagems to get rid of my company for a season?” thought I, as I perceived that scarcely had I left the spot, than the Friar arose from his knees, and seemed to busy himself about something in the trees. Full of this impression, I made a little circuit of the place; and what was my surprise to observe that he had converted his upper robe of coarse blanket-cloth into a kind of hammock for Donna Maria, in which, fastened at either end to the bough of a tree, she was now swinging to and fro, with apparently all the pleasure of a happy child.
“Don't you like it, Uncle, after all?” said she laughing. “It's exactly what one has read of in Juan Cordova's stories, to be bivouacking in a great forest, with a great fire, to keep away the jaguars.”
“Hush! and go to sleep, child. I neither like it for thee nor myself. There are more dangerous things than jaguars in these woods.”
“Ah, you mean the bears, Uncle?”
“I do not,” growled he, sulkily.
“As for snakes, one gets used to them; besides, they go into the tall grass.”
“Ay, ay, snakes in the grass, just so!” muttered the Friar; “but this youth will be back presently, and let him not hear you talk such silly nonsense. Good night, good night.”