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diff --git a/43424.txt b/43424.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 042473d..0000000 --- a/43424.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3859 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Francisco Our Little Argentine Cousin, by -Eva Cannon Brooks - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Francisco Our Little Argentine Cousin - -Author: Eva Cannon Brooks - -Illustrator: John Goss - -Release Date: August 9, 2013 [EBook #43424] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANCICSO, LITTLE ARGENTINE COUSIN *** - - - - -Produced by Emmy, Beth Baran, Google Print and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from images made available by the -HathiTrust Digital Library.) - - - - - - - - - - - - -Francisco - -Our Little Argentine Cousin - - - - -THE - -Little Cousin Series - -(TRADE MARK) - - - Each volume illustrated with six or more full-page plates in - tint. Cloth, 12mo, with decorative cover, - per volume, 60 cents - - -LIST OF TITLES - -BY MARY HAZELTON WADE - -(unless otherwise indicated) - - - =Our Little African Cousin= - =Our Little Alaskan Cousin= - By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet - =Our Little Arabian Cousin= - By Blanche McManus - =Our Little Armenian Cousin= - =Our Little Australian Cousin= - By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet - =Our Little Brazilian Cousin= - By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet - =Our Little Brown Cousin= - =Our Little Canadian Cousin= - By Elizabeth R. MacDonald - =Our Little Chinese Cousin= - By Isaac Taylor Headland - =Our Little Cuban Cousin= - =Our Little Dutch Cousin= - By Blanche McManus - =Our Little Egyptian Cousin= - By Blanche McManus - =Our Little English Cousin= - By Blanche McManus - =Our Little Eskimo Cousin= - =Our Little French Cousin= - By Blanche McManus - =Our Little German Cousin= - =Our Little Greek Cousin= - By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet - =Our Little Hawaiian Cousin= - =Our Little Hindu Cousin= - By Blanche McManus - =Our Little Hungarian Cousin= - By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet - =Our Little Indian Cousin= - =Our Little Irish Cousin= - =Our Little Italian Cousin= - =Our Little Japanese Cousin= - =Our Little Jewish Cousin= - =Our Little Korean Cousin= - By H. Lee M. Pike - =Our Little Mexican Cousin= - By Edward C. Butler - =Our Little Norwegian Cousin= - =Our Little Panama Cousin= - By H. Lee M. Pike - =Our Little Persian Cousin= - By E. C. Shedd - =Our Little Philippine Cousin= - =Our Little Porto Rican Cousin= - =Our Little Russian Cousin= - =Our Little Scotch Cousin= - By Blanche McManus - =Our Little Siamese Cousin= - =Our Little Spanish Cousin= - By Mary F. Nixon-Roulet - =Our Little Swedish Cousin= - By Claire M. Coburn - =Our Little Swiss Cousin= - =Our Little Turkish Cousin= - - - L. C. PAGE & COMPANY - New England Building, Boston, Mass. - -[Illustration: "THEY SAT DOWN ALMOST UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE HIGH STATUE -OF SAN MARTIN." - -(_See page 33._)] - - - - -FRANCISCO - -Our Little Argentine Cousin - -By Eva Cannon Brooks - -_Illustrated by_ John Goss - -[Illustration] - - Boston - L. C. Page & Company - _MDCCCCX_ - - - - - _Copyright, 1910_ - - BY L. C. PAGE & COMPANY - - (INCORPORATED) - - - _All rights reserved_ - - - First Impression, June, 1910 - - - - - TO - - Katharine and Elizabeth Brooks - - - - -Preface - - -IF you take a steamer in New York whose destination is the eastern coast -of South America, and remain on it a little over four weeks, you will -reach the great metropolis of our twin continent, Buenos Aires. - -In all probability they will be weeks of infinite content and delight, -for the southern half of the Atlantic Ocean is milder in her moods than -the northern half, and there will be a sufficient number of stops _en -route_ to relieve the journey of monotony. - -First comes the Barbadoes, then Pernambuco, Bahia, Rio-de-Janeiro, and -Santos in Brazil, and then Montevideo, the capital of the Republic of -Uruguay. - -At Montevideo the steamer leaves the ocean and enters the mouth of the -River Plata, which is several hundred miles wide at this point, and in -ten hours the beautiful city of Buenos Aires, the gate-way to the -Pampas, is spread out before the eye. - -It is more like a city of North America than any of the South American -metropolises, both in its appearance and its remarkable spirit of -modernization. - -Beyond, and about this attractive port, lie great tracts of level -country known as the _campo_, and here you will find conditions not -unlike those existing in some parts of our own western territory. Large -ranches predominate, although the industries are varied. - -The people are of mixed nationalities, but the greater proportion is of -Spanish extraction and a new race, or type, is being welded with a -sufficient infusion of Anglo-Saxon blood to counteract the inherent -tendency of all Latin races towards procrastination. Because of this, -and aided by an unequalled climate, a fertile soil, and definite aims, -they are already achieving a part of their manifest destiny. - -This, the year of 1910, the publication date of this small volume, marks -the one hundredth anniversary of Argentina's independence; may it mark -also the beginning of an era of even greater harmony and more splendid -achievement. - - - - -Contents - - - CHAPTER PAGE - PREFACE v - I. FRANCISCO'S HOME 1 - II. A WONDERFUL DAY 15 - III. A LESSON IN HISTORY 29 - IV. CURIOUS SIGHTS 47 - V. GREAT SURPRISES 60 - VI. NEW EXPERIENCES 75 - VII. ON THE RANCH 92 - VIII. CATTLE BRANDING 104 - IX. A SUCCESSFUL SEARCH 122 - X. THE CARNIVAL 142 - - - - - -List of Illustrations - - - PAGE - "THEY SAT DOWN ALMOST UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE HIGH - STATUE OF SAN MARTIN" (see page 33) _Frontispiece_ - "HE PERMITTED FRANCISCO TO TAKE A RIDE ON THE TAME - LLAMA" 24 - "'DID YOU EVER SEE SUCH GLORIOUS BLUE EYES!'" 67 - "SOON AFTER HIS EAGER QUESTION THEY PASSED A GROUP - OF THEM" 100 - "BLAZED THE LINES OF THE TRES ARROYAS ON ITS HIP" 106 - "ELENA AND FRANCISCO WERE DRESSED AND READY" 147 - - - - - -Francisco - -Our Little Argentine Cousin - - - - -CHAPTER I - -FRANCISCO'S HOME - - -FRANCISCO sat crosslegged in one corner of the _patio_ under the shade -of a small pomegranate tree which grew in a tub. He had moved halfway -around the _patio_ since morning, trying to keep out of the sun. Just -after _cafe_ he had started out under the shade of the east wall, where -wistaria vines and jasmine grew in a dense mass of purple, yellow and -green; then he had gone from one tubbed shelter to another as the sun -mounted higher, until now only the heavy foliage of the pomegranate -offered protection from the hot rays. All of the long varnished blinds -at the doors of the rooms opening upon this central, stone-paved -courtyard, had long since been closed securely, for it was middle -December and the house must be sealed early against the noon heat of -midsummer. - -Francisco might have gone inside, where the darkened rooms furnished -some relief, but he chose to sit crosslegged on the red and white -square stones of the _patio_, with his back to the main part of the -house, so that the mother and sisters could not see what occupied his -busy hands. - -Francisco's father was dead, and he, with his mother, La Senora Anita -Maria Lacevera de Gonzalez, and his two sisters, Elena Maria, who was -six, and Guillerma Maria, who was eighteen and very beautiful, lived in -the Calle[1] Cerrito, in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic, -South America. - -Francisco, himself, was nine, and his uncle who was a colonel in the -army and who supported his widowed sister and her family, expected him -to be a soldier also. His great-grandfather had been a general, and -because of his services during the revolution that had brought -Argentina her liberty nearly one hundred years ago, his family was one -of the most distinguished in the Republic. Francisco's own grandfather -had given his life for his _patria_ during the ten years' blockade of -Buenos Aires, when the French and English forces combined to overcome -General Rosas, who then commanded the city. His mother and his uncle, -the Colonel Juan Carlos Lacevera, were then little children, but they -were fired with a patriotism that comes only to those who have given of -their own flesh and blood for native land. - -"El Coronel Lacevera" was now retired, and with his wife and six -daughters lived in a spacious, palatial home in the Calle San Martin -facing the beautiful plaza, or park, where the statue of General San -Martin on his rearing charger stands, a constant reminder to the -hundreds of little Argentine boys and girls who daily play in the -pebbled space around it, of the wonderful man, who, like George -Washington, was first in war, first in peace, and is still first in the -hearts of his countrymen. - -The monthly allowance bestowed by Colonel Lacevera upon his sister was -enough to keep them in comfort, but not sufficient to allow them to live -in luxury, and to-day, because Francisco had not enough money to buy his -Christmas _pesebre_ at the toyshop, he was doing what many little boys -of that country do,--he was making his own. - -Now, you must know right here, that Christmas in these South American -countries is not the greatest festival of the entire year, as it is with -us; it is simply one of the many that are celebrated at frequent -intervals, for Argentina is a land of _fiestas_; there is scarcely a -month that does not allow three or four holidays from school because of -some _fiesta_, either of church or state. Although they do not celebrate -this great holiday as we do with Christmas trees and visits from Santa -Claus, they have something in their places, and it is the "Coming of -the Three Kings." In anticipation of this, all over the Republic, -children erect _pesebres_ or mangers. - -A _pesebre_ consists of a miniature open shed, or merely a roof of straw -or bark, underneath which, in a tiny box, lies a porcelain baby doll to -represent the infant Christ. Bending in adoration at the head of the wee -box that holds this image kneels the mother, Mary, and at the foot, with -folded hands, stands Joseph, the father. About them, placed in sand or -moss, that forms the floor of the stable or yard, are figures to -represent the worshipful neighbours, also the farm-yard fowls and -animals; cows and donkeys predominating. They look like Noah's Ark -people, stiff-legged and prim. Now all of this remains unmoved, a spot -of reverent adoration, throughout Christmas week, New Year's day, and -until "twelfth night," or the fifth of January. It is awaiting the great -event for which it was erected, the "Coming of the Three Kings." - -On that auspicious night, through the same magical means that aid Santa -Claus to enter the homes of North American children while their eyes are -closed in sleep, come the three richly decorated and delicately carved -kings on miniature camels with costly trappings and bags of spices on -their little brown backs. - -On the morning of the sixth of January the children awake, all eagerness -to see the arrivals of the night. Rushing to the _pesebre_ they find the -three little wooden kings kneeling beside the manger, the faithful -camels standing in the grass without, and all about on the floor are the -wonderful gifts that the kings have brought to their _pesebre_. Indeed, -as you can see, it was erected for just this purpose, exactly as the fir -tree with its glittering ornaments forms the nucleus in other lands for -Christmas gifts. - -It was these wooden people and animals that Francisco's small fingers -were fashioning. He had cut himself several times, and one finger was -bound up in an old handkerchief, but his enthusiasm was not lessened -because of it. He knew exactly how they should be carved, and how many -there should be, for in the toyshop windows there had been sets of them -on display for weeks, and Francisco had studied each necessary bit -carefully. - -In a box beside him were the finished product of his penknife. Joseph -and Mary were completed even to the paint; Mary's red and blue gown and -Joseph's yellow robe were not quite dry, and the cows were too vividly -red, but that would not matter; Elena was no severe critic, and it was -mainly for her that he was carving them. Elena had been ill and this was -to be her "getting well" gift. The flashing light in her great brown -eyes when she should see them would be sufficient reward for cut fingers -and weary back. Besides, this was the summer vacation and there was -nothing else to do. - -In all countries on the other side of the Equator the seasons are the -reverse of those on this side. In Argentina the children are having -their summer holidays in December, January, and February, when the -children of the Northern hemisphere are busy in school, or skating and -sleighing; and they are having their winter when the Northern children -are dressed in their thinnest clothing and are going away to the -seashore or mountains. - -Francisco had just completed a wonderful set of bent pin horns for one -of the red cows when he was called to breakfast, and it was _half-past -eleven_. But you see their meal hours, like their seasons, are different -from ours. At eight o'clock he had had his _cafe con leche_, or coffee -with hot milk, and a roll; at half-past eleven he was accustomed to -having his breakfast; at four he would have _mate_ or tea; and at seven -dinner would be served. - -Francisco gathered his treasures into the tin box, and hurried to the -bath-room to make himself ready for _almuerzo_. When he entered the -dining-room his mother and Guillerma, the elder sister, were seated, and -the little Indian serving-maid was arranging a tray to carry to Elena in -the bed-room. - -The meal consisted of beef broth and rice, called _caldo_ and the usual -beginning to every hearty meal in that country; then came fried fish -with garlic, followed by a stew of mutton, carrots, cabbage, potatoes, -and large pieces of yellow pumpkin, this being the native dish of the -Argentines and commonly known as _puchero_. After that came fruit and -coffee. - -Guillerma chatted continuously of the wonderful new gowns which she had -seen being packed at the great house in Calle San Martin, where she had -been the day before, to bid her aunt and six cousins good-bye, before -their departure for Mar-de-la-Plata, the fashionable watering place on -the Atlantic Ocean, a day's ride by rail from Buenos Aires. - -Meanwhile, as they sat thus, eating and talking, over in the great house -of the _Coronel_[2] the master sat at his massive library table playing -solitaire. He always ended his meals thus with his after-dinner -coffee-cup beside him. The walls were lined with well-filled bookcases, -for the Colonel was a scholar. - -Indeed, he cared little for the gay life that ebbed and flowed about him -because of his high social position, and because of the six comely -daughters, ranging from fourteen to twenty-four; the eldest ones of whom -were favourites in exclusive Buenos Aires society. He suffered it -because of his love for them, but his natural fondness for quiet and -study led him to think longingly of the large estate in the Province of -Santa Fe, where he could spend the remaining years of his life in the -free open air, enjoying the quiet and solitude he so loved. But the -daughters must be educated and their mother did not like the country, so -the Colonel was forced to live through the winter months in the noise -and roar of the great city; contenting himself with a few months each -summer at the estate, when he rode at will over the wide prairies on his -swift Argentine horse, or read for hours under the shade of the wide -spreading _ombu_ trees which surrounded the country house. This -_estancia_, as they term a very large farm or ranch, was really his -wife's; in fact, so was the city house, for no retired colonel's pay, -nor general's pay, for that matter, could have met the expenses of his -large family, accustomed to every luxury; indeed, it was just enough to -cover his own personal expenses, and provide a living for his widowed -sister, who had been left penniless, but dared not earn her own living, -since the custom of the country forbids women of class to do work of any -kind. - -His matronly wife with her six daughters (large families are the rule -among these Latin Americans) had left the evening before, with several -French maids, for Mar-de-la-Plata to spend the entire summer; he would -be detained in the city for two weeks, and then--for freedom and the -life he loved. - -But he was strangely lonely; the house echoed his and the servants' -footfalls with an intensity that made him nervous; the pillared -corridors rang with no merry girlish laughter, and the luxuriantly -furnished _patio_ with its marble floors, and softly pattering -fountains, seemed to mock him of his loneliness. Always before, he had -left for the _estancia_ before his family had gone to Europe or the -seashore for their summer outing, and he never would have believed that -he--an old soldier--could be so overcome by sentiment. - -He was minded to take up his abode for the next two weeks, previous to -his leaving for the country, in his widowed sister's humble home, when -the splendid thought came to him;--he would bring Francisco, his nephew, -there with him to the lonely house. - -For some time he had been drawn towards the little fellow, partly -because his heart was desolate that he had no son of his own, partly -because the boy was developing so many manly traits, and reminded him -frequently, when he turned his round brown eyes towards him, of his own -long since fallen soldier father. - -He desired to know him better, to get closer to the lad--and now this -was his opportunity; he would ask Anita to let him have Francisco for -the summer, and the boy would keep the empty house lively for the few -days until they should both leave for his Tres Arroyas ranch. He clapped -his hands sharply, and a servant appeared. - -"Have Enrique bring the motor car at four, when the afternoon is -cooler," he ordered, and turned to his bed-room for the _siesta_, or -rest, that all tropical and semitropical climates demand of their -residents. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 1: Street.] - -[Footnote 2: Colonel.] - - - - -CHAPTER II - -A WONDERFUL DAY - - -PROMPTLY at four, the huge red machine puffed up to the front curbing. -The Colonel was walking up and down in the Plaza opposite, smoking a -cigarette; for when not eating or asleep, an Argentine gentleman is -seldom seen without the thin, white _cigarrillo_ between his lips. He -looked most distinguished in his scarlet and green uniform. - -It took but a few moments to reach his sister's _casa_,[3] and the maid -who answered his ring in the narrow vestibule that opened directly onto -the street told him the family were having _mate_ in the _patio_, which -was partly shaded in the late afternoon. He was welcomed heartily, and -was kissed by each one twice, after the foreign fashion, once on either -cheek. - -The _mate_ cup, an egg-shaped gourd, was passed from hand to hand as -they sat talking, each one in turn sucking the fragrant tea through the -same silver tube; the little Indian maid refilling the gourd again and -again with hot water. - -This is the universal custom in South American countries below the -Equator, and aside from the benefits derived from the drinking of the -pungent herb itself, it has a significance akin to the "loving cup" -idea, and is a symbolization of family love and domestic ties. - -A guest is always asked to partake of _mate_ with the family, and if he -is unaccustomed to the manner of its usage, the fact that he is expected -to obtain his share by means of the one, universal tube, is at first -disconcerting, but he dare not refuse under penalty of offending his -host. - -This herb is called "Paraguayian tea," or "Jesuits' tea," as it was used -extensively by the early Jesuit Fathers, who were one of the most -important factors in the civilization of the lower half of South -America. It is grown mostly in Brazil and Paraguay and its cultivation -has become quite an industry. - -The dried leaves are placed in a small gourd, hot water is poured into -it, and it is then sucked into the mouth through the long silver tube, -which has a bulbous end, perforated with small holes so that the tea is -strained. At the first taste it is exceedingly bitter, but one soon -grows very fond of it. It is very stimulating and a _gaucho_, or cowboy, -will sometimes, under stress of circumstances, ride all day with only -his morning gourd of _mate_ to sustain him, and then eat his first meal -of the day at sundown. - -The Colonel soon made known his errand, and Francisco was beside himself -with joy. He danced about the _patio_ clapping his hands, and then ran -indoors to sick Elena to smother her with kisses, and to tell her of his -good fortune. - -"Oh, Elena, just think of it! Two whole weeks in the big _casa_ with -servants, horses and automobiles--and then two whole months in the -_campo_[4] with uncle to ride with me, and teach me something new every -day!" - -"But Elena mia, you will miss me," and a note of sadness crept into his -voice. - -"Yes, Francisco, I shall miss you, but I shall enjoy myself every day -thinking of what you are doing, and you will write to me; Mama will read -me your letters, and then there will be so much to talk about when you -return,"--and Francisco embraced her another time. - -Half an hour later, clean and shining in his best suit of clothes, -exchanged for the long linen duster that all Argentine schoolboys wear -to play in, he was spinning along the asphalt streets, sitting beside -the man who stood, to his young mind, for every virtue assigned to his -patron saint. - -At first he was slightly shy, for this wonderful soldier uncle had never -paid any particular attention to him, so engrossed was he always with -his books and his family; but as they threaded their way in and out the -traffic-crowded streets, among the heavy carts, the noisily clanging -electric tram-cars, and low, open victorias filled with elaborately -dressed women, and fleet wheeled automobiles of every size and class, -Francisco began to ask questions, and forgot his timidity. They were -soon chatting interestedly. - -"How would you like a spin out to Palermo?" his uncle asked, as they -reached the central part of the city. - -"Better than I could say," replied the happy lad; his heart meanwhile -bounding, for he seldom saw the trees and flowers of the vast park that -is one of the city's most picturesque attractions. - -"Then, Enrique--to the park, via the _Avenida[5] Alvear_," said Colonel -Lacevera to the chauffeur. - -It was late afternoon now, and being Thursday, the broad avenues were -filled with hundreds of vehicles; since Thursday and Sunday are the -afternoons chosen by fashionable Buenos Aires for the diversion of -riding or driving to the great Prado to hear the military band, and to -mingle in the long lines of carriages and motor cars. - -The _Avenida Alvear_, broad and smoothly paved, with its magnificent -residences on either side, makes a desirable avenue from which to -approach the park. As they rode along, the odour of jasmine and roses -hung heavy about them, coming from the beautiful gardens surrounding the -palatial homes. Long arbours of American Beauty roses, looking like -crimson lined tunnels; majestic palm trees, over which trailed Marechal -Niel roses and cypress vines; bulky shrubs, with sweet scents; all these -lent their charm to the scene, and Francisco, ever alive to the beauties -of nature, felt this to be a foretaste of Paradise. - -Soon they were in the palm bordered drives of the park; but they crept -along at a snail's pace, as the speed on crowded afternoons is limited -to a funeral pace, in order that the lines of carriages both coming and -going may avoid confusion. - -Through the trees and shrubbery Francisco caught glimpses of cool -running streams, crossed by rustic bridges; clear, limpid lakes with -swans and boats, and here and there, pavilions where ices and -_refrescos_ were being enjoyed by the gay crowd. At intervals, on -splendid black horses, were stationed picturesque looking mounted -policemen, their long horsehair plumes trailing over their shoulders, -from which hung scarlet lined capes. It was their duty to keep the half -dozen columns of vehicles in proper line. - -The Colonel's car had entered the wide area of the Avenue Sarmiento when -he leaned towards the chauffeur and said, "Turn towards the Zoological -Gardens, Enrique." And then, to the boy beside him, he said, "How could -you stand half an hour in the Zoological Gardens, Nino?"[6] - -"I would try to bear up under it, Uncle," replied Francisco, as his eyes -twinkled an answer to the merriment in the older man's. They alighted at -the curbing, and entered the immense iron gates into that Mecca of all -Argentine boyish hearts. - -All of this seemed as a dream to Francisco for although his mother had -frequently brought him here, she knew little of the animals and birds; -and now with Uncle Juan he could ask questions innumerable without -getting the reply: _Yo no se_.[7] - -They paused first at the great cage, fifty feet in height and covering -an area of half a city block, built over a small artificial mountain -where hundreds of eagles and condors wheeled, fought and chattered. - -"See the pavilion that looks like a Hindoo temple, Francisco; let us see -what animal makes that its home." - -"Elephants, Uncle Juan, and perhaps we can see the baby elephant that -was born here a few weeks ago." Sure enough, in a park all their own, -surrounding the Hindoo temple house, was a family of elephants and the -baby elephant stood beside its mother, who was rubbing it affectionately -with her long trunk. - -The alpacas, llamas, deer, bison, guanacos and vicunas came next, and -Uncle Juan could answer every question that the eager boy put to him, -for, during his active service in the army, he had spent much time on -the frontier, and on the Cordilleras of the Andes, where these animals -are found. - -[Illustration: "HE PERMITTED FRANCISCO TO TAKE A RIDE ON THE TAME -LLAMA"] - -He permitted Francisco to take a ride on the tame llama, who rivalled -the Lilliputian steam engine in its popularity as a mode of progression -around the garden. As it did not trot, but walked sleepily along with -Francisco, having served all day, no doubt, as a vehicle for children -visiting the "Zoo," Uncle Juan walked beside him, and, as they -proceeded, he told him much about the small camel-like animal upon whose -back he rode. - -"You see, Nino, a llama is almost like a camel, but its size and -strength are inferior. It has no hump on its back, but as you saw when -you mounted it, it kneels like one. They thrive best at a high elevation -where they browse on reeds, lichens, mosses and grass. If the grass is -succulent they can go without water for a long time. When they are -domesticated it is for their fine fleece. Their flesh when young is -deliciously tender, and it is then that they can be caught with dogs and -a lasso, but the old ones can only be shot at a distance, and their -flesh is fit only to be dried and salted. I have seen them in Peru used -as beasts of burden, and the Indians make a very beautiful and valuable -cloth from the soft fleece. But come, lad, the sun sinks, and we may -come here another time." - -As they walked towards the gate where the car was awaiting them, they -passed lakes where waded and swam many birds of brilliant plumage. -Herons and flamingoes, red and gray and pink, stood on one leg, lazily, -watching for minnows. - -"Why are some of the flamingoes scarlet and some pink?" asked Francisco. - -"Those with red plumage are the old ones and the delicate rose coloured -ones are not yet in their second year. At old Roman feasts their tongues -were considered the greatest delicacy; I have eaten their flesh roasted, -and it is wonderfully palatable." - -"Oh, Uncle, we haven't seen the lions, nor the bears, nor the monkeys, -nor the boa-constrictors," coaxed Francisco, as they came in sight of -the gates. - -"But we shall see them another time, Nino. We cannot see the half of -these great gardens in a day, for they cover many acres, and contain the -finest specimens of any garden on the continent." As they passed out the -bugles at the military post opposite were sounding for the soldiers' -dinner and the avenues were no longer crowded. - -"With haste now, to the _casa_," ordered the Colonel, and the enormous -car plunged ahead, along the deserted boulevards where the electric -lights were beginning to appear one by one. Francisco had never flown so -fast and he cuddled close into his uncle's arm; the strong man held him -tenderly, lovingly, and they entered the electric lighted _patio_ of the -_casa_ arm in arm. - -Now the Colonel's home was not unlike many others of its class, but to -the little lad's eyes it seemed a palace. The main part of it was -perfectly square, and built around an inner court from which many of -the rooms were lighted and all were entered. The windows facing the -street were heavily barred, and small balconies of wrought iron -projected from each window, over-hanging the pavement a few feet below. -The house was flat and of but one story; into this first court opened -luxuriously furnished parlours, drawing-rooms, smoking-rooms and -library. Behind all of this was another court with smaller rooms opening -into it, exactly like a smaller house. Into this opened all the -bed-rooms, the bathrooms and the long elegantly furnished dining-room. - -Quite separate, and reached by a rear street entrance, was yet another, -a third court or _patio_, and into this opened the pantries, kitchen and -servants' quarters. The walls of the high spacious parlours were richly -decorated, and the chandeliers were of silver and crystal; while -ornaments and valuable souvenirs from all parts of the world were -displayed throughout the entire house. - -Although only Francisco and the Colonel sat at dinner that night, the -table was lavishly decorated, and the cut glass, silver and dinner of -many courses, including fish, game, meats, vegetables and fruits, were a -source of constant bewilderment and admiration to the boy accustomed to -humbler fare and less luxurious surroundings. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 3: House.] - -[Footnote 4: Country.] - -[Footnote 5: Avenue.] - -[Footnote 6: The affectionate name for all small boys.] - -[Footnote 7: I do not know.] - - - - -CHAPTER III - -A LESSON IN HISTORY - - -FRANCISCO awoke very early the next morning, for he was unaccustomed to -sleeping away from home. He lay quite still listening to the unwonted -sounds. He heard the servants scrubbing the marble floors of the _patio_ -and corridors; he heard the call of the _panadero_[8] and the hurrying -feet to answer; for no private family ever bakes its own bread in -Argentina, and the bakers have it all their own way, which isn't a very -bad way since their bread is light and deliciously crisp; he heard the -chattering of the parrots and paroquets in the servants' _patio_; then -the clatter of a squad of mounted policemen on their way to the day's -duty, the hoofs of their horses beating a tattoo of haste on the smooth -asphalt still wet with the daybreak bath of the sprinkling carts. - -Then he became interested in his room. Such luxury as surrounded him! He -sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes, for he had never viewed these -bed-rooms except from the corridor, on his infrequent visits to the -house. His bed was heavily carved and overhung with a canopy of pale -blue plush and silk; the walls were panelled and painted in delicate -colours, with angels and cherubs everywhere; huge mirrors reflected each -other as they hung in their frames of Florentine gold, and after he had -viewed it all for a few moments, he buried his head in his pillow and -wished for his own bare room and his mother. Then he longed for Elena -that she might enjoy the beauties about him; and this reminded him of -the _pesebre_, which was still unfinished, but which he had brought with -him. - -He wondered how he could get it to her without her finding out--and--he -must have fallen into a doze, for soon he heard an imitation _reveille_ -blown through human hands, outside the closed blinds that shaded his -door into the corridor, and his uncle called good-naturedly: "A pretty -time for a soldier of the Republic to get up!" - -Francisco hurried into his clothes and found the Colonel taking his -coffee and rolls in a shaded corner of the _patio_. - -"I am going to give you all of my time to-day, Nino, as I feel lazy, and -I find there are many things here in your own native city that you know -nothing about, and that a boy of nine should see and learn. Your mother -could not be expected to do it, so it falls to me. We must start -immediately, before the heat of the day drives us indoors. Get your cap, -lad, and we will start over in the Plaza San Martin opposite, and have a -lesson in history." - -They donned their hats, and Francisco felt very proud to walk beside his -uncle, who, if not a very large man in stature, loomed up big before the -boy's worshipful eyes. - -"What do you know of Buenos Aires, Nino?" he asked as they sauntered -towards the centre of the park. - -"Not much, Uncle Juan. I know it is the largest city on the South -American continent, and that it has over one million inhabitants. My -teacher said once that it is one of the largest produce markets in the -world." - -"Yes, and there is much more. It is the largest Spanish speaking city in -the world, as it is twice as large as Madrid, the capital of Spain. But -it is also very cosmopolitan." - -"I don't think I know just what that means, Uncle Juan." - -"Cosmopolitan? Why that, in this case, means that there are many -nationalities represented in Buenos Aires. There are thousands of -Italians, Germans, Frenchmen, Englishmen and Russians; and one can hear -half a dozen different languages in an hour's time walking along the -streets. But, to-day, I want to start with a little history of our -country. So let us sit here on this bench and begin. At this early hour -we will not be disturbed." - -They sat down almost under the shadow of the high statue of San Martin -and the Colonel reverently uncovered his head. Without being told, -Francisco took off his cap, and his uncle patted him affectionately on -the back. "Good, good, my boy! He deserves it, for no greater soldier -ever fought; but we will have to go back several centuries to get the -run of things," and as he leaned back he paused and puffed thin clouds -of smoke from his cigarette. - -"You see, when Buenos Aires was really founded, it was in 1580, -sixty-four years after the River Plate was discovered by Solis, who -called it the River of Silver, because he believed silver could be found -on its banks. They called the city 'Good Airs,' because of the fresh, -invigorating quality of the air that blew over from the vast prairies. -This first settlement grew, and others farther into the interior sprang -from it; all of them Spanish settlements; and in 1661 the King of Spain -recognized them as a colony and appointed a governor. Thus it continued -until in 1806, when England was at war with Spain, and they sent Lord -Beresford, with several thousand men, down to this colony to take -possession of it. - -"Buenos Aires then, as now, was the key to the entire country, and as it -had but forty thousand inhabitants, and was without any military -defence, he took it without trouble. But the Spaniards, at last, -overcame him; and he was obliged to give up his prize and leave. England -then sent another army, but this time the natives were prepared, and -their victory was complete. General Whitelock, in command, capitulated, -and his flag, the flag of the famous Seventy-First Regiment of the -British army, hangs in the Cathedral over yonder, where you see the -double spires beyond the house-tops. We are justly proud of that flag, -for that Seventy-First Regiment is the one that caused Napoleon no end -of trouble in Egypt. - -"After this victory our people began to feel the stirrings of -independence from Spain itself, and a spirit of revolution took hold of -the officials and people. At last, an open revolt took place in the -Plaza Mayo, on the twenty-fifth day of May, 1810, and under the -leadership of splendid men--patriots all of them--our independence was -declared. - -"But this was only the first step, just as it was with the great -republic of the United States when on the fourth of July they declared -their independence from England. So our twenty-fifth of May was but the -beginning of a long struggle. A _Junta_ was formed to govern, but it was -no easy task. To the north were Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia; to the -west Chile and Peru; all Spanish colonies. The _Junta_ sent troops to -these countries to endeavour to arouse the people to throw off the yoke. -They sent General Belgrano to--" - -"Oh! Belgrano! I know about him, Uncle. His tomb is in the little square -in front of the church in Calle Defensa, and it was he who originated -our flag. He said the long blue bars were to represent our -faithfulness, as true as the beautiful blue of our skies; and the white -bar was to symbolize our honour, spotless and fair." - -"Yes. Well, he went first to Paraguay; but the Spaniards had so -intermarried with the Paraguayan Indians, whom they had found in that -wild country, that they did not respond to the stirring appeal of -General Belgrano. He, however, succeeded in some of the northern -provinces, and thus encouraged, they organized a small navy. Do you know -who was our first admiral? No? Well, it was an Englishman and his name -was William Brown. - -"With this navy, Montivideo, the capital of Uruguay, was taken. -Enthusiasm ran high, and it was just here that Don Jose de San Martin -came into the light of publicity, as commander-in-chief of the army. Now -let us take the automobile, awaiting us over in front of the house, and -ride to the Cathedral where the remains of our hero rest, and I will -tell you more about him there." - -They rode along the clean streets, the fresh morning air blowing -straight into their faces, the curious, sing-song cries of the street -venders following them as they sped along Calle Florida. - -"Uncle Juan, why is it that most of these street peddlers are Italians? -See, there goes an onion-man with his long strings of onions, their -stalks knit together into yard lengths; there is a vegetable cart; there -is a vender of fruit, and all of them speaking broken Spanish with an -Italian accent." - -"Yes, Nino, most of the peddlers are Italian. I do not know why, unless -it is that each nationality turns to a special kind of work in this -world. The Italians are naturally merchants, they like to bargain. They -are also very fine mechanics. Did you ever notice that our plasterers, -or masons, who plaster the outside and inside of all our houses, speak -Italian?" - -"And that group of men on the corner, see, Uncle, they are all dressed -alike, and must be of the same nationality; what are they?" - -"Those"--indicating half a dozen men wearing full trousers held up by -red sashes, adorned with dozens of coins, their heads covered with round -full caps also red. "Those are Basques or Vascongados. There are many -here, and they come from a small piece of country to the west end of the -Pyrenees, in Spain, bordering the Bay of Biscay. Like the Italians, -they, too, follow the work best suited to them, and they are mostly -porters, because of their physical strength and powers of endurance. - -"I have noticed, too, that the majority of our milk men are Basques, and -I account for that because in their native home they are a pastoral -people and such pursuits attract them. Listen as we pass: their language -is unintelligible to us although they come from Spain. It is unlike any -other European language." - -They were now entering the great square called Plaza Mayo. It is the -heart of the city, although it is not in the centre. It covers about ten -acres, and is two blocks back from the muddy La Plata River; and scores -of masts and smoke-belching funnels of great ocean vessels can be seen -from its benches. - -"That is our Government House. That much I know," said Francisco, -pointing to the rose-tinted building, modelled after the Tuileries, and -facing the plaza. From its rear to the river intervened grass plots and -groves of sturdy palmettoes. - -"Yes, that is where our Senate convenes and where all the business of -the Republic is done. The President has his offices there, and all the -public receptions are held there. You see, our government does not -provide a home for our President; that, he must look after himself. Why, -we are just in time to see His Excellency now." - -There was a clatter of hoofs under the wide _porte-cochere_ and a smart -closed coupe drew up before the side entrance. The liveried footman with -a cockade of blue and white (the Argentine colours) in his high hat -sprang to the ground and opened the door. A man, slightly above the -usual Argentine height, quite handsome, with pure Castilian features, -and dressed in afternoon garb of tall silk hat and frock coat, got out, -and walked spryly up the wide stone steps, past the sentries in scarlet -and green, into the vestibule. - -"Do you know him, Uncle Juan?" asked Francisco, with awe in his voice. - -"Senor Alcorta, El Presidente, is a warm friend of mine," replied the -Colonel, and as he said it he grew fully half a foot in his nephew's -estimation. - -"A warm friend? Do tell me about him." - -"Another time, Nino, we must hasten to yonder Cathedral; but he is a -good man and a good President." - -They turned towards the enormous building, shaped like the Pantheon with -its blue tile-covered cupola, and its long portico supported by huge -Corinthian columns. - -It was built by the Jesuits in the seventeenth century and hundreds of -Indians were employed by these pioneer fathers, in its construction. -Like all houses in Buenos Aires, it is of masonry untinted except by -years. With the Bishop's palace next to it, it covers an acre of ground. - -Francisco and his uncle entered it and crossing themselves, knelt on the -bare stone floor, for like most Argentines, they were Catholics, and -this was their greatest cathedral. After a few minutes spent in -devotion, the Colonel led the way to one of the naves, where the tomb of -the great liberator, San Martin, stands, a huge sarcophagus upon a high -pedestal of marble. The Colonel stood in meditation a moment, then drew -the boy beside him on a bench. In a low voice he said: - -"Francisco, San Martin, the father of our country, was not only a great -general, but he was also a remarkable organizer, for his troops were -composed mainly of _gauchos_ of the wild uncivilized kind, who were not -easily trained or drilled. It was he who originated the plan of crossing -the Andes and liberating Chile and Peru from the Spanish yoke. - -"With his army of five thousand men, and in the face of public derision, -for the undertaking seemed impossible, he crossed the rugged Cordilleras -in twenty-five days; met the Spanish general in charge of Chile and -defeated him. He was thus the liberator of the Chilean people, for that -battle on the twelfth of February, 1817, gave them their independence -from Spain. In Santiago, Chile, there is a statue to General San -Martin, and one to the city of Buenos Aires. After his wonderful -achievement in crushing the power of Spain, in Argentina, Chile and -Peru, he retired to private life, refusing to serve in any civil -capacity. - -"Following this revolutionary triumph, Brazil waged war with the -Argentine Republic over the disposition of Uruguay. After three years, -they agreed on its independence. This was followed by a dictatorship -lasting twenty years, that was a period of the greatest tyranny in our -history. Don Juan Manuel Ortiz de Rosas, at the head of a powerful troop -of half savage _gauchos_, appeared on the political stage, and literally -wrested the reins of government from Dorrego, who held them. - -"Some time you will read in history of his twenty years of despotism. It -was during this reign that my father, your maternal grandfather, lost -his life in the blockade of Argentine ports, by French and English -forces. Rosas was at last overthrown by General Urquiza, who organized -the government upon its first solid basis, with a constitution modelled -closely after that of the United States of North America. Since then, -although we have had a few revolutions and several financial crises, we -have maintained our freedom; and our wonderful natural resources and our -rapid commercial development are giving us a stable place in the world's -congress of nations." - -Francisco listened attentively, and when his uncle concluded, followed -him out a side entrance into the street, like one in a dream. They -stepped into the Calle Bartolome Mitre, which seemed congested with a -torrent of vehicles pouring down its narrow channel like a noisy stream -and discharging itself into the great Plaza in front of the Cathedral. - -"What if San Martin could see this now?" ventured Francisco, still -under the spell of the hero's achievements. "Wouldn't he open his eyes?" - -"Yes, lad, the growth of this city has been phenomenal, and this -afternoon I will show you more of it. Why, you're not homesick, are -you?" he asked, noticing the far away look in the boy's eyes as they -sped along the _Avenida_. - -"Not exactly, but I would like to see Elena, and find out how she is -to-day." - -"Why, bless my heart! I had forgotten the sick sister. We will go past -thy mother's house and if the little rose is well enough this afternoon, -we shall include her in our ride in the city." - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 8: Baker.] - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -CURIOUS SIGHTS - - -ELENA was propped up with pillows in a deep chair by the window which -opened out upon the street. She looked lonely, but when she saw the car -sweep along the street and stop at their door, her face beamed happily. -There was no jealousy in Elena's heart because her brother was being -thus favoured by their uncle. - -"Oh, Elena, mia," cried Francisco, throwing his arms about her, and -kissing her on each pale cheek. "Do you feel able to take a ride with us -this afternoon?" - -"I think she is," answered his mother, entering the room, and taking her -son into a close embrace. "But how I have missed my Nino, Juan," turning -to her brother, the Colonel. - -"Perhaps I have been selfish in taking him from you, Anita. Shall I -leave him here?" - -"Ah, no! The lad needs you, Juan. He has no father to teach him as he -should be taught. It is the very opportunity for him; and I am most -pleased. Only, let me see him often, and I shall be content." - -"That you shall, and this afternoon just after _mate_, we will come to -take you and Elena with us for a ride. It may bring roses to her -cheeks," and he pinched the pale cheeks as he passed her on his way -out. - -True to their promise, at five o'clock the automobile drew up in front -of Francisco's home and the Colonel, himself, carried Elena out to it, -and placed her in the nest of pillows on the broad leather seat. Her -mother followed and before Elena realized it, they were speeding toward -the central part of the city. - -"Where does the little White Rose wish to go?" inquired her uncle. - -"Oh, anywhere--away from this horrid street. I am so tired of it. If I -may, I should love to see the water." - -"To the river, Enrique," laughingly ordered her uncle. "Only, the river -isn't a very pretty sheet of water. It is so murky, and I think should -be called the River of Bronze rather than the River of Silver." - -"I know, Uncle Juan; but when I had the fever it was water, water, water -I dreamt of, and now I want to see my fill of it." - -"That you shall, White Rose, for right here at Buenos Aires the river is -over twenty-five miles wide and the city has a frontage of four miles -along the waterfront." - -They passed through the Plaza Mayo, and Francisco had to tell Elena of -having seen el Presidente that morning. Then they turned into the -Paseo-de-Julio, a one-sided boulevard facing the river two blocks away. -The intervening space was a maze of small plazas where palms, flowers, -shrubs and statuary edge the waterfront like a band of solid green. -Beyond, before Elena could see the water, were the busy docks, huge -masonry basins, where over two thousand ocean-going vessels come and go -during the span of a year. - -Electric cranes were swinging the great cargoes of wheat and cattle into -the yawning holds of the vessels, and on and on the sea of funnels and -masts stretched until the muddy line of water at last broke on the -sight. Francisco was alert, his brown eyes taking in every detail of the -stirring busy scene; but Elena's hungry eyes looked past this to the -water beyond. - -"Some day, I hope to go away in one of those big vessels," she -announced. - -"Indeed, and which one will you choose, little White Rose? Here is a -wide choice. That large one with the enormous smokestacks and the -British flag flying above her, is a Royal Mail Steam-ship from England. -One of these leaves every Friday for England, and besides the mail, -carries about fifteen hundred passengers. On one of them you would -travel in great luxury; electric fans, electric elevators, an orchestra -with dances every evening, and dressing for dinner at night. Oh! it's -gay enough, the life on those magnificent steamers! - -"Then, alongside of it you see a smaller boat, a French liner from -Marseilles. They go weekly also, and they bring us our champagne and our -opera companies; why, this very automobile came on one of them. There's -an Italian liner and just beyond are some German boats. In the South -Dock is a river boat that goes up country to Paraguay; our oranges come -on those. And all about are smaller boats, some sailing vessels that -carry coffee from Brazil, and yellow pine from New Orleans in the United -States." - -"Why, that one just over yonder flies the Stars and Stripes of North -America," cried Francisco, pointing to a small vessel. - -"Not exactly, Nino. It is from _Los Estados Unidos_.[9] You must not -confound them, for the United States are but a part of North America, -although many of our people do not seem to think so. But you do not see -many of their flags in our docks. The commercial relations between our -two countries are as yet in their infancy. The most of our export and -import business is done with Europe." - -"Do they not send anything at all down here, but yellow pine, Uncle?" -this from Francisco. - -"Yes, oh! yes. They are sending us machinery, especially agricultural -machinery. When you go with me to the country you will see their -wind-mills, steam threshers and binders in great quantities. They send -us other machinery, of many kinds, but in comparison with our trade with -Germany and England it is very little." - -"And do these big ships go back empty to Europe?" inquired Elena, -pointing to the long wharves. - -"By no means, little girl. See those heavy carts going towards the -docks? Well, I don't suppose your young mind can take in the figures, -but Francisco will understand, when I tell you, those carts carried one -hundred and fifty million bushels of wheat last year to those returning -ships, to say nothing of millions of sheep, frozen quarters of beef, -wool, cheese and even butter and eggs. Anita," turning to his sister, "I -doubt if you, yourself, have ever been to the Barracas, have you?" - -"No, Juan. It is so far from the residence district and I never happened -to drive that way." - -"Then we will ride over there now and let you all see the largest -wholesale produce market under one roof that you can find in all the -world." - -For two miles they sped through narrow streets; past crowded tenements, -in front of which scores of dirty children quarrelled and played, and -where the _peons_ or working classes huddle, sometimes families of -fourteen in one room; past _tambos_, where the cows and goats stand in -sheds, open to the street, awaiting to be milked while the customer -waits; past gray spired churches, their wide doors always open, inviting -the pious passer-by to enter for prayer; passed _fideos_ factories, -where curious shaped macaroni hangs drying in the sun in the open -courtyards; on and on they bumped, for the streets here were -cobble-stones, until, at last, they reached the vast building covering -many acres, where wheat, wool, corn and produce are bought and sold to -the foreign trade. - -"Were it not so late, we would alight and see it closer. However, Elena -could not walk, anyhow. Already, I fear she has had too long a ride for -her strength, and we hope not to tire her on this, her first outing; eh, -White Rose?" But Elena was fast asleep, her head on her mother's -shoulder. - -The chauffeur turned the car towards the city, where here and there, in -the gathering dusk, an electric light could be seen as if notifying the -day, by these advance signals, that its duty was over. - -Elena slept on and did not see the wonderful _Avenida_ as they flew -along its smooth surface, so like Paris as to seem a bit of that gay -city picked up and transferred to American soil; the plane trees -bordering it, with here and there a small newspaper _kiosk_ like a -miniature temple; the splendid building of "La Prensa," the richest -newspaper in the world, where the Buenos Aires public can obtain the -services of the best doctors, lawyers, or dentists free of charge; -invitingly odorous confectioneries or restaurants with small tables on -the sidewalks at which handsomely dressed men and women sit eating and -drinking and watching the gay multitude; bewildering shop windows full -of the latest Parisian novelties; fruit and flower boys, with their -trays of luscious fruits and delicately scented blossoms balanced -unaided on their heads; hotels just beginning to glitter with their -myriads of electric lights; all of these passed by them as Elena slept -the sleep of exhaustion. - -Francisco, however, missed none of it, for his was the Latin spirit -full of love of pleasure and display, bright lights and gay crowds. His -uncle watched him intently from under his heavy brows. - -Suddenly a weird, unearthly wail arose above the hum of the traffic all -around. Elena started up, frightened and trembling, but, as she had -heard it before, she recognized it, and fell back asleep again. -Francisco had heard it also, but never so close, it seemed right beside -him. - -"Uncle, may we not go back by the Prensa building and see what has -happened?" he cried excitedly. - -The Colonel agreed and Enrique crossed to the other side of the street, -entering the long line of vehicles going west, for the "rule of the -road" in Argentina is "keep to the left." The hoarse, wailing steam -whistle had drawn the crowds towards the handsome building from whose -tower it was issuing, and they could not reach it within half a block. -Mounted policemen were everywhere trying to disperse the crowd. It was -good-natured as any Latin crowd, but refused to be moved; like a hot -water bag, it bulged out in one spot when pressed down in another. And -all of this--because the bulletin methods of this mighty newspaper are -so unusual. - -Whenever any unexpected occurrence takes place in Europe or any part of -the world this enterprising "daily" apprises the public of it by blowing -this stridently piercing steam whistle. It was blown when Queen Victoria -passed away; its howl distressed the nervous citizens when San Francisco -was almost in ashes, and its present message was that a son and heir had -been born to the King and Queen of Spain. This was made known from the -front steps of the building and very soon the crowd was a cheering, -hat-waving mob. It was momentarily growing more excited and Enrique -turned into a side street and sped towards the house in Calle Cerrito, -where Elena, now thoroughly aroused by the boisterous tumult about them, -could be tucked away into bed. - -As Francisco and el Coronel Lacevera sat at dinner that evening -discussing the event of the afternoon, while softly gliding servants in -quiet livery served them, the Colonel said:-- - -"Did you know, Nino, that every time La Prensa blows that whistle as -they did to-day, it costs them three hundred dollars?" - -"Why, Uncle Juan, does it use up as much steam as that?" earnestly -inquired Francisco. - -"Scarcely," laughed the Colonel, as he lifted up an enormous bunch of -muscatel grapes, weighing several pounds, from the platter of fruit -before him, "scarcely that, Nino, but our city government fines them -that amount every time they blow it, as they term it a public nuisance. -Now, when they want to indulge in this sensational advertising, they -send a messenger on to the _Commissaria_ post haste to deposit the fine, -timing his arrival just as the last howl of the whistle sounds across -the city." - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 9: The United States.] - - - - -CHAPTER V - -GREAT SURPRISES - - -ON the Colonel's desk the little revolving calendar was set at "December -25th," and the letters were in red ink, showing by this that it was a -feast day. The Colonel was writing, and evidently did not notice a -little figure clad in a long linen coat standing behind his chair -waiting a chance to speak. He wrote on and on, until Francisco's -patience was exhausted and he coughed warningly. - -"Not much of a soldier, Nino! A soldier must have patience if it is to -wait all day." - -But Francisco was used by now to his uncle's chaffing; indeed, they were -close friends and Francisco went right to the heart of his errand. - -"Uncle, it's _El dia de Navidad_." - -"Why, so it is," looking at the calendar. "I had forgotten it was -Christmas. We've so many feast days one cannot keep the run of all, and -I can scarcely remember my own patron saint's day. If it wasn't such a -well known and widely observed one, it would often pass before I knew -it." - -Francisco laughed. "Why, Uncle Juan, you couldn't miss St. John's day -unless you were deaf and blind. They make such a noise and have such -huge bonfires always. For weeks before it comes the children save every -piece of wood and paper, and last St. John's night I stood on our roof -and looked over the city. My! how pretty it looked; the whole city -seemed on fire; for nearly every street had half a dozen bonfires. I -wish _my_ saint was as popular. But to-day, I want to ask if I may go -home just for a little while." - -"Indeed you may, lad, whenever you choose." - -"Well, you see, to-day, I've a special errand, Uncle; I've been making a -_pesebre_ for Elena and it's finished now just in time. I would like to -go and set it up." - -"Let me see it," said the Colonel. - -"Oh, it's fine, Uncle. I've got twenty-eight figures and the paint is -dry on every one of them. I worked all day yesterday in the back -_patio_, and Jose, the _portero_, helped me cut out the camels. He said -mine looked like giraffes." And the boy began to lay them out on the -desk, tenderly lifting each one as though they were alive and breathing. - -As each little representation took its place in the long row the -Colonel's face grew tender. He dared not smile at their crudity for -behind the rough, unskilful carving, he saw the ideal that had been in -the carver's mind. He was seeing some new thing each day in the little -fellow's character that made him love him more; and when they were all -placed formally together, he drew the little linen coated figure into -the circle of his arm and together they discussed the merits of each wee -wooden figure. - -"Nino, we will go together! That's what we'll do," he exclaimed almost -boyishly. "I am tired of these long army statistics, so let us go -_inmediatamente_." - -A span of Argentine thoroughbreds took them this time, for the Colonel -was a genuine lover of horse flesh, and he owned several of the finest -in the country. It is said that an Argentine will lavish as much care on -his favourite horse as a mother will upon her child; and these two, -Saturnino and Val-d'Or, were the pride of his heart. - -"This pair, Francisco," he began, as they took their seats in the open -victoria, and the silver studded harness tinkled as the splendid horses -started off; "this pair are to be taken abroad next month with my two -trotters, Benita and Malacaro. Our horses are attracting more and more -attention in Europe as they see the fine specimens our stables are -sending there. - -"I shall enter them on the English turf, and I am ready to hazard their -price that they will come back, at least one of them, with a blue -riband. At any rate, I am sure there are no finer appearing horses -anywhere than these; but all of our horses are good to look at. Of -course, I except those miserable cab horses; they are a disgrace to -their name, and should be called sheep." - -Thus he chatted on, full of his subject, until they reached Francisco's -home. They found Guillerma and her mother away. They had gone to -celebrate mass and Elena, with the one _servienta_, was alone in the -house. - -"You entertain her, Uncle Juan, while I erect the _pesebre_," whispered -Francisco. - -So the gray haired soldier took Elena on his knee and told her the story -of a little girl who was lost in a forest and of the convention of -animals that met to discuss her fate. He put most eloquent speeches into -the jaws and beaks of the different birds and animals, such as the deer, -the puma, the ostrich, the jaguar, and many others. Elena's eyes were -wide as the big bear growled out his belief that she should be cut up -into half _kilo_ bits, and divided among them; but just then Francisco -entered the room and asked them to come into the dining-room where -Estrella, the servant, was preparing _mate_. - -As they entered the _comedor_[10] Elena spied the manger with its -surrounding images in the corner, on the floor. - -"_Que hermosa! Que linda!_"[11] she cried, clasping her hands in -ecstasy. "Only yesterday did I tell Encarnacion, when she came to bring -me Christmas cakes full of almonds and raisins, that we should have no -_pesebre_. She is to have one of ivory that cost a small fortune, but I -had rather have this. Oh! it is so beautiful! Who could have brought it? -Who could have put it here?" and she looked up inquiringly, first at her -uncle and then at her brother. Uncle Juan's face pleaded "not guilty" -but Francisco's was so beamingly tell-tale that she flew to him and -embraced him and kissed him over and over again. - -[Illustration: "'DID YOU EVER SEE SUCH GLORIOUS BLUE EYES!'"] - -When each figure had been carefully inspected and discussed Uncle Juan -proposed a ride, this time behind his favourite horses. As they entered -the house on their return he was pleased to see a faint colour on -Elena's face and a brighter look in her eyes. - -Thus the days passed, swiftly enough; New Year's with its fireworks and -noisy crowds of celebrating _peons_, and at last came twelfth night. - -Elena awoke on the sixth of January feverishly expectant. Surely, after -having set up such a lovely _pesebre_, the Three Kings would not forget -her. An excursion into the dining-room proved their faithfulness, for -there they stood--three smartly covered camels, and three wee kings, -bowing before the tiny babe in the manger. - -Around the room were the gifts they had brought to her. A toy piano, a -wonderful French doll with a trunk full of clothes, a few picture-books -and a china tea set. She was still admiring them when Francisco arrived; -he was dressed for travelling and was quite excited, but Elena could not -notice that, so absorbed was she in her toys and doll. - -"See this _muneca_,[12] Francisco, mio! Did you _ever_ see such glorious -blue eyes, just like the English Senora's on the corner. Why, you act -as though you had seen them before, Francisco, are you not surprised to -see so many?" exclaimed Elena, impatient that he would not kneel with -her among her gifts. - -"They are beautiful, Elena, every one of them. But I am in a great haste -for Uncle Juan and I are leaving from the Retiro Station in half an -hour. The servant, Jose, has taken our trunks and large bags ahead, and -I stopped here to bid you all goodbye, as Uncle Juan had another errand -to do on his way down. We go a day earlier than we had planned in order -that we may stop over for a day and night in Rosario. I am glad, Elena, -that your gifts are so lovely, and if I were not in such a hurry, we -would have a long play together. But I shall write to you, all of you;" -and he embraced them, each one, mother and two sisters, hastily, not -trusting himself to prolong the goodbye. - -The Estacion Retiro was full of a holiday crowd, for it was early -morning. Jose was awaiting him, and they stood watching the long trains -of cars coming and going, discharging their loads into the long sheds, -and swallowing up another one and puffing out again. Francisco's -knowledge of railroads was limited. He had never taken a long journey on -one; his mother and Guillerma had taken him with them on one of their -yearly pilgrimages to the shrine of Our Lady of Lujan, some forty miles -distant, for being devout Catholics, this was never omitted. He began to -grow nervous, fearing his uncle would be too late, as the train for -Rosario was puffing and blowing just outside the iron gate and the guard -was preparing to ring a huge bell, which announced the departure of all -trains. Just before its first peal broke from its brass throat his uncle -strode in, and, motioning the servant to follow with the bags, he -hurried Francisco through the gate. - -Jose, the _portero_ accompanying them, was an Araucanian Indian by -birth, but he spoke Spanish fluently. When a mere boy, the Colonel's -father had brought him from Chile, when returning from a military -expedition into that country; and he had been a faithful servant of the -family ever since. As slavery is prohibited in Argentina he had been -paid wages since he became of age, over forty years ago, but no power on -earth could have induced Jose to leave the service of Colonel Lacevera. - -He was but slightly bent and possessed the broad face and high cheek -bones of the South American Indian. His skin was like parchment, and his -eyes slanted peculiarly like the eyes of the Chinese. When Francisco had -spoken of that last characteristic to his uncle he had been told that -many people believed these Indians to be a tangent of the Oriental -races, and upheld their theory mainly because of the peculiar similarity -of the eyes. - -Jose and Francisco were great friends and Francisco was much pleased -that Jose was to be with them at the _estancia_, since his knowledge of -animals, birds, herbs, in fact all out door life, was unlimited. - -The car they occupied was a compartment car of the English type, -although the ponderous engine was North American. As the railroads of -Argentina are mainly under English control the English railway customs -and equipments are largely in evidence. - -The pretty stations at each suburb are surrounded by grass plots with -beds of flowers, and the English system of overhead bridges across the -tracks at all stations reduces the number of accidents. - -Francisco found out all of this by a series of continuous questions as -their train sped through the pretty suburbs with their numbers of summer -homes, surrounded by well kept gardens. The villages began to grow fewer -and fewer and Colonel Lacevera said: - -"Now it's my turn, Nino! Can you bound the Argentine Republic?" - -Francisco began in the sing-song manner of the Spanish schools:--"On the -north by Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil, on the west and south by Chile; -on the east by Brazil, Uruguay and the Atlantic Ocean. Its area is one -million, one hundred and eighteen thousand square miles and its -population is over six million. It is--" - -"There! There!" exclaimed his uncle, laughingly. "You may stop. No -telling how long you could sing the praises of your native land. I want -to tell you a few things that you may not have learned. Do you know what -alluvial soil is?" - -"It sounds like some metal," ventured the boy. - -"But it isn't. You see, Argentina was once part of the ocean bed; for -under the soil, way back in the interior of the country, I, myself, -have found shells and gravel. This long level stretch of land between -the Atlantic Ocean and the foothills of the Andes, that was once covered -with water, is now called the Pampas; and you are now in that region. - -"See that long, coarse grass stretching as far as the eye can reach; it -is the finest pasture land in the world and explains why we produce such -quantities of cattle, sheep and horses. You see, having this excellent -pasture-land, so well watered, and a climate that insures grazing the -whole year through, our expenses for raising and rearing cattle are very -low. We are a larger country than we appear on the map, my boy. Why! we -are twelve times as large as Great Britain." - -"Uncle, as we have so many things that are the largest and best in the -world, tell me, is this the longest railroad on the earth?" - -"No, Nino, not quite that. Our railroads are developing our country at a -rapid rate and we have some of the finest road beds in the world, but -that is because our country is so level. Now that I think of it, we have -got something connected with railroads that is interesting. We have the -longest straight stretch of railway in the world, it is said. On the -Argentine Pacific Railway from Buenos Aires to the Andes it runs like a -surveyor's line two hundred and eleven miles without deviating a foot. -But come, let us go into the dining car for breakfast; it is already -half-past eleven." - -This was Francisco's greatest surprise of all in a long list of the -day's surprises. To eat in a railway car, speeding fifty miles an hour, -with delicate china and napery, shining silver and food like he had been -having daily at his uncle's table, seemed too wonderful to be true. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 10: Dining-room.] - -[Footnote 11: How beautiful! How lovely!] - -[Footnote 12: Doll.] - - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -NEW EXPERIENCES - - -"LEVANTESE! Levantese!" came Jose's voice to Francisco's ear, just as -the latter was lassoing a llama he had been pursuing on the back of an -ostrich. - -Francisco rubbed his eyes and woke from his dream to a babel of voices, -and the train was not in motion. Where could he be? - -As he rubbed his sleepy eyes again his uncle took him gently by the -shoulder. - -"Wake yourself, Nino. We are in Rosario; come, follow me." - -Francisco followed him through the long hall of the compartment car out -into the big station where insistent porters and shouting cab-men made -frantic grabs at them and their baggage, only to be beaten off by Jose, -whose language as he scolded and berated them was not what is known as -"polite Spanish." - -Selecting a victoria from the long line of waiting ones, they entered, -Jose sitting with the driver, and were soon before the lighted portals -of a large hotel. - -The building was two stories in height and perfectly square; the second -story bed-rooms all opened on to a porch or corridor, which ran -completely around and overlooked the central court on the first floor. -The entrance was very imposing with marble staircases and marble -pillars; and Francisco's sleepy eyes opened wide in astonishment. They -were just in time for dinner; already the marble tables in the _patio_ -were filling with men and women sipping their afterdinner coffee in the -cool open air. - -As this was Francisco's first dinner in a hotel it might be interesting -to know what he ate. Being an Argentine, he always ate several different -kinds of meat, and began this meal with a platter of cold meats: tongue, -pressed chicken and jellied veal. Second, a vermicelli soup with grated -cheese; third, fried _pejerey_, the most popular fish of the country; -fourth, partridge fried in oil; fifth, asparagus with melted butter; -sixth, macaroni with tomato and garlic sauce; seventh, roast mutton; -eighth, a salad of lettuce and tomatoes; ninth, a sweet jelly in wine -sauce; tenth, fruits; and then they adjourned to the _patio_ for coffee. - -While his uncle smoked and talked with friends, whom he had chanced to -meet, Francisco slipped away and Jose helped him undress for bed, as he -was very tired. - -He remembered no more after Jose turned off the electric light until he -opened his eyes into the full glare of the sun, the next morning. It -was nine o'clock and Jose was laying out clean linen for him. After a -refreshing shower bath, he returned to his room to find his rolls and -coffee on a table beside his bed. - -"Why, Jose, I'm not a lady that I must have my _cafe_ in bed!" exclaimed -the lad. "Mother and the girls always do that, but I'm a man and I want -to have mine in the dining-room with Uncle Juan." - -Jose explained that in hotels one must always take one's morning coffee -in one's rooms; and he talked on while Francisco ate and dressed. - -"_El Coronel_ will be busy all of the day and he has placed you in my -hands. Rosario, I know like a book, and together we will see it." - -"Oh! that will be great fun, Jose. Where shall we go first?" - -"Would you like to see them load the vessels? This city is where much of -the wheat of our country is brought to be loaded into the vessels for -Europe. The river is so deep here that the largest ocean-going vessels -can come up to the docks." - -They walked through crowded, busy streets until they came to a high -bluff, and from the edge of this they could look down on the very tops -of the long rows of steamships below, all being loaded with wheat. - -This was just the beginning of the busy season, for the harvest was -scarcely under way. In January and February the whole city of Rosario -would seem nothing but wheat, wheat, wheat. - -Francisco saw all of this with deepest interest; he was beginning to -comprehend the resources of his own country. - -They sat watching the course of the wheat bags as they shot down the -long chutes from the high bluffs to the vessels below, until Francisco's -eyes grew tired and even when he closed them he could see long lines of -bobbing bags, like yellow mice, chasing one another into the water. - -So they walked along the bluff, counting the flags of the different -nations displayed on the boats beneath them; English, French, Italian, -Dutch, German and a few that Francisco had never seen before. - -For a while they watched the _lavaderas_ or washer-women pounding the -clothes of the city on the rocks at the edge of the water; and spreading -them on the higher rocks behind them to bleach and dry. - -Steam laundries are uncommon in South America and all of the washing is -done in this manner. The _lavaderas_ carry the soiled linen from the -houses to the river on their heads, balancing huge bundles as easily as -though they were trifles, their arms folded across their breasts. - -As they stood watching this cleansing process Francisco spied a -raft-like boat piled high with small logs tied on securely. - -"It looks out of place here, Jose, among all these enormous freight -steamers. What does it carry?" - -"Willow, Senorito, and see, there are others coming down the river. It -goes to Buenos Aires to be made into charcoal, the principal fuel of -that city. Great quantities of it are raised above here; it is quick of -growth and needs only to be planted so," and Jose demonstrated by taking -a short twig and sticking it into the earth. - -"Behold! and in seven years, it is as you see it there on the rafts -ready for market. They use the twigs for making Osier baskets. But _hace -calor_[13] let us go to the cool shady _patio_ of the hotel and there I -will tell you a story of some charcoal burners until the Uncle comes." - -But the Colonel reached the hotel before they did, for Francisco must -stop to see this thing and that as they sauntered along. The mid-day -heat meant little to him while so much of novelty challenged his -attention. Jose was always ready to answer his questions, and he -frequently drew the boy's notice to something that would escape any one -but a keen observer, and this the Indian was. - -The sun was almost in midheaven, and the daily _siesta_ was beginning in -some parts of the city. Workshops were being closed, and under every -tree some cart driver had drawn up his horse and stretched himself on -the grass under its shade; even the beggars were curled up on the church -steps fast asleep. - -"Why do some of those ragged beggars wear metal badges, Jose?" - -"They are licensed beggars, Senorito. The city has authorized them to -beg, and when you help them you may know you are helping no rogues." - -Francisco drew his nose up into a prolonged sniff. "I believe I'm -hungry, Jose. What smells so good?" - -"Step here on to this side street and I'll show you." - -The street was being torn up to be repaved, and the _peon_ workingmen at -this noon interval of rest were eating their _almuerzo_. Gathered in -little groups, they sat around something that was cooking and emitting -odours of stewing meat, potatoes and onions. - -"But how are they cooking here in the street?" - -"Go closer and you can see," replied Jose. - -Francisco walked to the curb, and looking over their backs into the -middle of one circle he saw--the stew cooking in a shovel. - -"They buy these things at the market and use their street shovels for -stewpans, as you see." - -"Ugh! I hope they wash them first," laughed Francisco. - -They were now passing the market, an enormous affair covering the best -of a large block. But the scene was no longer animated for the -chattering and bargaining were beginning to cease; and the merchants, -themselves, were nodding over their wares. - -Along the curbing were piles of merchandise; here, a stack of peaches, -pears, apricots, figs, nectarines, grapes, and plums; there, an array of -earthen ware, in curious shapes; here, a stock of readymade clothing, -aprons, trousers, _ponchos_[14] and shoes. The vegetables were heaped -high in piles; tomatoes, beans, lettuce, cardon, celery, potatoes, -cucumbers, and onions in long ropes, their stems so plaited together -with straw that they can be sold by the yard; or, in that country's -measure, a _metro_.[15] - -Many of the stalls offered cooked foods; roasted partridges and -chickens; pates of jellied meats; cleaned and cooked armadillo, whose -meat tastes like tender roast pork. The Argentines are very fond of them -and they consume thousands every month. - -Around the curbing, at one end of the market, stood great carts, with -wheels fully eight feet high. These, Jose told Francisco, were the -market carts that brought the produce into the city. They look rude and -cumbersome, but carry several tons and often as many as a dozen oxen are -hitched to them. - -These interested Francisco but Jose bid him hurry as no doubt his uncle -would have breakfasted. Which, indeed, he was doing, for as they entered -the hotel Francisco caught sight of him, seated in the long dining-room -with several gentlemen; all of them, including the Colonel, in cool -looking white linen suits. Francisco joined them and was introduced to -the strangers. - -They were wealthy _estancieros_ but not Spaniards. One was an -Englishman and the other a North American, owning ranches near Rosario, -and they were negotiating with Colonel Lacevera for some pedigreed -horses which he owned. - -They talked partly in Spanish and partly in English; for like most -educated Argentines, the Colonel spoke some English and understood more. -Francisco had studied English at school just as he did French, and he -was delighted to be able to understand some of their conversation. - -Before they parted, the Englishman urged Colonel Lacevera to attend a -large sale of cattle and horses which was to take place at his -_estancia_ the next day, Sunday. Patting Francisco on the head he added: - -"Bring the Nino also, he may enjoy it." - -So early the following morning Jose had their horses at the curb of the -hotel, saddled and ready for the three league gallop. - -Francisco had not ridden often, but his enthusiasm knew no bounds when -he saw the Argentine pony that was to be his mount. - -The Colonel looked at Jose meaningly, for he knew that this eagerness -would not outlast the long gallop. - -At first they rode briskly in the cool morning air. Francisco held on -bravely, but the Colonel noticed the firm set of his lips, and that he -talked less and less as they rode on. - -They were riding through beautiful country. The turf was fresh and green -in spots where the old coarse grass had been burned off and the tender -young sprouts were coming up through the rich soil. They passed droves -of several thousand sheep nibbling peacefully on this succulent new -growth. There were shepherds, with here and there a hut made of poles -covered with mud; the roof thatched with asparta grass. - -Francisco was so tired and his bones began to ache so desperately that -he ceased to show any interest in the things they passed. Colonel -Lacevera and Jose exchanged knowing looks, but dared not permit -Francisco to see them. When they came to one of these rude huts his -uncle said: - -"Nino, would you not like to see the inside of one of these _prairie -palaces_?" - -He admired the boy's pluck, but he feared to tax his physical endurance -more. - -Francisco willingly assented, and they rode up to the door around which -a swarm of dirty, half naked children sat on the ground. - -Jose called: "Ola!" and a copper-coloured woman appeared at the door, -dressed only in one garment, a dun-coloured chemise. - -She was an Indian, and when Jose spoke to her in her own tongue, asking -for a drink, she pointed to the square kerosene tin filled with water, -beside which hung a gourd. - -She said her husband was out with the sheep; and she had no chairs to -offer them, but they might alight and rest. - -They stepped into the hut, the door of which was a horse's hide; the -floor was the hard earth; a box stood in the middle and served as a -table, while bundles of straw in the corners served as beds. Instead of -chairs there were dried skulls of oxen; their wide, spreading horns -serving as arms to these unique seats. Francisco was glad, however, to -rest his weary body within their grewsome embrace and he sat thus for -half an hour, while Jose watered the horses and the Colonel talked to -the children. - -Francisco himself proposed that they start on, but Jose was obliged to -lift him into his saddle. One more league and they were in sight of the -_estancia_, where the sale was to be held. - -The house was of the usual Spanish style of architecture, and the many -buildings grouped around it gave the place a resemblance to a village. - -Senor Stanley met them and "gave" them his house, after the manner of -all Spanish hosts, and they entered to wash and rest. - -As the Senor Stanley was an Englishman, his house interested Francisco -in spite of his weariness. It was fitted with every luxury of a high -class English home; the baths being supplied with cool spring water -which flowed through them constantly. There were handsomely furnished -parlours, a well-filled library and a billiard room. The stables were -commodious and sanitary; and the tennis courts and golf links, gardens -and _patios_ were numerous. - -In the corrals they found several hundred men gathered and there was -much confusion and noise. - -It was Sunday and therefore a holiday spirit pervaded everything, for -Sunday is not observed in Argentina as a day of quiet and reverence; it -is the day for sports, games and excursions. This sale had been set for -Sunday to insure a large attendance. - -First, breakfast was served. Under a long arbour, formed by tall -eucalyptus trees, the table, fully a hundred feet in length, had been -set. At each place was a bunch of flowers and a bottle of native wine. - -Despite his aching body, Francisco did full justice to the soup, -barbecued meats and fowls, vegetables and fruits that were served. But -after he had eaten he crept under the shade of one of the trees to rest. - -He fell asleep and slept until his uncle wakened him at _mate_ time. - -"Hello, my boy! Slept through all of this noise? You were certainly -exhausted, for such a clatter as there has been. One hundred thousand -dollars and many pedigreed animals have changed hands, and it wasn't -done quietly either. We will have our _mate_ and then ride home in the -cool of the evening. Come." And the Colonel helped the stiff jointed, -weary boy to his feet. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 13: It makes hot, literally.] - -[Footnote 14: Blankets.] - -[Footnote 15: A little over a yard.] - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -ON THE RANCH - - -"WHAT is that you have, Manuel?" cried Francisco, to one of the _peons_, -five days later, as he sat under an ombu tree in the garden on his -uncle's _estancia_, playing with some tame _tierra_ birds, that kept the -garden clean of worms. - -Manuel was one of the house _peons_ and he had a queer looking machine -with a long snout under his arm. - -"Why, this is an ant destroyer, Senorito; would you care to watch me -kill ants?" - -For answer, Francisco ran eagerly to his side and the two walked toward -the peach orchard. Francisco had had five days of rest from his tiresome -ride the day of the sale, and he was now ready for any new adventure. - -They had arrived at the Tres Arroyas ranch three days before and he had -made friends with every one connected with the house and gardens. The -heat had been too great to allow of any wider acquaintance, which would -have included the gauchos, or cowboys; at least the nearer ones, for the -Tres Arroyas ranch was very large, and Francisco never could have known -them all. Jose had told him that one could ride all day from the centre -and not reach its boundaries. - -"Why do you use that to kill ants?" he asked of Manuel. "Our _servienta_ -at home uses hot water when they get into the _patio_." - -"Ah, yes, Senorito, but these country ants come in such armies it would -take a geyser of boiling water to kill them. Now, we are here in the -orchard; you can see how they destroy things." - -Curious rivulets of tawny brown ran here and there as far as the eye -could reach. - -"Last spring these ants fairly cleaned our peach trees of their tender -young leaves, and it was only by continuous labour that we exterminated -them. Now, look at them! Thick as ever." - -"But how can you kill millions of ants with so small a machine?" - -"Well, I can't this afternoon. I brought the machine here to place it -and get it ready; then early in the morning I will tap on the iron bars -of your window and you must follow me." - -It was scarcely more than dawn the next morning when Francisco heard the -gentle tapping on the _rejas_ at his window. He had forgotten his -engagement with Manuel, and started up in bewilderment. The sight of -the _peon_ reminded him and he hurried into his garments and was soon -with Manuel in the crisp morning air. - -"A little more of the sun above the horizon and we would have been too -late for to-day," said the swarthy Spaniard, as he busied himself -lighting the machine. - -"Ants are early risers, and it's only by getting up before they have -made their morning toilets that we can manage to make war on them." - -Francisco laughed at the idea of an ant bathing and dressing, and bent -over on his knees beside Manuel who was scratching a match to light the -dry rubbish in the cylindrical can, in one end of which was a small -amount of sulphur. He screwed a lid on the other end, inserted the snout -into an ant hole and with a pair of bellows he sent the volumes of -sulphurous smoke into the labyrinthine passages of the ant houses. - -"Look, look," excitedly cried Francisco, as quantities of smoke were -seen issuing from many holes, here and there, within a radius of several -hundred yards; showing how intricate and many winding are the -underground passages of these industrious pests. - -"Yes, there won't be many ants getting out to work this morning. But in -a short while they will be just as bad as ever." - -They went from one part of the orchard to another until the sun was too -high, and they were obliged to stop until another morning. Francisco -learned, as they walked toward the house, that these ants are the worst -pest, excepting the locust, that the farmer has to combat. They -particularly delight in carrying away whole beds of strawberries and -they often come in armies that swarm over every obstacle in their path. - -As they entered the house, Francisco noticed that his uncle had had -_cafe_ and was in his riding breeches ready for a morning gallop. - -"May I go with you, Uncle Juan?" cried Francisco. - -"Hey! That's spirit for you! Rode yourself to fragments a few days ago -and ready for another trial to-day. _Che_," clapping his hands as a -_peon_ appeared. - -"Saddle Barboza for the Senorito, _inmediatamente_." - -Francisco gulped his _cafe_ and nibbled at a biscuit, but he was too -excited to eat more. - -When the horses were brought to the door, his eyes gleamed, for he saw -that the smaller horse, that was to be his to ride while he was on the -_estancia_, was resplendent in a new saddle, bridle and bit. The servant -brought a set of solid silver spurs and smart leather riding boots which -he assisted Francisco to put on, and which he told him his uncle had had -sent with the saddle and outfit from the city. - -The stirrups were of silver, beautifully chased, and the head stall, -ornaments for the brow band which covers most of the horse's face, and -the _pretel_ bangles that jingled across the horse's breast, were all of -the same valuable metal. It was indeed the outfit of a gentleman, and on -Barboza, the sleek bay horse, with the neat, light hoof of the prairie -steed, it seemed an equipment fit for a prince. His uncle appeared at -the mounting block and Francisco kissed him again and again as he -thanked him for the lovely gifts. - -"Hey! Hey! We can't waste time thus, my boy. I am going over to the west -of the _estancia_ to inspect some horse branding that is to take place -to-day. The _mayor domo_[16] will follow me later." - -They cantered off across the corral and were soon on the open plains. On -and on, over the pastures, some of them red, like battle grounds with -the scarlet _margarita_ or verbena; when again they would reach a huge -patch of white ones that looked at a distance like snow. - -"What was that, Uncle?" exclaimed Francisco, startled, as a large bird -with yellow breast and gray wings screeched across their path, emitting -a harsh cry of several syllables. - -"That is the _bicho-feo_."[17] - -"Why do they call it ugly bug? It is a bird." - -"Because its cry is not unlike those words. Listen again and you will -hear how plainly he says it. It is a bird of prey and lives on smaller -birds. That bird just fluttering up out of the grass at your left is a -scissors bird." - -"Oh, I know why. See how its two long tail feathers clip the air like -scissors as it flies." - -They passed numbers of small gray owls; and once Francisco spied a flock -of flamingoes across the water of a small lake. Occasionally they passed -a shepherd's hut; but now they were getting on beyond the sheep grazing -pastures and great herds of cattle came in sight. - -Francisco leaped in his saddle with joy. "Oh! Uncle, are we coming to -the cowboys?" - -His boyish enthusiasm had pictured them on their native heath so often, -and now he was really to see them! He had watched them when they came to -the city on holidays and walked along the Paseo de Julio, where the pawn -shops, with their tempting offers of silver sheathed knives, gaily -striped _ponchos_, and silver mounted _rebenques_[18] draw them as honey -draws bees; but to see them on the plains,--that was what he wanted! - -[Illustration: "SOON AFTER HIS EAGER QUESTION THEY PASSED A GROUP OF -THEM."] - -He did not have to call on his reserve of patience; indeed, soon after -his eager question they passed a group of them, crouched on the ground -around a fire of dry thistles, over which hung a can, suspended by wire -from a tripod, and which held the water for their morning _mate_. They -arose to their feet as the Colonel galloped past and greeted him with -_vivas_. - -"Do they often use those murderous looking knives on each other, Uncle?" -asked Francisco; the sight of their weapons having subdued his zeal -somewhat. They were rougher looking men in their working clothes than -when they came to the city dressed for a lark. - -"Seldom, Nino; unless they are intoxicated. They are not very civilized -and they have no education whatever. They fairly live on their horses' -backs and cannot be persuaded to do any work that must be done outside -their saddles." - -They were, indeed, fierce in appearance. Their knee-high boots were made -of rawhide; they wore no trousers, but a striped blanket held around the -waist with a belt, then brought between the legs and fastened again to -the belt in front, formed the covering of the lower part of the body. -This is called the _chirapa_ and when walking it gives the wearer a -bulky appearance, not unlike a Turk. - -As these were _peon gauchos_, or low-class cowboys, they were not so -picturesque as the gentleman _gaucho_, who is entirely different in -appearance and character. - -The _mayor domo_ rode up to them within the first hour, and his costume -was that of the _caballero_ class or gentleman _gaucho_. - -He also wore the _chirapa_, but it was over long white cotton trousers, -the edges of which were embroidered and finished with hand-made lace. -Instead of the rawhide belt of the _peon gaucho_, his was a strip of -hogskin doubled, the inside forming a pocket, which was stitched into -compartments, these being made secure with clasps made of silver coins; -from all of this hung a festoon of coins encircling the entire waist. -The large clasp in the front was of solid silver, carved to represent -the crest of Argentina. Several knives were thrust through his elaborate -belt, and his riding whip was of closely braided rawhide, with a heavy -silver handle. - -Francisco eyed him curiously, but with evident admiration. This was more -to his liking, and he rode between this gentleman of the Pampas and his -soldier uncle with great pride. Almost, he was persuaded to be a -_gaucho_, but a side glance at his idolized uncle brought quick -repentance to his heart. - -How could he be so disloyal to his family traditions! A _soldado_,[19] -of course, that was his destiny. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 16: Superintendent.] - -[Footnote 17: Beech-o fay'-o.] - -[Footnote 18: Riding whips.] - -[Footnote 19: Soldier.] - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -CATTLE BRANDING - - -THEY reached the western corral about ten o'clock, and found the -branding already under way. Several dozen _peon gauchos_ had assembled -and they had driven the horses to be branded into an enclosure. - -"See, Nino, these are all young animals; they have never had the iron on -them." - -"Why do you brand them, Uncle Juan? Your _estancia_ is so large surely -they could not stray on to a neighbour's ranch; and then the _gauchos_ -watch them carefully?" - -"Yes, but there are so many thousands that, despite the best of care, -our horses stray away occasionally. Before every yearly round-up, we -send _peons_ to all the neighbouring ranches to gather in the strayed -ones; and if our brand is on them there is never any question as to -their owner. I am gradually having the outskirts of the _estancia_ -enclosed in barbed wire fencing, but it is so many leagues around that -it is no easy matter. But look, see how they catch them!" - -They were using the _bolas_, and although Francisco had often seen them -in the shop windows, he had never seen them in use. They are an -aboriginal device for lassoing cattle and horses. They consist each of -three stone balls covered with leather and all attached to long thongs, -two of which are longer than the third. The ends of these thongs are -attached together and when the _gaucho_ uses them he raises his hand -holding these ends above his head and whirls them around and around to -gather momentum, then opening his hand the weapon flies away to coil -itself about the feet of the animal that he wishes to lasso. These -_gauchos_ are so skilful in the use of the _bolas_ that their aim is -unerring, and although it sometimes bruises the captive's legs, it is a -most convenient method for catching a fleet-footed horse or cow. - -[Illustration: "BLAZED THE LINES OF THE TRES ARROYAS ON ITS HIP"] - -When the _gaucho_ in the enclosure had caught a horse by this means, he -immediately pulled it to the ground. A _peon_ sat on its neck while -another held it by a rope around its fore-legs, and a third blazed the -lines of the Tres Arroyas brand on its hip. The mark was in the shape of -a horseshoe, inside of which was a cross; and at least ten of these -groups were busy all of the time, burning it on the young animals. - -"What do you raise these wild horses for, Uncle Juan?" inquired -Francisco, who had not missed one single detail of the performance. -"They are not fine horses like Barboza here," and he patted his steed's -neck affectionately. - -"No, they are not, by any means. These wild horses are raised for their -hides mainly, although very little of them goes to waste when they are -skinned. Look over yonder, near that cluster of mud huts, where the -hides are drying in the air and sun." - -Francisco's eyes followed the end of the silver riding whip that his -uncle used to point with, and saw tier after tier of poles, from which -were stretched horsehides to stakes in the ground below. - -Turning to Don Carlos, the _mayor domo_, who was near-by, the Colonel -inquired the worth of the horses being branded. - -"Not less than ten or twelve dollars each," answered the superintendent. -"These are very good ones. Does the Senor care to have his breakfast -now?" - -For some time, Francisco had been feeling pangs of hunger. His hurried -_cafe_ had not been sufficient nourishment for the long hot ride, and -now his hunger was aroused by odours that came to his nostrils like -pleasant messengers; yet, he could not see anything cooking. - -"Uncle, shall we eat out here with the _gauchos_?" he asked, wild-eyed. - -"Very near them anyhow, but not exactly _with_ them. Manuel came ahead -of us to prepare our _almuerzo_, which is in process of cooking over -yonder behind that clump of willows. Before we eat you shall see the -_gauchos_ eat, but I warn you it is not a prepossessing sight. - -"Here, Don Carlos, have the men go to their breakfast now, the lad wants -to see their table manners." - -Don Carlos rode into the corral, spoke a few words and the branding -ceased. Each man mounted his own pony, for an Argentine cowboy never -walks, be his journey ever so short. With cheers and shouts they -galloped toward the mud huts near-by. - -Francisco and the Colonel followed at a more dignified pace. They found -the men gathered about in groups, squatting on the ground or sitting on -ox skulls. - -The beef had been quartered and roasted on a spit over a charcoal fire, -outside one of the huts. Each man, without ceremony, had "fallen to" and -helped himself, by cutting great chunks of the meat from the large piece -on the fire. - -Holding one end with his teeth and the other with his hand, each man -would sever the bite about two inches from his mouth with one of his -silver-handled belt knives. - -"You see how superfluous are knives, forks and plates," said the Colonel -in an undertone to Francisco as they watched this primitive process. - -"And now for our own breakfast. I am as hollow as is the wild pumpkin -at the end of summer," and he gave a sharp blow to his horse, another to -Barboza, and they were off towards their own waiting meal in the shadow -of the willows. - -Manuel had killed a small kid soon after reaching the corral, and had -roasted it on a spit in its skin over a fire of dry thistles and -charcoal. He was basting it with salt water, which he had brought in a -bottle. In the coals below were sweet potatoes roasting in their -jackets. So tempting were the combined odours of lamb and sweet potatoes -that Francisco ran to the little stream to wash himself, in order that -he might begin to appease his appetite at once. - -"I _never_ was so hungry," said he, as he took the tin plate offered him -by Manuel. "I think I could eat with my hands like the cowboys! Do they -ever eat anything but meat?" - -"Seldom. They care but little for vegetables; not enough to take the -trouble of raising a few. Meat and _galletas_, the hard biscuit of the -Pampas, often three or four months old, is all they have besides their -_mate_, that they _must_ have always. - -"Que esperanza! lad, this lamb is good! It takes me back to other days. -Many times on our expeditions into the provinces have I eaten thus." - -"Tell me, do tell me of one while we eat and rest," coaxed Francisco. - -"There were many, lad," said the Colonel, as he passed his plate back to -Manuel for another piece of the smoking, savoury lamb. "I've never told -you of the expedition of General Roca into Patagonia. I was commanding a -regiment at that time, one of the regiments that became famous because -of that remarkable undertaking. - -"Patagonia is all of the southern-most part of this continent lying -between the Rio[20] Negro and the Straits of Magellan, excepting the -narrow strip between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean, which belongs to -Chile. This country is not the barren, unproductive country now that it -was before our expedition carried civilization to its wild wastes and -reclaimed those vast prairies from the Indians." - -"But, Uncle Juan, what right had Argentina to take the land from the -Indians of Patagonia? They had lived there for centuries and it was -theirs." - -"It is a long story, Nino, and I shall give you only the bare outline. -You see, Patagonia is a series of vast terraces from the Atlantic Ocean -to the foot of the Andes. On these well watered steppes, Patagonian -Indians, mainly the Chennas, raised their cattle, allowing them to rove -at will. But the winters there are most severe, especially when a -_pampero_ blows; so, during the winter months, they drove their immense -droves of cattle to the northward into the foothills of the Andes, where -it was warmer. During these winter sojourns close to the frontier of our -Republic, they lived by murdering and stealing from our settlements, and -the development of our lands was being retarded because these pioneers -were obliged to flee to the cities and leave their fields of grain and -maize, their vineyards and their cattle to the mercy of the marauders. - -"Gradually the outposts of our civilization were creeping closer to -Buenos Aires, instead of extending and growing as they should. Do you -now see why we were justified in fighting them?" - -"Yes, but I didn't know they had made any trouble. I supposed they were -peaceful." - -"Far from it. At last when Don Nicolas Avellaneda became President, he -sent General Roca, who was my general, and the Minister of War, into -Patagonia to exterminate these Chennas. - -"It was not an easy task, for these Indians are a fierce race, giants in -size and strength. Do you know how they came by their name, -Patagonians?" - -"I have never heard, it must have something to do with their feet as -'patagon' means 'large foot.'" - -"That's it exactly. Magellan, the discoverer, saw their footprints in -the sand and because of their magnitude, he believed them to be giants, -and called them that before he had ever seen them. - -"Well, General Roca never knew discouragement, and he set about their -defeat by digging great trenches, twenty feet deep and twenty feet wide, -while the Indians were up in the mountains with their herds of cattle. - -"These trenches he covered with boughs, over which earth was scattered, -and when all was ready he sent us back to drive the Chennas toward the -ditches. - -"It was a terrible price to pay for their cruelty, and I shudder now as -I recall that awful day; but nearly all civilization is bought with -blood, and it certainly ran in torrents then. The Indians, unsuspecting, -fell headlong, thousands of them, into the trenches, and the few that -were unhurt by the fall or by being crushed in the trenches were made -prisoners and distributed among the victorious regiments as servants or -soldiers. The women and children were captured and sent to the cities to -work. - -"Ah! But those ditches! The birds, foxes, and armadillos must have grown -fat on the thousands of bodies we left on that plain." - -Francisco begged for more, his eyes were ablaze and his cheeks flushed, -but the Colonel said: - -"No more of fighting, anyhow; but come here by the stream, now that we -have finished our meal, and I will tell you of some of the animals I saw -in Patagonia." - -"Did you ever chase ostriches?" eagerly inquired the boy. - -"Yes, yes, several times and it is great sport; and once, for three -days, I had only ostrich eggs to eat. You see, we were digging those -same trenches and could not spare many of the men for hunting. I was ill -and could not eat the army rations, so Jose brought me ostrich eggs and -cooked them as the Indians do--in the red-hot coals." - -"And was Jose with you on that expedition?" exclaimed Francisco. - -"Yes, through all my campaigns he has been my body servant. It was Jose -who told us how the Indians catch ostriches; he had heard it when a boy -among his tribe of Araucanians." - -Francisco clapped his hands in anticipation. - -"A circle of fire around a great area was built and the huntsmen -remained within this circle. The ostriches and guanacos that were thus -imprisoned in the circle of fire were easy prey for they fear fire and -ran almost into our arms. Why, what's the matter, Nino?" - -The interest had died out of Francisco's eyes and he sat with his hands -clasped over his knees. - -"Well, Uncle Juan, I'll tell you. I'm disappointed!" - -"Disappointed! How?" - -"Uncle Juan, I don't think that's fair play or good sport." - -"_Que esperanza!_" exclaimed his uncle, secretly proud of the boy's -loyalty to his conviction, but determined to draw him out on the -subject. - -"And who are you that you may sit in judgment on generals and captains?" - -"Oh! I don't think one's rank has anything to do with one's opinions. -Uncle, if a _peon_ thinks a thing is not right he must not do that even -though the President, himself, commands him; and I don't think hunting -animals in that fashion is fair. The little English boy I play with at -school is always saying that we Spaniards are not--well, he calls it -'sporty.' That's their English word for it. He says that the Englishmen -are the truest sports on earth and that they would never hunt as we do." - -"To a certain extent he is right, Francisco. We don't care for the -excitement of the chase merely for the excitement as they do; we are -less active in our temperament, and prefer to gain our ends with the -least expenditure of energy. I want you, above all things, my lad, to be -broad-minded, and able to see your own shortcomings, so think this -matter out and if you are convinced that we are not right as a people, -in our attitude towards sports, or anything else for that matter, -formulate your own opinions and then stick to them. - -"It is through such men that all nations grow; and the men that are able -to see their national deficiencies are the great men, the reformers, -and the leaders. - -"But in regard to the ostriches. How would you catch them if you had the -opportunity?" - -"I should do it as the English lad tells me he saw them do it in Chubut -Territory; that's part of Patagonia, isn't it, Uncle?" - -The Colonel nodded, smoking industriously. - -"Well, he says the real way to catch ostriches is with the _bolas_. He -saw his father chase them there and he says they hunt them in an open -plain, not in a circle of fire. They give the birds an equal chance with -them for their lives, and if the ostrich can't outrun them, then, when -they are within throwing distance, they whirl the _bolas_ around their -legs and trip them. He says it is fun to see an ostrich run; it -stretches out its long neck and with its awkward long legs kicks up a -great cloud of dust behind it. He also told me about seeing guanacos -and pumas. Did you ever hunt them, Uncle?" - -"Yes, but guanacos are hard to shoot because of their keen sense of -smell, they can scent a human being over a mile away; but their flesh is -delicious, tasting much like venison. - -"Have you ever seen the puma skin in the library of my city house?" - -"Yes, I have often seen it and one day I measured it; it was over two -metros in length. Are those guanaco skins in the dining-room at the -_estancia_--the tawny yellow ones with white spots and such deep soft -fur?" - -"Yes, and the ostrich robe that your aunt uses in her carriage is made -of the breasts of young ostriches; it is as soft as down and marked -brown and white. The Patagonian Indian women often wear them for capes, -although they are very expensive. - -"You know, the ostriches we have here are not the kind that produce the -long plumes worn in ladies' hats; these are called the 'rhea' and are -an allied species. Speaking of skins, Francisco, I will tell you of one -that will interest you. It is a vicuna, and one of the finest I have -ever seen. It was presented to your great-grandfather, General Lacevera, -by a chief of the Incas, as a vicuna robe is worn only by one of royal -blood among the Indians. It saw service as your great-grandfather's -_poncho_ during his remarkable career, and is now over one hundred years -old, yet it is as soft as velvet. Being one of our family heirlooms, it -shall be yours, as I have no son." - -"That pleases me and I shall be very proud of it." - -"As you well may be. Whatever fortunes come to you in life, Nino, -remember you are a Lacevera." - -Sleep was sweet that night, and Francisco's head was scarcely on his -pillow when guanacos, vicunas and even _gauchos_ were forgotten in -dreamless slumber. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 20: River.] - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -A SUCCESSFUL SEARCH - - -THERE was not a dull moment for Francisco during the weeks that -followed. Don Carlos, the superintendent, lived in the great house the -year through. He was a bachelor and a man of education, so that when the -Colonel came each summer he insisted that he keep his usual quarters; -for the house was very extensive and the Colonel enjoyed his company at -meals and during the long evenings. - -Francisco had accompanied Don Carlos on several excursions and once, -with a _tropilla_ of horses (eight or ten riding horses driven loose by -a _peon_ for fresh mounts on a long journey), they had gone on a journey -of five days to a neighbouring _estancia_ to purchase algarroba posts -for the extensive fencing that was taking place on the Tres Arroyas -ranch. This algarroba wood is like iron and under water is almost -imperishable. - -They had passed by one small _estancia_ devoted almost exclusively to -peanut culture; there were leagues and leagues of them being raised to -be shipped to the Mediterranean ports to be made into _olive oil_. They -had their dinner at this _estancia_ and Francisco ate bread made from -powdered peanuts mixed with wheat flour and he found it very delicious. - -Jose had taken him on several fishing excursions, and once they had -hunted _armadillos_ with small dogs. Francisco had laughed heartily at -the antics of one dog, who had almost caught the horny-plated little -animal when it suddenly rolled up into a ball, its back of movable, bony -bands enveloping it like an armour, and rolled off a bluff over the -river bank, falling fully fifty feet; while the puzzled dog peeped -cautiously over the brink to see it unroll itself and with its short -legs hastily dig a retreat under the earth. - -On Francisco's birthday his uncle had given a _fiesta_ in his honour. -There were fireworks and races, and cowboys from all parts of the -_estancia_ came in their full cowboy regalia on their best horses to -participate. It was very interesting, and then there was a dinner for -everybody and after that a dance. Francisco, himself, presented the -prizes, and his uncle made a speech. - -After so much excitement Francisco overslept the next morning, and awoke -to find that his uncle had ridden to a far corner of the _estancia_ to -inspect some of the new fencing; he had left word that he would not -return until late that night. - -Francisco sat under his favourite ombu tree, watching a _manganga_, or -carpenter bee, that was humming loudly in the foliage above his head and -looking like a shining ball of gold among the green leaves. He had -received a letter from his mother that morning, and he was a bit -homesick. - -"El Senorito is _triste_. No?" It was Jose's voice behind him. - -Francisco brushed away a tear that had stolen down his cheek, and turned -to greet the Indian with a smile. "I was wishing to see Elena, but it -won't be long now; and I shall hate to leave this lovely place, too. But -one can't have everything one wants, all at the same time, can one, -Jose?" - -"No, Senorito, but we always have _one_ happiness; have you noticed it? -There never comes a time when we haven't one, at least. Now I've one -just now, and I am going to share it with you. It will take away your -sadness." - -"Is it--is it another fishing trip?" - -"No, but it's better. Now listen, and I will tell you about it. - -"While the _gauchos_ were dancing and making merry over your birthday, -last night, some miserable robbers got into the horse corrals and stole -all the horses' tails." - -"The horses' tails!" gasped Francisco. - -"Yes, you see that's partly what we raise wild horses for; their skins -and their tails. South American horsehair for mattresses is famous all -over the world, and it brings good prices. Now, these thieves make their -living by visiting the different _estancias_ and helping themselves to -the horses' tails. - -"Word came to your uncle, just before he left, that when one hundred of -his horses were driven out of the Corral De Oeste this morning, they -hadn't a single tail among them. So he has offered one hundred _pesos_ -to the one, or ones, who can catch these thieves. Would you like to -try?" - -Had Jose asked him if he would like to swing on to the new moon by his -toes Francisco could not have been more startled. - -"Try--! Why Jose, you can't be in earnest!" - -"_Como no?_" grinned the Indian cheerfully. - -"But Jose, wouldn't they shoot us, and, anyhow, I know you are jesting -when you ask _if I_ would care to try. You,--you are a strong man, even -if you are getting old, and I heard the _peon_ children down by the huts -say that there was no man for leagues and leagues around that could -wrestle as you do; that you learned how from a Japanese soldier years -ago in Chile. And I know you can shoot; but I would just be in the way." - -"No, Senorito, you wouldn't be in the way. Manuel and I want you to go -with us because we need you." - -"Need _me_! Oh, Jose!" and Francisco's eyes gleamed brightly. "Do you -think Uncle would allow me to go with you?" - -"He is not here to say, and we must leave before he returns. But he left -you in my care and if I feel sure no harm can befall you, I see no -reason why you should not go." - -"Oh! Oh! Oh!" shouted the happy boy, dancing around Jose and clapping -his hands. - -"This is the greatest adventure I ever had. To hunt brigands! Why, it's -too good to be true. Won't Ricardo grow green with envy when I tell him -about it, and won't the little English boy sit with his eyes wide open, -while I recount the story to him. He will hush up about his ostriches -and guanacos after this," and Francisco sat on the ground hugging his -knees, and rocking to and fro gleefully. - -"Well, don't clean your turtles till you've tied them, Senorito. We may -not get them. It's only because I have a clue and a scheme that I am -willing to try; for they are pretty clever fellows and they won't be -easy to catch. We want to take you for a decoy, and besides, I think you -would enjoy it. A Lacevera, even at nine years of age, is no coward." - -"A coward, I should say not. Why, Jose, I am _never_ afraid. But what is -a decoy?" - -"A decoy? Well, that's what we used when we caught flamingoes the other -night. Do you remember how we put young frogs on the end of a string and -then lay low in the grass and waited?" - -"But, you can't tie a string to me, Jose--and--and--besides I don't -be--believe I want to be a decoy. It isn't that I'm not brave; no, -indeed, Jose--but I think I would rather you would decoy them with -something else." - -"Leave that to me, Senorito, and I promise they won't hurt you. You must -have forgotten you are a Lacevera. They shall not gobble you up as the -flamingoes did the frogs. Just what would you buy, anyhow, if you got -your share of the reward?" - -"Buy!--Let me see. There are so many things to buy. But now that I have -my lovely saddle and silver stirrups I don't need much for myself. I -think I would buy a beautiful parasol, all lace and chiffon, for -Guillerma, for young ladies don't care for anything much but clothes. -Then I should buy a jewelled fan for Mama, and then--well, I believe -Elena and I would spend the balance for Carnival as it comes next month. -But Jose, what did you say about not cleaning your turtles till you had -tied them?" - -Jose laughed and patted him on the back. "True, Don Francisco. But let -me tell you our plan, or part of it. I have reason to believe that these -two horsetail thieves are taking shelter with some charcoal burners over -near the river. These charcoal burners are rough men, who live almost -like savages. They injure no one, however, and it is only when they -quarrel among themselves that they do any harm. They may not know who -these men are, and are allowing them to tarry with them, believing them -to be beggars, or _gauchos_ hunting employment. - -"I feel sure they are too loyal to the _estancia_ to harbour them if -they knew who they were. Now be ready immediately after breakfast, for -we must start in time to reach the charcoal kilns before dusk." - -It was twelve o'clock, when Jose, Manuel and Francisco galloped off in -the direction of the river, and it was just _mate_ time when they came -in sight of the charcoal kilns and adobe huts near the river's bank. - -Gathered about the fires, over which hung boiling water for making the -_mate_, were several clusters of these uncouth appearing men. Dirty -looking women sat in groups apart, with dozens of dirtier children -rolling about on the hard earth at their feet. A pack of dogs ran out to -greet them, yelping in front of their horses, until they were called off -by their respective owners. - -Jose and Manuel approached one group, and after greeting and being -greeted, asked for boiling water with which to make _mate_. This was -given willingly, and with Francisco they sat down on the ground among -the men and began leisurely to sip _mate_ from the gourd that Manuel -always carried in his saddle bags. - -They talked in friendly fashion with the dirty _carboneros_, who were as -black as the fuel they made. Francisco noticed two men, who were less -grimy in appearance and who sat quietly side by side, taking no part in -the conversation. - -They glanced occasionally at Jose and Manuel in a hostile manner, and -suspicion seemed to lurk in their attitude towards them. Francisco felt -sure these were the thieves, but Jose and Manuel took no notice whatever -of them and Francisco feared his friends had not seen them. - -After _mate_ Francisco asked to see the kilns and Jose and Manuel took -him over to examine them and explain to him how the willow was made -into charcoal. It was quite dark when they returned to the huts and -proposed that they return to the _casa_. - -"Can the boy take another long ride in the same day?" asked one of the -_carboneros_, more kindly in manner than the rest. "Is he not exhausted? -We have no shelter here, but you are welcome to roll up in your blankets -by the fires, for the night wind from the Pampas is cool." - -"No, it is moonlight. A thousand 'gracias'[21] for your offer, but the -lad is a good rider and we shall be home before midnight;" and bidding -them _adios_, Jose and Manuel with Francisco, wondering at their -behaviour, started towards the enclosure where the horses had been -staked together with several other animals. - -And then Jose did a thing that made Francisco's eyes fairly start from -his head. He deliberately lifted up the stake to which a piebald mare, -belonging to one of the thieves, was tethered, and throwing the knotted -end of the long bridle across the pommel of his own saddle, rode out at -the far end of the enclosure. - -As he galloped off, Manuel and Francisco followed and soon they were all -abreast, their horses' swift feet brushing the evening dew from the -pampas grass as they flew along the level prairie. They rode so fast -that the little fellow could not venture a question, it required all of -his wits to keep his seat. - -They had gone thus for fifteen or twenty minutes when he heard the sound -of horses' hoofs away off in the distance. - -"Carramba! They are after us," cried Manuel. "Good! Now for the chase. -Let your heart be glad, Senorito, they have taken the bait." - -Still Francisco wondered, he could not yet see through their plans, but -excitement made his blood run hot through his veins; and he held on to -Barboza's neck and spurred her on to keep the pace. - -When a glimpse of water ahead of them, sparkling in the moonlight, told -them they were near the river Salinas, a small tributary to the great -river they had just left, the men slackened their speed and Francisco -was able to get a full breath. - -He could hear the soft thud of the pursuing horses' feet on the pampas -grass plainer and plainer, and when their own horses were within a few -hundred feet of the stream he could hear the men's shouts. - -"Are there more than two?" asked Jose. - -"No, just the two thieves, themselves. Those _carboneros_ would never -give us pursuit. It is none of their affair and they seldom meddle. -They probably loaned one a horse in place of this one you are leading." - -"Or they helped themselves as we did," chuckled the Indian. - -They were close to the ford now; in the bright moonlight the middle of -the river gleamed and danced; but the two banks were in deep shadow -because of the heavy clumps of willows and low growing trees. - -The thieves were but a short distance behind them when their horses -plunged into the water. - -"Heaven be praised! So far--so good," whispered Jose to Francisco. "Now -do just as I bid you; our time is come." - -They crossed the ford and were leaving the water, enveloped in the dense -shadows, when Jose dropped from his horse and threw the reins into -Francisco's hand; Manuel did the same, as Jose's voice said in a -whisper, - -"Ride half a league and wait for us." - -And now the boy saw their plan; he was to ride ahead, the hoof beats of -the four horses indicating to the pursuers that they were all still -fleeing, and Jose and Manuel in ambush would have it all their own way. - -He spurred his horse to its highest speed; but it seemed to him that his -heart-beats would drown the hoof beats, so vigorously was it pounding -against his side. It was an anxious interval and to the fleeing boy -seemed an eternity; but it was really but half a minute when he heard a -sharp cry, and then--a shot. But he rode on, fearing to stop until the -half league was covered. He knew the fight was over and that either Jose -and Manuel were being carried back to the huts beside the big river, or -that they would soon overtake him with their prisoners. - -Soon a shout came to his ears. It was Jose's voice and his mind was -relieved. He reined in the horses, which was an easy matter for they -were panting, and waited beside a shrine, whose white cross stood like a -ghost beside the trail; and soon he saw four figures toiling along, two -in front and two behind. The two in the rear were Jose and Manuel, and -they were holding their pistols close to the heads of the two in front, -who walked with the shambling gait of men whose feet were hobbled, as -they were, with stout _bola_ thongs; their hands were tied behind them, -and as they shuffled unevenly along they were bawling out curses, the -like of which Francisco's ears had never heard. - -But the boy was so eager to hear about their capture that he paid no -attention to the vile language, that at any other time would have made -him cringe and tremble. - -"Oh! Jose--Manuel--Do tell me all about it! How did you get them?" - -"Well, you see, we grappled with them so unexpectedly that they had no -time to defend themselves; thanks to the little frog on the end of the -string," and Jose patted the boy on the shoulders encouragingly. - -"One of them tried to shoot as he was regaining his feet, just after we -dragged them from their horses, and Manuel has a scratch on his thigh, -but otherwise, we are all well and doing finely. Manuel will ride on to -the _casa_ for help and you and I will remain here to keep these -gentlemen company. They are great on talking, just listen to them now. -Maybe they will tell us the price of horsehair per kilo--eh, gentlemen?" -and the Indian grinned derisively at the cursing men. - -"But Jose, Manuel is not fit for the saddle; let me go to the house. -Please, I beg of you--" - -"What! Alone--and at night. Why, the Colonel _would_ say I had risked -much should he see you ride in at midnight--alone." - -"Uncle? Why uncle Juan is always pleased when I show any bravery; and -besides there is nothing else to do. Manuel can't stay with just me -here--he is suffering, and he can't ride--so it's the only thing to be -done." - -"Well, but you will have to ride pretty fast, Senorito, and tell them to -send the _peons_ immediately. Here, ride the piebald mare. It's yours -anyhow, I dare say, or will be. It has been all day in the corral and is -fresh, while Barboza is tired." - -Jose changed the saddle, and Francisco was off towards the _casa_. - -It was nearly two o'clock when Don Carlos awoke the Colonel, who had -returned about midnight from his journey. - -"Who calls, Colonel? It sounds like the Nino's voice." - -They were out by the edge of the house corral, as Francisco rode up, and -with almost the last breath he seemed to have left in his little body, -he shouted, - -"We've caught them! We've caught them! They are over by the 'Last -Tribute' shrine near the Rio Salinas, and Jose and Manuel are waiting -for help to bring them here; Jose could not bring them alone, and Manuel -has a wound." - -His uncle was lifting the tired Nino from the saddle, but he did not -place him on the ground; he carried him close to his heart into the -house and laid him on his soft bed. He left him saying he would go with -Don Carlos to help rouse the _peons_, and Francisco heard him blow his -nose vigorously as he crossed the _patio_, and knowing that his Uncle -Juan had no cold, he accepted the tribute to his bravery with a proud -smile, and was asleep before he knew it. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[Footnote 21: Thanks.] - - - - -CHAPTER X - -THE CARNIVAL - - - -FRANCISCO had been at home now for a week. He had returned to find Elena -rosy and well and the house in a turmoil of preparation, for Guillerma -was to be married. Her fiance was a wealthy _estanciero_ from the -province of Mendoza, which lies almost at the foot of the Andes, and he -had made a fortune from raising grapes for wine. His _estancia_, also, -produced great quantities of figs, dates and sugar cane. - -Guillerma was very happy, for although El Senor Conquero was older than -she by fifteen years, theirs was a genuine love match. He had seen her -at mass, one morning, and the following day, he had presented himself to -her mother and her Uncle Juan with irreproachable credentials, and their -engagement of six months was to culminate in the celebration of their -marriage during the early part of March. - -It would be a very quiet wedding, for Senor Conquero was in mourning for -his father, who had died over a year before; and the custom of mourning -in Argentina demands two years of seclusion from all social events after -the loss of a parent. - -Her Uncle Juan had been most generous in his allowance for her -trousseau, and she, with her mother, was busy all of each day visiting -the dressmakers and shops. - -Francisco, at first, was very much distressed because Guillerma was to -live in Mendoza, as that fertile province is the seat of numerous -earthquake disturbances. Scarcely a month passes that the inhabitants -are not startled by one, and as a rule they sleep with open doors to -insure a quick exit in case one occurs during the night. - -But Guillerma assured him she did not fear them, as there had been no -serious ones since 1861, and when she began telling him of the beautiful -home she would have, surrounded by wide vineyards and orchards of olives -and figs, where he could come to visit her, and with Elena play just as -they pleased, he became better reconciled to her marriage. - -He was very busy, himself, for Carnival, the great festival, came early -this year, and never before had he had so much money to spend in its -celebration. - -He and Jose and Manuel had divided the reward money they had received -for capturing the horsetail thieves, and Francisco felt very proud of -his share of it. He and Elena had counted it over and over, and planned -how each _peso_ should be spent. Each one of the family, including the -servant, should have a gift, and the balance would be their own to use -as they chose for the celebration of the greatest _fiesta_ of the whole -year. - -As in many Roman Catholic countries, Carnival comes during the week -preceding Lent; and although it is really a church festival, it is the -least religious of any celebration, whether of church or state. - -In Buenos Aires everything dates from it and everything stops for it; -even business is suspended. It is a festival of merriment and revelry, -and every house and every street is decorated before its arrival in -flags, banners, streamers and lanterns. There are processions and -continuous parades, with crowds of people in masks and dominoes, blowing -horns, dancing and singing. - -This year, Francisco and Elena were to be allowed to enter the _corso_ -or Carnival parade, and Uncle Juan had offered his motor car, which was -to be decorated with garlands of paper flowers; Jose was to be their -chaperon and Enrique would drive the car. - -Elena and Francisco owned their little costumes, which they had used on -previous occasions, but as they had their own money this year, they had -decided to buy new ones to wear in the parade. - -[Illustration: "ELENA AND FRANCISCO WERE DRESSED AND READY."] - -Elena was to be dressed as a shepherdess, and Francisco as a Spanish -king. Their mother had neglected Guillerma and her trousseau one entire -day, in order to go with the children to help them select their costumes -and masks; for no one enters into the streets in costume without a mask -or domino. - -The morning of the day on which the great parade was to take place the -children spent, dressed in their old costumes, playing with the -neighbours' children in the streets. - -Although the law had forbidden the custom of throwing water at -pedestrians, the number of people who were drenched by unexpected pails -of water thrown from upper balconies was not lessened, and the children -broke dozens of _pomos_, or rubber balls filled with perfumed water, on -each other and strangers, as well, who chanced to pass. - -After _siesta_ that afternoon, Elena and Francisco began their -preparations for the parade; and when the gayly decorated car drove up -about six o'clock with a fiery red representation of His Majesty, the -devil, on the front seat and a _pierrot_ or harlequin with one half of -his costume a vivid green and the other half yellow, Elena and Francisco -were dressed and ready. - -The harlequin jumped out and bowed low to the ground, and Elena ran back -into the house, for she was sure this comical looking fellow could never -be Jose. But she was reassured when he lifted his mask, and soon the -huge car was puffing along the street with the red driver in front and a -dainty little shepherdess, a small king in velvet, gold lace and a -crown, and a harlequin in green and yellow, all sitting on the back -seat, throwing confetti and waving banners and shouting at the people -gathered on the corners or on the balconies of the houses. - -Enrique took them up one street and down another, among the crowds of -the other carriages and automobiles, all full of gayly dressed maskers -bent on making as much noise as possible. - -As it grew darker the streets began to blaze with arches of electric -lights, many of the bulbs being swung inside Chinese lanterns. The crowd -grew denser and many times they were caught in a mass of carriages, that -could move neither one way nor the other. Mounted police were -everywhere, trying to disperse the people where the crowds were too -thick, and even they were treated to the contents of hundreds of _pomos_ -until their horsetail plumes and scarlet lined capes dripped perfume -like water. - -At eight Enrique stopped the car in a side street opening on to the -great Plaza, where the procession was to form; his plan being to allow -the children a view of part of the parade from this vantage point, and -then to slip out the side street and enter the _corso_ from the rear. - -It was nine o'clock when the bands of music took their places at the -head of the procession and they were followed by large fancifully -decorated wagons, filled with young ladies dressed to represent well -known allegories. - -Then came floats with papier-mache figures caricaturing political events -in the history of the Republic. These were followed by companies of -horsemen dressed in every sort of fantastic costume; victorias filled -with merry maskers, floats with goddesses, and burlesqued well-known -public characters. King Carnival was seated on a high throne, very -handsomely draped, and drawn by sixteen pure white horses. When the -children grew tired of looking, Enrique joined the procession itself, -and the hearts of Elena and Francisco were beating high with excitement, -for their ambition was realized--to be a _part_ of the great Carnival -_corso_. - -It was quite one o'clock before Jose could persuade them to leave it and -be taken home; and it was many days before they ceased to talk of their -wonderful experience. - -But school would open immediately after Carnival and Francisco was -anxious to reenter, as he was fond of books and made good progress in -his studies. - -His Aunt Sarita with her six daughters had returned from their summer -outing and Uncle Juan was preparing for a trip abroad immediately after -Guillerma's wedding should take place. Francisco saw him often, for they -had grown very fond of each other during their summer together, and even -Aunt Sarita began to love him more as she saw him oftener. - -The first day of school had arrived, and Francisco, in his clean linen -duster, had proudly led Elena to the school, for this was to be her -first year. He was very proud of his pretty sister, who was shy, and -held on tightly to her protector's sunburned hand. - -He introduced her to her teacher, kissed her, and then hurried out into -the large _patio_ to greet his old school friends. - -They were all there, like a flock of tan coloured butterflies in their -linen coats, their hair brushed sleekly into place and their faces and -hands smelling of recent cleansing with perfumed soaps. - -Francisco was a favourite. Soon he was in the middle of a group of -interested listeners, recounting to them his experiences on the -_estancia_. - -He was only human, and you must forgive him if he told of his adventure -with the horsetail thieves. Even the little English boy grew excited and -plied him with questions that seriously retarded Francisco in his -account of their capture. The bell rang just as he finished, and they -all fell into line in the _patio_, where the beautiful Argentine -national hymn was sung, and the Argentine flag of blue and white was -saluted by each pupil as they passed it on their way into the -school-rooms. - - -THE END. - - - - -THE LITTLE COLONEL BOOKS - -(Trade Mark) - -_By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON_ - - _Each 1 vol., large 12mo, cloth, illustrated, per vol._ $1.50 - - - =THE LITTLE COLONEL STORIES= - (Trade Mark) - -Being three "Little Colonel" stories in the Cosy Corner Series, "The -Little Colonel," "Two Little Knights of Kentucky," and "The Giant -Scissors," put into a single volume. - - =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S HOUSE PARTY= - (Trade Mark) - - =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S HOLIDAYS= - (Trade Mark) - - =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S HERO= - (Trade Mark) - - =THE LITTLE COLONEL AT BOARDING SCHOOL= - (Trade Mark) - - =THE LITTLE COLONEL IN ARIZONA= - (Trade Mark) - - =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S CHRISTMAS VACATION= - (Trade Mark) - - =THE LITTLE COLONEL, MAID OF HONOUR= - (Trade Mark) - - =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S KNIGHT COMES RIDING= - (Trade Mark) - - =MARY WARE: THE LITTLE COLONEL'S CHUM= - (Trade Mark) - - _These ten volumes, boxed at a ten-volume set_ $15.00 - - - =THE LITTLE COLONEL= - (Trade Mark) - - =TWO LITTLE KNIGHTS OF KENTUCKY= - - =THE GIANT SCISSORS= - - =BIG BROTHER= - - -Special Holiday Editions - - Each one volume, cloth decorative, small quarto, $1.25 - -New plates, handsomely illustrated with eight full-page drawings in -color, and many marginal sketches. - - -=IN THE DESERT OF WAITING=: THE LEGEND OF CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN. - -=THE THREE WEAVERS=: A FAIRY TALE FOR FATHERS AND MOTHERS AS WELL AS FOR -THEIR DAUGHTERS. - -=KEEPING TRYST= - -=THE LEGEND OF THE BLEEDING HEART= - -=THE RESCUE OF PRINCESS WINSOME=: A FAIRY PLAY FOR OLD AND YOUNG. - - -=THE JESTER'S SWORD= - - Each one volume, tall 16mo, cloth decorative $0.50 - Paper boards .35 - -There has been a constant demand for publication in separate form of -these six stories, which were originally included in six of the "Little -Colonel" books. - - -=JOEL: A BOY OF GALILEE=: By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON. Illustrated by -L. J. Bridgman. - - New illustrated edition, uniform with the Little Colonel Books, - 1 vol., large 12mo, cloth decorative $1.50 - -A story of the time of Christ, which is one of the author's best-known -books. - - -=THE LITTLE COLONEL GOOD TIMES BOOK= - - Uniform in size with the Little Colonel Series. $1.50 - Bound in white kid (morocco) and gold 3.00 - -Cover design and decorations by Amy Carol Rand. - -The publishers have had many inquiries from readers of the Little -Colonel books as to where they could obtain a "Good Times Book" such as -Betty kept. Mrs. Johnston, who has for years kept such a book herself, -has gone enthusiastically into the matter of the material and format for -a similar book for her young readers. Every girl will want to possess a -"Good Times Book." - - -=ASA HOLMES=: OR, AT THE CROSS-ROADS. A sketch of Country Life and -Country Humor. By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON. - -With a frontispiece by Ernest Fosbery. - - Large 16mo, cloth, gilt top $1.00 - -"'Asa Holmes; or, At the Cross-Roads' is the most delightful, most -sympathetic and wholesome book that has been published in a long -while."--_Boston Times._ - - -=THE RIVAL CAMPERS=: OR, THE ADVENTURES OF HENRY BURNS. By RUEL PERLEY -SMITH. - - Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 - -A story of a party of typical American lads, courageous, alert, and -athletic, who spend a summer camping on an island off the Maine coast. - - -=THE RIVAL CAMPERS AFLOAT=: OR, THE PRIZE YACHT VIKING. By RUEL PERLEY -SMITH. - - Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 - -This book is a continuation of the adventures of "The Rival Campers" on -their prize yacht _Viking_. - - -=THE RIVAL CAMPERS ASHORE= - -By RUEL PERLEY SMITH. - - Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 - -"As interesting ashore as when afloat."--_The Interior._ - - -=JACK HARVEY'S ADVENTURES=: OR, THE RIVAL CAMPERS AMONG THE OYSTER -PIRATES. By RUEL PERLEY SMITH. - - Illustrated $1.50 - -"Just the type of book which is most popular with lads who are in their -early teens."--_The Philadelphia Item._ - - -=PRISONERS OF FORTUNE=: A Tale of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. 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JOHNSTON. - - Large 12mo, illustrated $1.50 - -In this book Mr. Johnston gives interesting sketches of the Indian -braves who have figured with prominence in the history of our own land, -including Powhatan, the Indian Caesar; Massasoit, the friend of the -Puritans; Pontiac, the red Napoleon; Tecumseh, the famous war chief of -the Shawnees; Sitting Bull, the famous war chief of the Sioux; Geronimo, -the renowned Apache Chief, etc., etc. - - -=BILLY'S PRINCESS.= By HELEN EGGLESTON HASKELL. - - Cloth decorative, illustrated by Helen McCormick Kennedy $1.25 - -Billy Lewis was a small boy of energy and ambition, so when he was left -alone and unprotected, he simply started out to take care of himself. - - -=TENANTS OF THE TREES.= By CLARENCE HAWKES. - - Cloth decorative, illustrated in colors $1.50 - -"A book which will appeal to all who care for the hearty, healthy, -outdoor life of the country. The illustrations are particularly -attractive."--_Boston Herald._ - - -=BEAUTIFUL JOE'S PARADISE=: OR, THE ISLAND OF BROTHERLY LOVE. A sequel -to "Beautiful Joe." By MARSHALL SAUNDERS, author of "Beautiful Joe." - - One vol., library 12mo, cloth, illustrated $1.50 - -"This book revives the spirit of 'Beautiful Joe' capitally. It is fairly -riotous with fun, and is about as unusual as anything in the animal book -line that has seen the light."--_Philadelphia Item._ - - -='TILDA JANE.= By MARSHALL SAUNDERS. - - One vol., 12mo, fully illustrated, cloth decorative, $1.50 - -"I cannot think of any better book for children than this. I commend it -unreservedly."--_Cyrus Townsend Brady._ - - -='TILDA JANE'S ORPHANS.= A sequel to 'Tilda Jane. By MARSHALL SAUNDERS. - - One vol., 12mo, fully illustrated, cloth decorative, $1.50 - -'Tilda Jane is the same original, delightful girl, and as fond of her -animal pets as ever. - - -=THE STORY OF THE GRAVELEYS.= By MARSHALL SAUNDERS, author of "Beautiful -Joe's Paradise," "'Tilda Jane," etc. - - Library 12mo, cloth decorative. Illustrated by E. B. Barry $1.50 - -Here we have the haps and mishaps, the trials and triumphs, of a -delightful New England family, of whose devotion and sturdiness it will -do the reader good to hear. - - -=BORN TO THE BLUE.= By FLORENCE KIMBALL RUSSEL. - - 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.25 - -The atmosphere of army life on the plains breathes on every page of this -delightful tale. The boy is the son of a captain of U. S. cavalry -stationed at a frontier post in the days when our regulars earned the -gratitude of a nation. - - -=IN WEST POINT GRAY= - -By FLORENCE KIMBALL RUSSEL. - - 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 - -"Singularly enough one of the best books of the year for boys is written -by a woman and deals with life at West Point. The presentment of life in -the famous military academy whence so many heroes have graduated is -realistic and enjoyable."--_New York Sun._ - - -=FROM CHEVRONS TO SHOULDER STRAPS= - -By FLORENCE KIMBALL RUSSEL. - - 12mo, cloth, illustrated, decorative $1.50 - -West Point again forms the background of a new volume in this popular -series, and relates the experience of Jack Stirling during his junior -and senior years. - - -=THE SANDMAN: HIS FARM STORIES= - -By WILLIAM J. HOPKINS. With fifty illustrations by Ada Clendenin -Williamson. - - Large 12mo, decorative cover $1.50 - -"An amusing, original book, written for the benefit of very small -children. It should be one of the most popular of the year's books for -reading to small children."--_Buffalo Express._ - - -=THE SANDMAN: MORE FARM STORIES= - -By WILLIAM J. HOPKINS. - - Large 12mo, decorative cover, fully illustrated $1.50 - -Mr. Hopkins's first essay at bedtime stories met with such approval that -this second book of "Sandman" tales was issued for scores of eager -children. Life on the farm, and out-of-doors, is portrayed in his -inimitable manner. - - -=THE SANDMAN: HIS SHIP STORIES= - -By WILLIAM J. HOPKINS, author of "The Sandman: His Farm Stories," etc. - - Large 12mo, decorative cover, fully illustrated $1.50 - -"Children call for these stories over and over again."--_Chicago Evening -Post._ - - -=THE SANDMAN, HIS SEA STORIES= - -By WILLIAM J. 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It -abounds in merrymaking and the right kind of fun. - - -=CARLOTA= - -A STORY OF THE SAN GABRIEL MISSION. By FRANCES MARGARET FOX. - - Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated - in colors by Ethelind Ridgway $1.00 - -"It is a pleasure to recommend this little story as an entertaining -contribution to juvenile literature."--_The New York Sun._ - - -=THE SEVEN CHRISTMAS CANDLES= - -By FRANCES MARGARET FOX. - - Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated in - colors by Ethelind Ridgway $1.00 - -Miss Fox's new book deals with the fortunes of the delightful Mulvaney -children. - - -=PUSSY-CAT TOWN= - -By MARION AMES TAGGART. - - Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated in - colors $1.00 - -"Anything more interesting than the doings of the cats in this story, -their humor, their wisdom, their patriotism, would be hard to -imagine."--_Chicago Post._ - - -=THE ROSES OF SAINT ELIZABETH= - -By JANE SCOTT WOODRUFF. - - Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated in colors - by Adelaide Everhart $1.00 - -This is a charming little story of a child whose father was caretaker of -the great castle of the Wartburg, where Saint Elizabeth once had her -home. - - -=GABRIEL AND THE HOUR BOOK= - -By EVALEEN STEIN. - - Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated in colors - by Adelaide Everhart $1.00 - -Gabriel was a loving, patient, little French lad, who assisted the monks -in the long ago days, when all the books were written and illuminated by -hand, in the monasteries. - - -=THE ENCHANTED AUTOMOBILE= - -Translated from the French by MARY J. SAFFORD. - - Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated in colors - by Edna M. Sawyer $1.00 - -"An up-to-date French fairy-tale which fairly radiates the spirit of the -hour,--unceasing diligence."--_Chicago Record-Herald._ - - -=O-HEART-SAN= - -THE STORY OF A JAPANESE GIRL. By HELEN EGGLESTON HASKELL. - - Small quarto, cloth decorative, illustrated and decorated in colors - by Frank P. Fairbanks $1.00 - -"The story comes straight from the heart of Japan. The shadow of -Fujiyama lies across it and from every page breathes the fragrance of -tea leaves, cherry blossoms and chrysanthemums."--_The Chicago -Inter-Ocean._ - - -=THE YOUNG SECTION-HAND=: OR, THE ADVENTURES OF ALLAN WEST. By BURTON E. -STEVENSON. - - Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 - -Mr. Stevenson's hero is a manly lad of sixteen, who is given a chance as -a section-hand on a big Western railroad, and whose experiences are as -real as they are thrilling. - - -=THE YOUNG TRAIN DISPATCHER.= By BURTON E. STEVENSON. - - Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 - -"A better book for boys has never left an American press."--_Springfield -Union._ - - -=THE YOUNG TRAIN MASTER.= By BURTON E. STEVENSON. - - Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated. $1.50 - -"Nothing better in the way of a book of adventure for boys in which the -actualities of life are set forth in a practical way could be devised or -written."--_Boston Herald._ - - -=CAPTAIN JACK LORIMER.= By WINN STANDISH. - - Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 - -Jack is a fine example of the all-around American high-school boy. - - -=JACK LORIMER'S CHAMPIONS=: OR, SPORTS ON LAND AND LAKE. By WINN -STANDISH. - - Square 12mo, cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 - -"It is exactly the sort of book to give a boy interested in athletics, -for it shows him what it means to always 'play fair.'"--_Chicago -Tribune._ - - -=JACK LORIMER'S HOLIDAYS=: OR, MILLVALE HIGH IN CAMP. By WINN STANDISH. - - Illustrated $1.50 - -Full of just the kind of fun, sports and adventure to excite the healthy -minded youngster to emulation. - - -=JACK LORIMER'S SUBSTITUTE=: OR, THE ACTING CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM. By WINN -STANDISH. - - Illustrated $1.50 - -On the sporting side, this book takes up football, wrestling, -tobogganing, but it is more of a _school_ story perhaps than any of its -predecessors. - - -=CAPTAIN JINKS=: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SHETLAND PONY. By FRANCES HODGES -WHITE. - - Cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 - -The story of Captain Jinks and his faithful dog friend Billy, their -quaint conversations and their exciting adventures, will be eagerly read -by thousands of boys and girls. The story is beautifully written and -will take its place alongside of "Black Beauty" and "Beautiful Joe." - - -=THE RED FEATHERS.= By THEODORE ROBERTS. - - Cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 - -"The Red Feathers" tells of the remarkable adventures of an Indian boy -who lived in the Stone Age, many years ago, when the world was young. - - -=FLYING PLOVER.= By THEODORE ROBERTS. - - Cloth decorative. Illustrated by Charles Livingston Bull $1.00 - -Squat-By-The-Fire is a very old and wise Indian who lives alone with her -grandson, "Flying Plover," to whom she tells the stories each evening. - - -=THE WRECK OF THE OCEAN QUEEN.= By JAMES OTIS, author of "Larry Hudson's -Ambition," etc. - - Cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 - -"A stirring story of wreck and mutiny, which boys will find especially -absorbing. The many young admirers of James Otis will not let this book -escape them, for it fully equals its many predecessors in excitement and -sustained interest."--_Chicago Evening Post._ - - -=LITTLE WHITE INDIANS.= By FANNIE E. OSTRANDER. - - Cloth decorative, illustrated $1.25 - -"A bright, interesting story which will appeal strongly to the -'make-believe' instinct in children, and will give them a healthy, -active interest in 'the simple life.'" - - -=MARCHING WITH MORGAN.= HOW DONALD LOVELL BECAME A SOLDIER OF THE -REVOLUTION. By JOHN L. VEASY. - - Cloth decorative, illustrated $1.50 - -This is a splendid boy's story of the expedition of Montgomery and -Arnold against Quebec. - - * * * * * - -Transcriber's Notes: - -Obvious punctuation errors repaired. - -Varied use of accents mate/mate, estancia/estancia, and Martin/Martin -were retained. - -Page xi, Table of Contents, "v" changed to "vii" to reflect actual -first page of Preface. - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Francisco Our Little Argentine Cousin, by -Eva Cannon Brooks - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANCICSO, LITTLE ARGENTINE COUSIN *** - -***** This file should be named 43424.txt or 43424.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/4/2/43424/ - -Produced by Emmy, Beth Baran, Google Print and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from images made available by the -HathiTrust Digital Library.) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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