THE PAMPAS. 



£63 



pear. I anxiously looked on the horizon for them, 

 until it became dark ; I then went into the post- 

 room, and ordered one of the women to bring me 

 the roast-beef and soup which was prepared for the 

 party. I was quite ravenous, for I had been so oc- 

 cupied with the horses, that I had forgotten that I 

 had eaten nothing since daylight. The woman, 

 brought me a dirty sheet four times doubled, which 

 she put on the little square table, then a bottle of 

 wine; " Have you a glass ''No hai, senor." 



Oh, never mind," said I, putting the bottle to 

 my mouth. The woman returned with the beef 

 cut up into pieces, in a pewter dish ; it was smok- 

 ing, and looked very nice ; and she also gave me 

 some bread. I instantly took out of my pocket a 

 clasp knife and fork. She asked me if I wanted 

 anything else.^ '"'No," said I, putting a piece of 

 the beef into my mouth ; but as she was going out 

 of the door, I called her back, and asked her to 

 get me some salt. " Aqui sta, senor," said the wo- 

 man, apparently recollecting herself ; and opening 

 her right hand, she put very quietly upon the table 

 some salt which she had intended for me, and be- 

 cause some of it stuck to her hand, she scratched it 



