Part 18 (1/2)
With his immense, unspeakably serious eyes fixed on me, he remarked quietly, ”And this,to steal horses!”
But I was past shrieking now Even this rich specimen of topsy-turvy Banda Orientalas I rolled about on the grass,
CHAPTER XX
Day had just dahen I rose to join Mariano at the fire he had already kindled to heat the water for his early _st the trees like some hunted animal for an indefinite time; moreover, I had been advised by Santa Coloma to proceed directly to the Lomas de Rocha, on the south coast, in the event of a defeat, and this now see to do
It had been very pleasant lying there ”under the greenwood tree,” while those veracious stories of hags, la; but a long spell, a whole ht of; and if I did not get to Rocha now, before the rural police were set to catch runaway rebels, it would perhaps be io ht and saddled the dun horse I really had not deserved the severe censure Lechuza had passed on , for I had taken the dun with very little land when ”borrowing” an umbrella on a rainy day To all people in all parts of the world, a tioods is held not only justifiable, but even lishmen under a cloud in their own ht By keeping the dun over thirty hours in ht to it, and now began to look on it as my very own; subsequent experience of his endurance and other good qualities enablesthat a ”stolen horse carries you well”
Bidding farewell to htened out of their irow light Roads and houses I studiously avoided, travelling on at an easy gallop, which took me about ten miles an hour, till noon; then I rested at a small _rancho_, where I fed and watered ies with roast beef and bitter _ain till dark; by that tian to feel both hungry and tired I had passed several _ranchos_ and _estancia_ houses, but was shy of seeking entertainment at any of them, and so went farther, only to fare worse When the brief twilight was darkening to night I ca, I suppose, to Montevideo fro, low _rancho_ near it, which I recognized as a _pulperia_, or store, by the flagstaff planted before it, I resolved to purchase some refreshment for ht under the stars--a safe roof if an airy one Tying ate, I went into the porch-like projection at the end of the _rancho_, which I found divided fro of thick iron bars to protect the treasures of gin, rum, and comestibles from drunken or quarrelsoret having alighted at the place, for there, standing at the counter, s men Unfortunately for me, they had tied their horses under the shadow of a cluate, so that I had st theuise et my refreshments, then make my escape as speedily as possible They stared rather hard atto a disengaged corner of the counter, I rested my left elbow on it and called for bread, a box of sardines, and a tumbler of wine
”If you will join me, senores, the table is spread,” said I; but they all declined an to eat my bread and sardines
They appeared to be all persons living in the ihbourhood, for they addressed each other fa about love matters One of the away froainst the wall on the side of the porch farthest froan to notice this man very particularly, for it was plain to see that I had excited his interest in an extraordinary manner, and I did not like his scrutiny He ithout exception, thevillain I have ever had the misfortune to meet: that was the deliberate opinion I came to before I formed a closer acquaintance with hiht; his hands he kept concealed under the large cloth _poncho_ he wore, and he had on a slouch hat that just allowed his eyes to be seen under the rirow fiery and dile instant were they averted fro to his shoulders, and he also had a bristly moustache, which did not conceal his brutal mouth, nor was there any beard to hide his broad, swarthy jowl His jaere the only part of him that had any motion, while he stood there, still as a bronze statue, watching round his teeth, after which he would slap his lips together two or three tiathered at the corners of his ,” said one of the gauchos, turning to hi his eyes off my face; whereupon the man who had spoken smiled and resu, intense, soul-trying scrutiny this brutal wretch had subjected , broad knife flashed out from its concealment under his _poncho_, and with one cat-like bound he was beforemy _poncho_ just over the pit of my stomach
”Do not move, rebel,” he said in a husky voice ”If you move one hair's breadth, thatand looked on with some interest, but did not offer to interfere or make any remark
For one h me, and then instantly I was calm--never, in fact, have I felt more calm and collected than at that terrible moment 'Tis a blessed instinct of self-preservation which nature has provided us with; feeble, ti and brave, as weak, persecuted wild animals have it as well as those that are fierce and bloodthirsty It is the calm which comes without call when death suddenly and unexpectedly rises up to stare us in the face; it tells us that there is one faint chance which a preitation will destroy
”I have no wish to move, friend,” I said, ”but I am curious to knohy you attack me?”
”Because you are a rebel I have seen you before, you are one of Santa Colo you till you are arrested, or else with this knife in you here you shall die”
”You are hbours,” said he, speaking to the others, but without taking his eyes from my face, ”will you tie this man hand and foot while I stand before hi any weapon he may have concealed under his _poncho_?”
”We have not come here to arrest travellers,” returned one of the men
”If he is a rebel it is no concern of ours Perhaps you are mistaken, Gandara”
”No, no, I am not mistaken,” he returned ”He shall not escape I saw him at San Paulo with these eyes--when did they ever deceive o one of you to the Alcalde's house and tell hiuard here”
After a little discussion one of the o and inform the Alcalde When he had left, I said, ”My friend, un to eat when you drew your knife against me”
”Yes; eat,” he said; ”only keep your hands well up so that I can see them Perhaps you have a weapon at your waist”
”I have not,” I said, ”for I am an inoffensive person and do not require weapons”