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JOURNEY ACROSS 



lapsed into my jog trot, and into a more set- 

 tled doze — from which I am not sure that I am 

 now altogether roused, whilst writing at the 

 post-hut, after having travelled thirty miles 

 on the same horse, under a burning sun. I 

 must prepare, however, for fresh exertion ; for 

 we have resolved to make the most of our 

 time ; as the sooner we reach St. Luis, the 

 sooner we shall leave behind us all appre- 

 hensions of meeting with these Indians. 



Feb. 2. — At four in the afternoon of yesterday 

 we arrived at a village called Rio Quarto, by the 

 river of the same name. We had made a rapid 

 journey in a scorching atmosphere ; but feeling 

 the necessity, as we thought, of advancing several 

 leagues further before night, we rode to the 

 post~hut, with a full determination to order our 

 horses and be off as soon as possible. Our 

 intentions, however, were speedily changed ; 



