THE RIVER VALLEYS 



69 



As I 



THE GEKMANS 



was returning unsuccessful, Burbury met me and told 

 me that the Germans had again been giving him trouble. I 

 was prepared for the news, as I had noticed they were inclined 

 to shirk work of late, constantly lingering behind and in 

 every way making themselves objectionable. On an expedition 

 where there is naturally 



plenty of work for every one, - 



it is useless to have men 

 who growl at doing their fair 

 proportion of it. They were 

 also trying to influence the 

 other Gauchos, for this trick 

 of deserting at a critical time, 

 when their services cannot be 

 replaced, is a very old one 

 with peones, who on such oc- 

 casions can sometimes force 

 their employers into giving 



them disproportionately high wages. I was, of course, resolved 

 not to yield to their demands but to push forward, even if they left 

 us. I consulted with Burbury, who agreed that we could manage 

 without their help, though it would leave us' awkwardly short- 

 handed. 



On arriving at the camp I asked the Germans the reason of 

 their late behaviour, but they could give me no satisfactory answer, 

 but burst into a tirade about an inoffensive companion, Barck- 

 hausen, which was obviously only an excuse to cover their real 

 designs. I told them they must in future behave properly or else 

 leave my camp next morning. After a certain amount of talk and 

 bluster Fritz said that not only Hollesen and he but the Welsh 

 peones would in that case turn back. 



During the course of the evening I spoke to Jones, who 

 informed me that Fritz had persuaded him to desert, but on my 

 pointing out that this would not be a very wise proceeding, he 

 at once threw in his lot with us. 



In the morning, finding I was of the same mind, the Germans 

 again informed me of their wish to turn back. I therefore gave 



