On the Pampas; Or, The Young SettlersHenty, G. A. (George Alfred)
General
On the Pampas; Or, The Young Settlers
Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)
Pampas (Argentina) -- Juvenile fiction
As they had done more than fifty miles since the morning, and the
horses were much distressed with the effect of the dust, it was
resolved to encamp at once. The horses received a little water, and
were picketed out to graze. The fire was soon lit, and the ducks
cut up and spitted upon the ramrods.
All were so much exhausted with the heat, the ashes, the fatigue,
and the want of sleep of the previous night that, the tea and pipes
finished and the watch posted, the rest lay down to sleep before
the sun had been an hour below the horizon.
All rose at daybreak, refreshed with their quiet night's rest, and
were soon in the saddle and on their way northward.
They had nearly an hour's ride before they came upon the trail.
There it was unmistakably--at first sight as broad and as much
trampled as the other; but after a careful examination of it there
was but one opinion, namely, that the number of animals who had
passed was decidedly less than those who had gone south.
One of the Gauchos now told Mr. Hardy that he knew that at a short
distance further to the west there was a spring of water much used
by the Indians, and where he had no doubt they had halted on the
night of the fire. Finding that it was not more than half an hour's
ride, Mr. Hardy, after a brief consultation, determined to go over
there to water the horses and breakfast, before retracing their
footsteps across the burned prairie.
In little over the time named they came to a small pool of bright
water, from which a little stream issued, running nearly due north
across the plain. After drinking heartily themselves, and filling
the water-skins and kettle, the horses were allowed to drink; and
Dash plunged in with the greatest delight, emerging his usual
bright chestnut color, whereas he had gone into the water perfectly
black.
After he had come out and had shaken himself, he commenced hunting
about, sniffing so violently that Hubert's attention was attracted
to him. Presently the dog ran forward a few paces and gave a sharp
bark of pleasure, and Hubert, running forward, gave so loud a cry
that all the party rushed up.
Hubert could not speak. There, half-buried in the ground, and
pointing west, was an Indian arrow, and round the head was twisted
a piece of white calico, with little blue spots upon it, which Mr.
Hardy instantly recognized as a piece of the dress Ethel had worn
when she left home.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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