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HrHHrHOH 



232 



ANECDOTE OF A SERTANEJO. 



Sertanejo came down from the interior with d 

 large drove of cattle, which had been intrusted 

 to him to sell; he obtained a purchaser, who was 

 to pay him at the close of two or three months.. 

 The Sertanejo waited to receive the money, as his 

 home was too far distant to return for this pur- 

 pose. Before the expiration of the term, the 

 purchaser of the cattle found some means of 

 having him imprisoned ; he went to him when 

 he was in confinement, and pretending to be 

 extremely sorry for his misfortune, hinted, that 

 if he would allow him to appropriate part of 

 the debt to the purpose, he would try to obtain 

 his release ; to this the Sertanejo agreed, and 

 consequently soon obtained his freedom. He 

 heard soon afterwards how the whole of the 

 business had been managed by the purchaser of 

 the cattle, to avoid paying for what he had 

 bought, and he could not obtain any part of the 

 money. Having advised his employers in the 

 Sertam of these circumstances, he received for 

 answer, that the loss of the money was of little 

 consequence, but that he must either assas- 

 sinate the man who had injured him, or not 

 return home ; because he should himself suffer 

 if the insult remained unrevenged. The Ser- 

 tanejo immediately made preparations for re- 

 turning; he had always feigned great thank- 

 fulness towards his debtor for obtaining his 

 release, and a total ignorance of his unjustifiable 



