CHAPTER XVIII 



A TRIP TO TUCUMAN 



"Then we gather as we travel 



Bits of moss and dirty gravel, 

 And we chip off little specimens of stone, 

 And we carry home as prizes 

 Funny bugs of handy sizes, 

 Just to give the day a scientific tone." C. E. Carryl. 



"Tucuman Limited' leaves the Retire Station 

 1 in Buenos Aires at ten o'clock in the morning. 

 A few minutes before the time of departure I boarded 

 the train and settled myself in my compartment. The 

 day was bright and cool. There were many people 

 upon the platform, some of whom had evidently come 

 to say farewell to their friends; newsboys were crying 

 their wares ; venders of sweetmeats and fruits sauntered 

 along under the windows of the cars, displaying the 

 contents of their baskets, and soliciting purchases; 

 officials in uniform were bustling hither and thither; 

 workmen in blue overalls were opening and shutting 

 the axle-boxes, and were followed by men with hammers 

 who tested the wheels with resounding taps. It was 

 evident that the departure of the "Limited " was a more 

 or less important event in the daily routine of the little 

 railway world, which held the stage for the moment. 

 At last the conductor took his whistle from his pocket 



and blew shrilly, then called out, "Aboard!" The 



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