A FRIEND IN NEED. 



175 



torily, under pretence that the sun had set, 

 after which he was not bound to accommodate 

 us. Hereupon our friend the officer drew his 

 sword, and gave him a blow with the back of 

 it on his neck, that frightened him out of his 

 objections. The horses were caught without 

 delay, and the only difficulty was where to find 

 a man to lead our baggage-horse, all the 

 gauchos being out. From this embarrassment 

 our dragoon friend released us, by proposing 

 that his postilion should lead both our horse 

 and his own to the next post. And finally, 

 seeing that we were strangers and Englishmen, 

 he put the seal to this well-timed civility and 

 kindness, by declaring that if we would join 

 his party, he would escort and protect us all 

 the way to St. Luis, and, moreover, furnish us 

 there with every facility in his power for con- 

 tinuing the journey to Mendoza. To all these 



