fell upon them now。 Nevertheless； as I have said； hardly a word was
spoken。 The poor woman； finding that the heat of her cloak
increased her sufferings； threw it open again。
〃Fanny；〃 said her husband； 〃you had better let him protect you as
well as he can。〃
She answered him merely by an impatient wave of her hand； intending
to signify that she could not speak； but that in this matter she
must have her way。
After that her husband made no further attempt to control her。 He
could see； however； that ever and again she would have slipped
forward from her mule and fallen； had not the man by her side
steadied her with his hand。 At every tree he protected her knees
and feet； though there was hardly room for him to move between the
beast and the bank against which he was thrust。
And then； at last； that day's work was also over； and Fanny
Arkwright slipped from her pillion down into her husband's arms at
the door of another rancho in the forest。 Here there lived a large
family adding from year to year to the patch of ground which they
had rescued from the wood； and valiantly doing their part in the
extension of civilisation。 Our party was but a few steps from the
door when they left their mules； but Mrs。 Arkwright did not now as
heretofore hasten to receive her baby in her arms。 When placed upon
the ground； she still leaned against the mule； and her husband saw
that he must carry her into the hut。 This he did； and then； wet；
mud…laden； dishevelled as she was； she laid herself down upon the
planks that were to form her bed； and there stretched out her arms
for her infant。 On that evening they undressed and tended her like
a child； and then when she was alone with her husband； she repeated
to him her sad foreboding。
〃Harry；〃 she said； 〃I shall never see my mother again。〃
〃Oh； yes； Fanny； you will see her and talk over all these troubles
with pleasure。 It is very bad； I know； but we shall live through it
yet。〃
〃You will； of course； and you will take baby home to her。〃
〃And face her without you！ No； my darling。 Three more days'
riding； or rather two and a half； will bring us to the river； and
then your trouble will be over。 All will be easy after that。〃
〃Ah； Harry； you do not know。〃
〃I do know that it is very bad； my girl； but you must cheer up。 We
shall be laughing at all this in a month's time。〃
On the following morning she allowed herself to be lifted up；
speaking no word of remonstrance。 Indeed she was like a child in
their hands； having dropped all the dignity and authority of a
woman's demeanour。 It rained again during the whole of this day；
and the heat was becoming oppressive as every hour they were
descending nearer and nearer to the sea level。 During this first
stage hardly a word was spoken by any one； but when she was again
taken from her mule she was in tears。 The poor servant…girl； too；
was almost prostrate with fatigue； and absolutely unable to wait
upon her mistress； or even to do anything for herself。 Nevertheless
they did make the second stage； seeing that their mid…day resting
place had been under the trees of the forest。 Had there been any
hut there； they would have remained for the night。
On the following day they rested altogether； though the place at
which they remained had but few attractions。 It was another forest
hut inhabited by an old Spanish couple who were by no means willing
to give them room； although they paid for their accommodation at
exorbitant rates。 It is one singularity of places strange and out
of the way like such forest tracks as these； that money in small
sums is hardly valued。 Dollars there were not appreciated as
sixpences are in this rich country。 But there they stayed for a
day； and the guides employed themselves in making a litter with long
poles so that they might carry Mrs。 Arkwright over a portion of the
ground。 Poor fellows！ When once she had thus changed her mode of
conveyance； she never again was lifted on to the mule。
There was strong reason against this day's delay。 They were to go
down the Serapiqui along with the post； which would overtake them on
its banks。 But if the post should pass them before they got there；
it could not wait； and then they would be deprived of the best canoe
on the water。 Then also it was possible； if they encountered
further delay； that the steamer might sail from Greytown without
them； and a month's residence at that frightful place be thus made
necessary。
The day's rest apparently did little to relieve Mrs。 Arkwright's
sufferings。 On the following day she allowed herself to be put upon
the mule； but after the first hour the beasts were stopped and she
was taken off it。 During that hour they had travelled hardly over
half a league。 At that time she so sobbed and moaned that Arkwright
absolutely feared that she would perish in the forest； and he
implored the guides to use the poles which they had prepared。 She
had declared to him over and over again that she felt sure that she
should die； and； half…delirious with weariness and suffering； had
begged him to leave her at the last hut。 They had not yet come to
the flat ground over which a litter might be carried with
comparative ease； but nevertheless the men yielded； and she was
placed in a recumbent position upon blankets； supported by boughs of
trees。 In this way she went through that day with somewhat less of
suffering than before； and without that necessity for self…exertion
which had been worse to her than any suffering。
There were places between that and the river at which one would have
said that it was impossible that a litter should be carried； or even
impossible that a mule should walk with a load on his back。 But
still they went on； and the men carried their burden without
complaining。 Not a word was said about money； or extra pay；not a
word； at least by them； and when Arkwright was profuse in his offer；
their leader told him that they would not have done it for money。
But for the poor suffering Senora they would make exertions which no
money would have bought from them。
On the next day about noon the post did pass them； consisting of
three strong men carrying great weights on their backs； suspended by
bands from their foreheads。 They travelled much quicker than our
friends； and would reach the banks of the river that evening。 In
their ordinary course they would start down the river close upon
daybreak on the following day； but； after some consultation with the
guides； they agreed to wait till noon。 Poor Mrs。 Arkwright knew
nothing of hours or of any such arrangements now； but her husband
greatly doubted their power of catching this mail despatch。
However； it did not much depend on their exertions that afternoon。
Their resting…place was marked out for them； and they could not go
beyond it； unless indeed they could make the whole journey； which
was impossible。
But towards evening matters seemed to improve with them。 They had
now got on to ground which was more open； and the men who carried
the litter could walk with greater ease。 Mrs。 Arkwright also
complained less； and when they reached their resting…place on that
night； said nothing of a wish to be left there to her fate。 This
was a place called Padregal； a cacao plantation； which had been
cleared in the forest with much labour。 There was a house here
containing three rooms； and some forty or fifty acres round it had
been stripped of the forest trees。 But nevertheless the adventure
had not been a prosperous one； for the place was at that time
deserted。 There were the cacao plants； but there was no one to pick
the cacao。 There was a certain melancholy beauty about the place。
A few grand trees had been left standing near the house； and the
grass around was rich and park…like。 But it was deserted； and
nothing was heard but the roaring of the congos。 Ah me！ Indeed it
was a melancholy place as it was seen by some of that party
afterwards。
On the following morning they were astir very early； and Mrs。
Arkwright was so much better that she offered to sit again upon her
mule。 The men； however； declared that they would finish their task；
and she was placed again upon the litter。 And then with slow and
weary step they did make their way to the river bank。 It was not
yet noon when they saw the mud fort which stands there； and as they
drew into the enclosure round a small house which stands close by
the river side； they saw the three postmen still busy about their
packages。
〃Thank God！〃 said Arkwright。
〃Thank God； indeed！〃 said his brother。 〃All will be right with you
now。〃
〃Well； Fanny；〃 said her husband； as he took her very gently from the
litter and seated her on a bench which stood outside the door。 〃It
is all over now；is it not？〃
She answered him by a shower of tears； but they were tears which
brought her relief。 He was aware of this； and therefore stood by
her； still holding her by both her hands while her head rested
against his side。 〃You will find the motion of the boat very
gentle；〃 he said； 〃indeed there will be no motion； and you and baby
will sleep all the way down to Greytown。〃 She did not answer him in
words； but sh