THE PAMPAS. 



is to place the skin which, in dry weather, one lies 

 on, over my head, and I then went to sleep. Before 

 the day began to dawn I was awakened by the 

 Gaucho, who told me the horses were lost. I told 

 him very sulkily to go and look for them, and, with 

 my head under the skin, I again dropped off to 

 sleep. I was awoke by the heat of the sun, and 



jumping up found that it was above the horizon, 

 and that it was late. I looked earnestly round me, 

 but, except a few shrubs, there was nothing but 

 the wind blowing and the grass growing," — ^in 

 every direction was a vast expanse of plain. I 

 began to think that the man had returned to San 

 Luis, and I really did not know what I should do. 

 The sun was oppressively hot, and I was standing 

 in despair, gazing at the recado which had formed 

 my bed, when I heard the distant notes of a Spa- 

 nish song behind me, and turning round I saw the 

 Gaucho galloping towards me, and driving my 

 horse before him. In a few moments he came up : 

 my horse was of course without a bridle ; the fellow 

 had played me the old trick of hiding it, and de- 

 claring it was lost. However, I was glad to get my 

 horse upon any terms, and I cut a piece of hide. 



