We arrived at that moment close to the prisoner; the poor fellow who doubtless knew what awaited him, had a very disconsolate air, and was very ill at ease. Don Zeno approached the prisoner, while with an imperturbable coolness. Don Torribio occupied himself by doubling up his laço several times in his right hand. "Listen, pícaro," said don Zeno, to the attentive Indian; "this caballero engaged you at Buenos Aires; not only have you basely abandoned him in the pampa, but you have robbed him; you merit punishment, and that punishment you are about to receive. Don Torribio, my dear sir, will you, I beg, apply fifty strokes of the laço on the shoulders of this bribón." The Indian did not answer a word; the gaucho then approached, and with the conscientiousness with which he did everything, he raised his laço, which fell whizzing on the shoulders of the poor fellow, on which it made a bluish stripe. The Indian did not make a movement; he did not utter a cry. As to me, I suffered inwardly, but I did not dare to interfere. Don Zeno Cabral reckoned without emotion the strokes as they fell, one by one. At the eleventh the blood started out. The gaucho did not stop. The Indian, although his flesh quivered under the blows which came more and more rapidly, preserved his stony impassibility. The fifty blows to which the guide had been condemned by the implacable don Zeno were administered by the gaucho without one being missed. At the thirty-second, notwithstanding all his courage, the Indian had lost consciousness, but that, notwithstanding my entreaty, did not interrupt the chastisement. "Stop," at last, said don Zeno, when the number was complete, "unbind him." The ties were cut and the body of the poor fellow fell helplessly on the sand. The son of the gaucho then approached, rubbed with beef fat, water, and vinegar the bleeding wounds of the Indian--threw his poncho over his shoulders and then left him. "But that man has fainted," I cried. "Bah," said don Zeno, "do not trouble yourself about that. Those fellows have a tough hide. Let us go and dine." This cold cruelty disgusted me; however, I refrained from any remark, and I entered into the rancho. I was still a novice; but I was to witness, at a later period, scenes compared with which this was but child's play. After dinner, which, contrary to custom, was prolonged for a considerable time, don Zeno ordered the son of the gaucho to bring in the guide. He entered in a minute. Don Zeno looked at him for some seconds with attention, and then said-- "Do you admit you have merited the punishment I have inflicted?" "I admit it," answered the Indian, in a sulky voice. "You are aware that I know where to find you?" "I know it." "If at my request this caballero agrees to pardon you, will you be faithful to him?" "Yes, but on one condition." "I do not wish for conditions on your part, bribón," replied don Zeno. "You deserve the garotte. Now answer my question." "What question?"