240 



THE PAMPAS. 



great dogs, who had also just awakened, were 

 walking very slowly with their tails between their 

 legs towards the corral, where there is always a 

 supply of food for them. The infants were still 

 sleeping, each upon a lamb's skin, on the ground, 

 without a pillow, covered only with a piece of dirty 

 blanket, and sometimes the hens would perch upon 

 them. As soon as the horses were caught we set 

 off, and I galloped into St. Luis, and got there an 

 hour before the carriage. I found the post as 

 usual ; there was nothing to be had — no fruit, 

 though in the middle of summer, and no milk. The 

 people of the post-house told me, that the Juez had 

 arrived there last night, and it appeared that his 

 story had been much inflamed by his gallop. As 

 soon as the carriage arrived, the Juez and an orde- 

 nanza, or horse-soldier, came up to the post, and 

 told me that I was to come immediately to the 

 governor. I had a white linen jacket on, which 

 was really too dirty to go in, so I resolved to put 

 on a coat. On opening my portmanteau, out came 

 a quantity of water, and I found that it had been 

 filled in passing the Desaguadero — my coat was con- 

 sequently dripping wet ; however, I put it on, and 



