ii8 THROUGH THE HEART OF PATAGONIA 



hounds represent very sterling value to their owners, whose liveli- 

 hood they procure. The best at the work I met with in Patagonia 



ON AHEAD 



were those which belonged to this Indian guide. We called the 

 man Como No because, whatever question was put to him, his 

 invariable reply took the form of " Como no?" or "Why not?" 

 You said perhaps, " It is not far to the next camping-ground, is it ? " 

 " Como no?" he would answer. After some three hours at an 

 amble, you would repeat your inquiry. "Is it much farther?" 

 " Como no?" The most impossible queries met with precisely 

 the same response. 



However indeterminate Como No may have been in his mental 



