GUER AIKE. 39 



pared meal was served in the bedroom previously referred to, which had 

 on this occasion been very considerately reserved for our party through 

 the influence of Senor Villegrand. 



Supper finished, we spread our blankets on the floor and turned in to 

 pass a considerable portion of what still remained of the night in a vain 

 endeavor to gain a little much-needed sleep. For some time this was 

 quite impossible, but toward morning all became quiet and we fell asleep 

 for a short time, though from the very nature of the situation it may be 

 imagined that our slumbers were neither so sound nor restful as could 

 have been desired. Always accustomed to rising early, we were up and 

 dressed betimes on the following morning, and, on opening the door which 

 lead from our room to the groggery, through which we had to pass to gain 

 the outside of the building, there was presented such a sight of drunken 

 and debauched humanity as beggars description and is best left entirely 

 to the imagination. 



Senor Villegrand and the others were not long in following our example, 

 and apparently no less anxious than ourselves to be rid of the place. The 

 horses were soon brought in, caught, saddled and harnessed. A different 

 horse from the one used the preceding day was selected for the cart. In 

 a short time we were ready to start, but, first of all, the Gallegos River had 

 to be forded and we were not at all sure as to what would be the dispo- 

 sition of our new cart-horse after the experiences of the previous day. It 

 was, therefore, with something of relief that we saw him start off all right. 

 All went well until we had reached a position about midstream, when the 

 horse refused to go any further. With commendable patience Senor Ville- 

 grand tried in every way possible to urge him forward, but he was abso- 

 lutely incorrigible. This was indeed a situation, stuck fast in the middle of 

 a stream of ice-cold water one hundred yards in width and from three to 

 four feet in depth. After our driver had ineffectually exerted every effort 

 to relieve the situation, and, sitting upright with the picture of despair in 

 every feature, at last signified his willingness to permit me to do what I 

 had from the first suggested, I rode alongside and attaching my saddle 

 rope as on the previous day, though with greater difficulty, and with 

 the additional assistance of a gaucho, who appeared with his horse at 

 the opportune moment and fastened on to the opposite side, we suc- 

 ceeded in transferring safely to the other side of the river the horse, 

 cart and driver. 



