THE PAMPAS. 211 



that, expecting a visit from these unwelcome 

 guests, and hearing the sound of our horses' 

 hoofs, they never stopped to ascertain the 

 fact, but fled from their supposed enemies 

 without casting a look behind. So great was 

 their alarm that it was not without some 

 menaces of coercion on our part, that these 

 unfortunate wretches were induced to go out 

 and lasso fresh horses, to enable us to proceed. 

 They could think of nothing but the Indians 

 whom they expected to encounter at every 

 turn : 



" Still as they run they look behind, 

 And hear a voice in every wind." 



What a life of misery the poor gauchos lead 

 in their lonely homes ! 



Since their emancipation from old Spain, 

 the Argentine states have never had a sufficient 



