Part 17 (1/2)

Then ae both went at a canter, but in silence

We rode on and on, the ground rising gently but steadily, until we stopped at last on a high plateau, and gazed around us at the scene A ine One vast and searrobo bushes, or little lakes of water Far ahead of us the cone of a solitary mountain rose on the horizon, and towards this the sun was slowly declining Awayup the hill But silence as deep as death was everywhere Moncrieff stretched his arm southwards

'What do you see yonder, Murdo?' he said

'I see,' I replied, after carefully scanning the rolling plain, 'two ostriches hurrying over the pampas'

'Those are not ostriches, boy They are those saood I tell you this, that you ht But look,' he added, turning his horse's head; 'down here is a corral, and we are sure to find water'

We soon reached it Somewhat to our surprise we found no horses anywhere about, and no sign of life around the little inn or _fonda_ except one wretched-looking dog

As we drew up at the door and listened the stillness felt oppressive

Moncrieff shouted No huave vent to a 's paws are red with blood He is wounded'

'It isn't _his_ blood, boy'

The words thrilled me I felt a sudden fear at my heart, born perhaps of the death-like stillness Ah! it was indeed a death-like stillness, and the stillness of death itself as well

Moncrieff disether we entered the _fonda_

We had not advanced a yard e caht--the dead body of a Gaucho! It lay on its back with the arashes in the neck The interior of the hut was a chaos of wild confusion, the little furniture there was s of value had been carried away Half buried in the _debris_ was the body of a woured, while pools of blood lay everywhere about Young though I was, I had seen death before in several shapes, but never anything so ghastly and awful as this

A cold shudder ran through my frame and seemed to pierce to the very marrow of htmare, and I do not hesitate to confess that, M'Crimman and all as I am, had those Gauchos suddenly appeared now in the doorway, I could not have htest resistance to their attack I should have takenon the point of their terrible knives But Moncrieff's calm earnest voice restored me in a moment At its tones I felt raised up out of

'Murdoch,' he said, 'this is a tiht and action'

'Yes,' I answered; 'bid , and I will do it But come out of this awful place I--I feel a little faint'

Together we left the blood-stained _fonda_, Moncrieff shutting the door behind him

'No other eye must look in there,' he said 'Now, Murdoch, listen'

He paused, and I waited; his steadfast eyes bent on er afraid?'

'I aer afraid'

'Well, I can trust _you_, and no one else Led by those evil fiendsto-day, the Indians will be on us to-night in force I will prepare to give them a warm reception--'

'And I will assist,' I hastened to say