THE PAMPAS. 



I WAITED some time at the post-hut, talking with 

 the old lady, who was always very kind and glad 

 to see me, and was also extremely clever and enter- 

 taining ; I then mounted my horse, and, after gal- 

 loping nearly an hour, I overtook the coach just as 

 it had reached the banks of the river Desaguadero, 

 which was unusually deep and rapid. There was 

 nothing but a small bark, but we lost no time in 

 filling it with the luggage, and then made prepara- 

 tions for dragging the carriage through the river. 

 I took oif my clothes, and throwing them into the 

 boat, I tied a silk handkerchief round my neck, 

 and put my watch there to keep it dry. I had 

 my pistols in my right hand, and I then rode into 

 the river. The horse was instantly out of his 

 depth, but he swam over very well. Just as I had 

 scrambled up the bank, a man, dressed in a dirty- 

 looking poncho, who lived in a hut* about a hun- 



* The miners were one morning very much amused at the 

 sight of a man who was asleep upon the ground near this hut. 



