THE PAMPAS. 



109 



was very tired, not at all inclined to talk, and the 

 man steadily galloped on before me. Vea, Senor !'"* 

 (see !) said the little boy as he frisked by my side, 

 pointing to some wild ducks in a pool, which he 

 wanted me to shoot at with my pistols. 



His father was at this moment singing a wild 

 sort of Spanish Hymn, and he had just got to the 

 last note, upon which he was to hang for several 

 seconds, when the merry little child, finding that 

 there was no fun in me, loosened his rein, came up 

 with his father, and gave his horse a blow as hard 

 as he was able with the long whip which hung at 

 his bridle, and then laughing, he darted away like 

 a young colt, while his father with the greatest gra- 

 vity continued the last note of his song. 



* * * * 



I arrived for the night at a hut, where there were 

 fowls, and I begged the woman to cook one of 

 them immediately. 



As soon as the water in a large pot had boiled, 

 the woman caught a hen, and killed it by holding 

 its head in her hand ; and then, giving the bird 



