180 EAMBLES AFTER SPORT. 



charging you suddenly on horseback, knocking you and 

 your horse flying ; at this game you have no chance with 

 them, what with their huge stirrups, saddles, &c. The 

 best way is to run, if you have a good horse; if not, 

 never let them come near you, which can be most easily 

 efiected by showing your revolver, but remember one 

 thing, — if you do fire, kill your man. By all means, don^t 

 fire unless actually obliged, but don't wound him — he'll 

 humbug you awfully ; you will be hauled up before this 

 judge and that court, then sent back again to the first ; 

 deposition taken, witnesses sworn, and so on till you 

 either have to cut your stick or else pay (of course, you 

 could shoot the President himself, if you are only pre- 

 pared to pay enough afterwards) a large sum of money. 

 Bandits are looked up to in Chile, like the Macpherson 

 in Bon Gaultier, as quite superior persons — rather 

 "swells'' than otherwise. In the thickly -populated north 

 there are merely a few foot-pads, but in the south they 

 go about in bands, and do the thing in style ; they are 

 always well mounted and armed; in fact, if you see a 

 lively-looking, well-mounted individual, got up regard- 

 less, keep a good look out for him. One gentleman, 

 named Ciriaco Contreras, was for years the terror of the 

 south ; he used to send a message to a haciendado that he 

 wanted a few horses and a dollar or two by such and 

 such a day, and he took precious good care that he got 

 them too. The newspapers would now and then have an 

 account of Mr. Ciriaco's little exploits, quite in a jocular 

 manner, as if he was a citizen rather to be proud of than 

 otherwise; as for catching him, of course that was far 

 too great an undertaking. After killing numbers of 

 people, and robbing all he could, he gave himself up one 

 day, " determined to lead a respectable life in future ; '' 



