A FORTY DAYS' RIDE 225 



Order was finally restored out of chaos, and each member 

 of the party was given a mule and a complete saddle outfit. 

 The pack-animals were divided into squads, each in charge 

 of a chief mule-man and his assistants; then the impedi- 

 menta were sorted out and arranged for easy and quick 

 packing on the mules. 



At noon, January 21, the first detachment of the expedi- 

 tion started. This included all of the Americans and several 

 of the Brazilians to whose number Lieutenants Joao Lyra 

 and Joaquin de Melho Filho had been added. Captain 

 Amilcar was to follow the next day with the remainder of 

 the caravan. This division of the party was absolutely 

 necessary as, on account of the great number of men and 

 animals required, the expedition would have been unwieldy 

 if it had attempted to move in one body. 



The first day's ride was a short one. Early in the morn- 

 ing the men started to load the pack-animals, many of which 

 were apparently fresh from the ranges and had never been 

 broken to work of any kind; as a result of this there was a 

 good deal of confusion at first. The corrals reminded one 

 of a wild-west show. Guachos, wearing fringed leather 

 aprons, and wicked, keen-edged knives in their belts, and 

 who swore fluently in two or three different languages, 

 lassoed the panicky animals, blindfolded them, and ad- 

 justed the packs. When the covering was removed from 

 the animals' eyes they frequently gave a few sharp snorts, 

 and then started through the corral in a series of rabbit- 

 like leaps, eventually sending the packs, saddles, and all 

 flying in every direction. After freeing themselves of their 

 burden, they gave a few extra high kicks of exultation, and 

 then ran into the huddled mass of their fellows for con- 

 cealment. Gradually, however, the men became more 

 adept at their work, the mules and oxen quieted down and 

 little groups left the corrals, wound up the trail, and dis- 

 appeared in a cloud of dust. 



Our mounts were good, strong animals. We cantered up 

 the trail at a brisk gait while Mr. Fiala, who had gone on a 



