“Humph!” ejaculated Barney, who seemed not quite to understand his young friend, “yer observations are remarkably thrue, and do ye great credit, for yer years.  Ah!  Mr. Hermit, good luck to ye!  I’m glad to see that ye’ve got some consideration for man and baste.  I’m quite ready for my victuals, and so’s my mule; aren’t you, avic?”

Barney’s latter remark was addressed to his patient charger, from whose back he sprang as he spoke, and slackened its girths.

It was now approaching mid-day, and the hermit had pitched upon a large tree as a fitting spot for rest and refreshment.  Water had been brought up the mountain in a huge calabash; but they did not require to use it, as they found a quantity in the hollow stump of a tree.  There were several frogs swimming about in this miniature lake; but it was found to be fresh and clear and good notwithstanding.

Towards evening they passed a string of mules going towards the town which they had just left.  They were driven by Negroes, most of whom were slaves, and nearly quite naked.  A Brazilian merchant, wearing a picturesque broad-brimmed, high-crowned straw-hat, a poncho, and brown leather boots armed at the heels with large sharp spurs, rode at the head, and gave the strangers a surly nod of his head as they passed.  Soon after, they descended into the plain, and came to a halt at a sort of roadside public-house, where there was no sleeping accommodation, but where they found an open shed in which travellers placed their goods, and slung their hammocks, and attended to themselves.  At the venda, close beside it, they purchased a large bag of farina, being short of that necessary article of food, and then set to work to prepare supper in the open air; while the merry Negroes, who seemed to enjoy life most thoroughly, laughed and sang as they removed the bales from the mules’ backs and cooked their simple fare.

Barney’s cooking propensities now came into full play; and, with the variety of fruits and vegetables which the country afforded, he exercised his ingenuity, and produced several dishes of so savoury a nature that the hermit was compelled to open his eyes in amazement, and smack his lips with satisfaction, being quite unable to express his sentiments in words.  While thus busily and agreeably employed, they were told by the owner of the venda that a festa was being celebrated at a village about a league distant from where they stood.

“I should like to see it above all things,” said Martin eagerly; “could we not go?”

The hermit frowned.  “Yes, we can go, but it will be to behold folly.  Perhaps it will be a good lesson, from which much may be learned.  We will go.”

“It’s not a step that I’ll budge till I’ve finished me pipe,” said Barney, pulling away at that bosom friend with unexampled energy.  “To smoke,” he continued, winking gently with one eye, “is the first law of nature; jist give me ten minutes more, an’ I’m your man for anything,”