240 



MENDOZA. 



to sleep. The sun was setting as we mounted 

 good fresh horses for this stage* After riding 

 about a mile, I found that I had lost my 

 watch, and we despatched the dragoon in 

 search of it, to the post-house we had left. He 

 soon brought it back, having found it upon the 

 spot where I had mounted. Notwithstanding 

 this delay we galloped to La Rosa in less than 

 three hours. 



For the first ten miles we saw nothing of 

 the baggage-horse and postilion. We had 

 observed them before, upon starting, becoming 

 6C small by degrees," but the pace was increased, 

 and they had entirely vanished from our view. 

 At last we espied before us, at a turn of the 

 road, two unladen horses, with their heads 

 turned towards each other. The gaucho, who 

 had dismounted, was quietly smoking a cigaro 

 de papel, whilst he contemplated our baggage 



