"We will do what we can to make your time as a prisoner pass pleasantly amongst us. Do you think you are strong enough yet for a gallop? If you are, I am on my way to one of my estancias, and invite you to accompany me." "I shall have great pleasure in going with you, I feel quite strong again now, and have a great curiosity to see something of your life on the Pampas, but I have neither saddle nor horse." "I will find you a saddle," said Marcelino; "as for a horse, that can always be found. Leave all that to me; we will make a gaucho of you before we let you go back to your own country." Marcelino and Lieutenant Gordon had shared one room between them since they had been living at the quinta. As they retired for the night, so soon as they were alone together, Gordon seated himself on the side of his bed and asked his friendly gaoler: "Why did you think that I would not give my parole to your father?" "I was afraid you might have thought it your duty to lose no chance of rejoining your army." "My parole does not prevent me from doing all I can to procure my release by exchange; but if you sent me up the country no one would know anything of me." "Then when the English come, if they take any officer of ours prisoner they will give him back for you?" "Probably so." "And then you would go back to them and would fight against us?" Gordon hesitated, looking wistfully at his friend ere he answered: "I should have to do my duty, but do not let us suppose anything like that. Have you heard nothing of your friend the Señor Evaña? You told me you thought he had gone to England." "No, I have heard nothing from him since I received that letter from Monte Video that I told you of. If he has gone to England I shall not hear again from him for months." "General Beresford has declared publicly that he considers it the true policy for England to aid you natives in freeing yourselves from Spain." "Yes, General Beresford has been very incautious, and has no right to complain that he is now a prisoner at Lujan, instead of being free on parole in Buenos Aires; many good men are in prison now for listening to him." "And you think you are not ready yet for independence?" "No, we are not. You have met Don Manuel Belgrano at our house in town I think?" "A soft-eyed man, with a long nose, and neither beard nor whiskers, who talks English and French?" "Yes, that is he. He is now major of the Patricios, and no officer is more active than he is in drilling the men, or more zealous in urging all of us to prepare for another struggle with the English. He is no friend to Spain, yet he says, 'The old master or none at all,' and so say all of us." "When Sobremonte comes back the first thing he will do will be to disarm your militia." "Disarm the Patricios and Arribeños![3] He had better not try to do that." "He will, you will resist it, and then will commence your war of independence."