Year: 1861

1
to me, with an expression of unea
siness and chagrin depicted on his
swarthy face, and said, in a tone 81
deep hllmiliationi


WIZ your worship pardon me-
By all the saints, l do believe
have lost my way?'


1T is a great pity I said, for ]
am in great hurry to get to the
mines of San Jose; but l suppose it
is ratheryour misfortune than your
fault, and that by going back to the
path we have missed we can soon
retrieve our error


Yes, Senhor-yes-and you are
very kind not to blame me? Let
us turn off to the left, and get clear
of this thicket, and then 1 will soon
set matters right again.


In half an hour we had reached
the foot of a rocky ravine, where
the thicket ended, and above which
stretched upward some of the tall
est trees had ever seen. The spot
was wild and gloomy, but less dark
and dismal than some we had pass
ed through.


Remain here a few minutes with
the animals, Senior, and 1 will
soon discover the best way out OF
our perplexity.'


Saying this, and without stop
ping for reply, the guide darted
away, and was quickly out of sight,
leaving me to await his return with
what patience l might. Tired OF
riding, | dismounted, tied my horse
to a tree, and began to walk slow
ly up and down in front of the
mules.


While thus occupied, my atten-
tion was arrested by a loud chat
tering and rustling among the
branches of a tree over my head;
and on looking up in some alarm,
| / was both relieved and amused to
discover a group Of some five or
six monkeys arranged along the
lower limb, some fifteen feet above
the ground, and evidently bcrating
me in true monkey language for in
truding upon their domain.


One of the group now above me
was an old, grave, gray-headed fell
low, who sat a little apart from the
others, as if he might be the patri-
arch of the family. Seeing sup
pose nothing hostile in my appear
ance, he at length began to favor
me with few wry faces, that caus-
ed me to laugh aloud, at which he
semed greatly pleased; and after
strutting to and fro few times, he
cuffed the others aside as he came
to them, advanced to the trunk of
the tree, and slowly descended to
the ground, watching me closely all
the time.


At this moment the guide came
hurrying back, and said he had
discovered his mistake, which could
be easily rectitied, and that, saving
my detention, it had proved fortu-
nate to him, as he had found on
the way what he believed to be
jewel Of considerable value. At
this, to my great surprise, he show
ed me diamond, in an antique
setting, that I instantly and unhes-
itatingly pronounced to be my own,
the very one l had purchased in
Rio Janerio from the mulatto ped
dler.


I placed it for safe keeping in a
red silk purse said I; 'this very
purse 1 aided, drawing the arti
Gle from my pocket; 'and how it
could have fallen out is more than
I can understand


perhaps it did not-perhaps you
have yours yet, Senhor!' answered
the guide.


1T seems to be here, sure enough!'
| rejoined, as drew out the cotton
in which | had so carefully wrapped
it. Good heavens! it is here, and
the exact counterpart of yours!' l
exclaimed, as | opened the cotton
and displayed the jewel. well,
this is certainly very strange, that
you should find one in the woods
so exactly resembling mine!


We compared them and it would
have been impossible tor a casual
observer to detect any difference.


you are certainly very fortu-
mattel | continued; that stone is of
sufficient value to make you COM
Portable for many o day; and for
your sake, l am glad this mistake
happened


your worship is very kind re-
piled the fellow, with q humble
bow, 'and / will not forget to be
grateful. l really need all this will
bring me for my poor family. Shall
we set off again, Senhor?'


| assented; and again wrapping
up my purchase, l was about re-
turning it to my purse, when the
old monkey, who meantime had
approached me unnoticed, sudden
y made vigorous spring forward,