A LITTLE BLUFFING. 



17a 



One of the Senores : " Yes, yes, Senor — good day go 

 walking." 



This man looked a genial sort of ruffian ; and accom- 

 panied his remark with a wink, that might have been 

 interpreted into the modem and expressive " not 'a If." 



D. " Ah ! you talk English — bueno— would it be 

 indiscreet, then, to ask you where you are going so early ? 



S. " To the ranche on the other side of the island, 

 senor." 



D, " But you are going in exactly the opposite 

 direction." 



S. " Quien sabe, senor ? " (who knows?) with a shrug 

 and another grin. " One way as good as another." 



D, " And then, too, there is a better anchorage on 

 that side of the island. Do you always land here to ga 

 to the ranche, or does your captain like to give you a little 

 exercise ? " 



S. " Si, si, senor, much good walking," with another 

 broad smile. 



D, " Well, Senores, we must not keep you ; for you 

 will have a warm and prickly walk, and the sun is 

 already high. We hope you will have good sport oa 

 the way, for I see you are going shooting and are well 

 prepared." 



S, " Si, si, senor, muchos pajaros en esta isla." 



D. " Yes, yes, so we have found — a good many birds 

 on the island — you are right — but surely you have rather 

 powerful looking weapons for such small game. But 

 stay — now we come to think of it, we remember to have 

 seen some fieras among the rocks (some wild cats, which 

 was a fact) : can it be that you are going on a wild-cat 

 chase ? " 



But this is too much for our genial friend, who laughs 

 and smiles so good-naturedly, to the evident annoyance 

 of the rest of the party, who apparently have not under- 

 stood a word of our conversation, that I hand him the only 

 two cigars I have left, one of which he lights with a pro- 

 fusion of thanks and more smiles. And so with more 



