THE PAMPAS. 



231 



the wind. There was a general chase for some 

 time on open ground ; but at last the fugitive 

 entered a wood, disappeared altogether, and 

 the hunt was over. He escaped entirely, and 

 I conclude found his way back to the post by a 

 route only known to himself; for we saw no 

 more of him. 



There was no water to be met with in this 

 long stage. We carried two large horns full 

 from the post-hut, which the peon and the 

 dragoon together soon drained to the bottom, 

 and we had none left for ourselves. 



At midnight we were about three leagues 

 from the post-hut, groping our way through the 

 paths of a thick algaroba wood, without any 

 moon. I could hardly keep on my horse for 

 sleepiness, and the peons were so overcome 

 that they pretended they had lost their way — 

 suggesting that it would be better to halt for 



