218 SAM DARLING^S REMINISCENCES 



his chest. He roared immediately, but soon settled 

 down again. His stock looked promising, and 

 since I was there I read they have made great 

 prices at the sales. 



I next went out to Mr. Paats's JO de Agua stud, 

 to see Cyllene and Polar Star. This stud is well 

 done in every sense of the word. Even judging 

 from their foals, Polar Star and Cyllene had 

 a great future for that country. I must not forget 

 to mention that Mr. Ernest Grabble, whom we 

 met on board going out, kindly took us under 

 his wdng, and never have I met kinder or re- 

 ceived better hospitality. We were very much 

 indebted to him and his good wife for all they 

 did for us. 



After seeing round Mr. Paats's estancia, which 

 was on a very large scale, he said : 



" Would you care to see your lunch before it 

 is brought in ? " I said I would. *' Come along 



^g sgg then." With that we went to the back 

 our lunch ^f ^j^g house, and there was a Peon, 

 wjth the whole side of a young steer. A large 

 skewer, five feet long, was pierced right through the 

 length of it, with sufficient left at the top for the 

 man to turn it to the fire. It was very nearly 

 hot enough to roast it in the sun. The Peon had 

 been there for hours and hours, and when we sat 

 down to lunch it was brought into the room, 



