NIGHT ON THE PAMPA. 9I 



interrupted here and there by a number of small streams, so that the 

 country around was well watered and capable of supporting consid- 

 erable vegetation. The grasses were taller and covered the ground 

 much more completely than in the pampas to the north. Bushes were 

 also more abundant and of larger size, and had not the day been an 

 extremely disagreeable one, I have no doubt there would have been a 

 noticeable increase in the abundance and variety of birds and other ani- 

 mal life. Throughout the day I had noticed that my faithful horse, which 

 heretofore had needed little encouragement, was showing unmistakable 

 signs of fatigue. This rapidly increased with each succeeding mile, so 

 that as daylight disappeared, accompanied by a cold, driving rain which 

 only intensified the darkness, I decided to camp for the night rather than 

 urge my horse farther, or take any chances, on account of the darkness, of 

 losing the trail, which, through being little used, was in places quite dim. 

 Selecting a group of bushes with especial reference to the protection they 

 would offer from the wind and rain, I unsaddled and put my horse out to 

 graze. Collecting a bundle of firewood, I built a fire in a convenient 

 place, and having properly adjusted my saddle, saddle blanket and slicker, 

 lay down to pass a second not very comfortable night on the pampa. 



I resumed my journey at an early hour on the succeeding morning. 

 After travelling some distance through a series of low, rounded, grass- 

 covered hills, I came to a small stream with deep narrow channel in the 

 midst of an almost impassable marsh. It was clearly fortunate that I had 

 not continued my journey the evening before. With some difficulty I suc- 

 ceeded in crossing this stream and reaching the summit of the low ridge 

 on the opposite side, where I could see the hostelry at a distance of some 

 five miles and at the farther edge of the broad, level valley that lay spread 

 out at my feet. I was not long in reaching this place, where I remained 

 some two or three days in order to nurse the severe cold I had contracted, 

 as well as the wound on my head, which was now suppurating very badly. 

 While here, I had an opportunity of despatching a letter to Mr. Peterson in- 

 forming him of my accident and that it would be impossible for me to return 

 as quickly as I had anticipated, so as to relieve him of any uneasiness. 



On the afternoon of the second day after my arrival at this place I pur- 

 chased a fresh horse, and, leaving the other to recuperate until my return, 

 set out for Sandy Point, going as far as the hostelry of Mr. Macdonald at 

 Cabeza del Mar that same evening. From Posada de la Reina to Cabeza 



