32 



THE ADVENTURES OF 



on horseback. It was the steward of the estate that we 

 were crossing. 



" Hallo ! Don Luciano, where are you off to with all that 

 train ?" cried the new-comer. 



" To visit the forest of the Cordillera," I replied. 



" May you travel safely ! but is the young gentleman go- 

 ing with you ?" 



"Yes, to be sure. Good-bye, Antonio, till we meet 

 again !" 



" Till we meet again ? By my word, you shall not say 

 that just yet. The goodwife has some eggs and fried beans 

 ready for breakfast ; and I ought to have some bottles of 

 Spanish wine, in which we'll drink to your pleasant jour- 

 ney, unless you're too proud to accept the hospitality of a 

 poor man." 



Being very hungry, with pleasure we accepted this cordial 

 invitation. The steward further insisted upon taking our 

 little traveller up in front of him. The child was only too 

 pleased. 



" Oh dear !" said Stimichrast ; " why, it's spoiling the boy 

 at the outset." 



" It will be half a league the less for his poor legs," said 

 Antonio ; and, spurring his horse, he galloped off with Lu- 

 cien to get our breakfast ready. 



Gringalet was in consternation at his young master's de- 

 parture. Raising his intelligent face, he seemed as if he 

 wished to question us, and pricked up his ears as if to list- 

 en to the sound of the horse's feet dying away in the dis- 

 tance. At last he raised a plaintive howl, and started off 

 in pursuit. 



Surprised at not seeing l'Encuerado, I turned back, fancy- 

 ing he had remained behind. I was expecting to see him 

 appear, when Sumichrast burst out laughing. At a turn of 

 the road he had caught a sight of the horseman, with the 



