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Read Ebook: Francisco Our Little Argentine Cousin by Brooks Eva Cannon Goss John Illustrator
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Ebook has 133 lines and 14628 words, and 3 pages
"Yes, through all my campaigns he has been my body servant. It was Jos? who told us how the Indians catch ostriches; he had heard it when a boy among his tribe of Araucanians."
Francisco clapped his hands in anticipation.
"A circle of fire around a great area was built and the huntsmen remained within this circle. The ostriches and guanacos that were thus imprisoned in the circle of fire were easy prey for they fear fire and ran almost into our arms. Why, what's the matter, Ni?o?"
The interest had died out of Francisco's eyes and he sat with his hands clasped over his knees.
"Well, Uncle Juan, I'll tell you. I'm disappointed!"
"Disappointed! How?"
"Uncle Juan, I don't think that's fair play or good sport."
"And who are you that you may sit in judgment on generals and captains?"
"To a certain extent he is right, Francisco. We don't care for the excitement of the chase merely for the excitement as they do; we are less active in our temperament, and prefer to gain our ends with the least expenditure of energy. I want you, above all things, my lad, to be broad-minded, and able to see your own shortcomings, so think this matter out and if you are convinced that we are not right as a people, in our attitude towards sports, or anything else for that matter, formulate your own opinions and then stick to them.
"It is through such men that all nations grow; and the men that are able to see their national deficiencies are the great men, the reformers, and the leaders.
"But in regard to the ostriches. How would you catch them if you had the opportunity?"
"I should do it as the English lad tells me he saw them do it in Chubut Territory; that's part of Patagonia, isn't it, Uncle?"
The Colonel nodded, smoking industriously.
"Yes, but guanacos are hard to shoot because of their keen sense of smell, they can scent a human being over a mile away; but their flesh is delicious, tasting much like venison.
"Have you ever seen the puma skin in the library of my city house?"
"Yes, and the ostrich robe that your aunt uses in her carriage is made of the breasts of young ostriches; it is as soft as down and marked brown and white. The Patagonian Indian women often wear them for capes, although they are very expensive.
"That pleases me and I shall be very proud of it."
"As you well may be. Whatever fortunes come to you in life, Ni?o, remember you are a Lacevera."
FOOTNOTES:
A SUCCESSFUL SEARCH
THERE was not a dull moment for Francisco during the weeks that followed. Don Carlos, the superintendent, lived in the great house the year through. He was a bachelor and a man of education, so that when the Colonel came each summer he insisted that he keep his usual quarters; for the house was very extensive and the Colonel enjoyed his company at meals and during the long evenings.
Francisco brushed away a tear that had stolen down his cheek, and turned to greet the Indian with a smile. "I was wishing to see Elena, but it won't be long now; and I shall hate to leave this lovely place, too. But one can't have everything one wants, all at the same time, can one, Jos??"
"Is it--is it another fishing trip?"
"No, but it's better. Now listen, and I will tell you about it.
"The horses' tails!" gasped Francisco.
Had Jos? asked him if he would like to swing on to the new moon by his toes Francisco could not have been more startled.
"Try--! Why Jos?, you can't be in earnest!"
"No, Se?orito, you wouldn't be in the way. Manuel and I want you to go with us because we need you."
"He is not here to say, and we must leave before he returns. But he left you in my care and if I feel sure no harm can befall you, I see no reason why you should not go."
"Oh! Oh! Oh!" shouted the happy boy, dancing around Jos? and clapping his hands.
"This is the greatest adventure I ever had. To hunt brigands! Why, it's too good to be true. Won't Ricardo grow green with envy when I tell him about it, and won't the little English boy sit with his eyes wide open, while I recount the story to him. He will hush up about his ostriches and guanacos after this," and Francisco sat on the ground hugging his knees, and rocking to and fro gleefully.
"Well, don't clean your turtles till you've tied them, Se?orito. We may not get them. It's only because I have a clue and a scheme that I am willing to try; for they are pretty clever fellows and they won't be easy to catch. We want to take you for a decoy, and besides, I think you would enjoy it. A Lacevera, even at nine years of age, is no coward."
"A decoy? Well, that's what we used when we caught flamingoes the other night. Do you remember how we put young frogs on the end of a string and then lay low in the grass and waited?"
"But, you can't tie a string to me, Jos?--and--and--besides I don't be--believe I want to be a decoy. It isn't that I'm not brave; no, indeed, Jos?--but I think I would rather you would decoy them with something else."
"Leave that to me, Se?orito, and I promise they won't hurt you. You must have forgotten you are a Lacevera. They shall not gobble you up as the flamingoes did the frogs. Just what would you buy, anyhow, if you got your share of the reward?"
"Buy!--Let me see. There are so many things to buy. But now that I have my lovely saddle and silver stirrups I don't need much for myself. I think I would buy a beautiful parasol, all lace and chiffon, for Guillerma, for young ladies don't care for anything much but clothes. Then I should buy a jewelled fan for Mam?, and then--well, I believe Elena and I would spend the balance for Carnival as it comes next month. But Jos?, what did you say about not cleaning your turtles till you had tied them?"
They glanced occasionally at Jos? and Manuel in a hostile manner, and suspicion seemed to lurk in their attitude towards them. Francisco felt sure these were the thieves, but Jos? and Manuel took no notice whatever of them and Francisco feared his friends had not seen them.
And then Jos? did a thing that made Francisco's eyes fairly start from his head. He deliberately lifted up the stake to which a piebald mare, belonging to one of the thieves, was tethered, and throwing the knotted end of the long bridle across the pommel of his own saddle, rode out at the far end of the enclosure.
As he galloped off, Manuel and Francisco followed and soon they were all abreast, their horses' swift feet brushing the evening dew from the pampas grass as they flew along the level prairie. They rode so fast that the little fellow could not venture a question, it required all of his wits to keep his seat.
They had gone thus for fifteen or twenty minutes when he heard the sound of horses' hoofs away off in the distance.
"Carramba! They are after us," cried Manuel. "Good! Now for the chase. Let your heart be glad, Se?orito, they have taken the bait."
Still Francisco wondered, he could not yet see through their plans, but excitement made his blood run hot through his veins; and he held on to Barboza's neck and spurred her on to keep the pace.
When a glimpse of water ahead of them, sparkling in the moonlight, told them they were near the river Salinas, a small tributary to the great river they had just left, the men slackened their speed and Francisco was able to get a full breath.
He could hear the soft thud of the pursuing horses' feet on the pampas grass plainer and plainer, and when their own horses were within a few hundred feet of the stream he could hear the men's shouts.
"Are there more than two?" asked Jos?.
"Or they helped themselves as we did," chuckled the Indian.
They were close to the ford now; in the bright moonlight the middle of the river gleamed and danced; but the two banks were in deep shadow because of the heavy clumps of willows and low growing trees.
The thieves were but a short distance behind them when their horses plunged into the water.
"Heaven be praised! So far--so good," whispered Jos? to Francisco. "Now do just as I bid you; our time is come."
They crossed the ford and were leaving the water, enveloped in the dense shadows, when Jos? dropped from his horse and threw the reins into Francisco's hand; Manuel did the same, as Jos?'s voice said in a whisper,
"Ride half a league and wait for us."
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