THE PAMPAS. 



77 



myself got on much quicker, but the horses still 

 weak, and in the whole day could only proceed a 

 hundred and ten miles. 



Two more days rode from morning till night, 

 sleeping on the^ ground, with nothing to eat but 

 beef — at last came to that part of the province of 

 Santa Fe near which the courier had been mur- 

 dered. The post-master refused to give me horses 

 to go on unless I could find a guard, as he said the 

 postilions would not go by themselves ; he insisted 

 on my waiting for the courier, and I accordingly 

 lost half a day, as he did not arrive till night. Next 

 morning at day- break got up — saw the poor old 

 courier lying on his saddle — he had a segar in his 

 mouth, and for a long time he remained on his back 

 praying and crossing himself — Started with the 

 master of the post, an additional Gaucho, and the 

 postilion, all armed — very little conversation. As we 

 approached the spot, it appeared as if they all ex- 

 pected that the Salteadores (robbers) would be 

 there — after riding some leagues, left the road, and 

 galloped through the dry grass towards a small 

 black-looking hut in ruins. It was one of those 

 which had been burnt by the Indians, and the whole 



