THE PAMPAS. 



T9 



fidelity under which he had evidently fought to the 

 last. In the hut lay the bodies of the courier and 

 postilion with their throats cut — they were barely 

 covered over with some of the loose bricks from the 

 wall. Some pieces of the courier^s poncho were 

 lying about, as also several of the covers of the 

 letters which the murderers had opened. In the 

 centre of the hut were the white ashes of a fire 

 which they had kindled — at the corner of the hut 

 tood a solitary peach-tree in blossom — its contrast 

 with the scene before us was very striking. The 

 old courier said something to the post-master, who 

 immediately climbed upon the ruined wall, and 

 threw down some loose bricks — he fell — burst of 

 laughter — we all got off our horses, and we covered 

 the bodies over with bricks — " Con que, Senores," 

 said the old man, " haremos un oracion para el 

 defunto'" — we all took off our hats, and stood 

 round the pile — opposite were our horses looking 

 at us — the old man had thrown the handkerchief 

 off his head, and his beard, which was of four days 

 growth, was quite white — he stood over the body 



* They had been taken out of the well by some Gauchos. 



