Vol. IV. Sd WS Price 5 Cents. $2.50 « Year. S Publishers, =, Z Ea 7 ost Office, New York, N.Y., assecond class matter. Dec. 3, 1899. & CO (James Sullivan. Proprietor,) 379 Venrl Street, New York. M. J. IVERS Published by Beadle & Adams, Entered at Pi Fvery Week. Copyright, 1885, Stator t I e : . I t t ; r { Copyright, 1885, by Beadle & Adams. Entered at Post Office, New York, N.Y., as second class matter. 7 M. J.IVERS & CO., Publishers, ; s No. 48. FE Blatt (James Sullivan, Proprietor;) Price 5 Cents. Vol lV REE PY Cet: 379 Pearl Street, New York. $2.50 a Year. . : ; Of, New York Boys in B A Hunters: or, New York Boys in Buenos Ayres, 5 ’ f BY T. C. HARBAUGH, \ 1 AUTHOR oF ‘‘ SNOW-SHOE TOM,” ‘‘ LOST BOY WHALERS,” ETC., ETC. ] | JACK STOOD HIS GROUND WITH THE NAKED-KNIFE CLUTCHED FIRMLY IN HIS PIGHT HAND, INEZ LAY BREAIHLESS AND YNCONSCIOUS AT HIS FEET, a e The Pampas Hunters. The Pampas Hunters; New York Boys is Buenos Ayres, BY T. C. HARBAUGH, AUTHOR OF ‘THE SNOW TRAIL,” ‘‘ BOY EXILES,” ‘* SNOW-SHOE TOM,” ‘‘ LOST BOY WHAL- ERS,” ETC., ETC., ETC. CHAPTER I. HOME FROM A HUNT—THE POST-HOUSE—A MARSH LION. Ir the reader will open a map cf South Amer» “ea, he will at once see a desert-looking tract of country lying between thé 30th and 40th degrees of south latitude, and stretching from the Rio de la Plata to the foothills of Chilian Cordilleras, I say a desert-looking country, for the map shows but few settlements thereon, and they seem as forlorn as oases on the Great Sahara. But the vast tract which I have but partially bounded is, by no means, uninhabited; its peo- ple—Gauchos and Indians—lead a life as free as the exhilarating air they breathe; they have the blue vault of heaven for a roof, and the most beautiful carpet that Nature ever spread yields joyously to their lofty tread. i The pampas, or plains, are nine hundred miles in breadth, and cover an area of 315,000 square miles. Vast and treeless as they are, the swift rhea, or South American ostrich, contents him- self there, and there, too, are found the com- bative jaguar and the mischievous biscacho. Besides furnishing sustenance for these crea- tures, the pampas are the pasture-grounds for countless thousands of wild horses and cattle, which know no restraint save that imposed by the lazo of the fearless Gaucho, Much has been written about this wild king of the pampas, in whose veins oftem runs the best blood of the old Spanish grandees, His life is one of the utmost freedom; always on horse- back, like our own Comanches, he is a veritable centaur of the plains. Armed with knife, lazo and bolas, he fears no living thing; he is as ready to attack the Pampas Indians as to cast his lariaj over the head ofa wild bull. He is the herdsman—Mameluke of our later day; and he is found nowhere in his true person save amid-the long grasses of his ‘* native heath.” Tt is to the roaming-ground of the Gaucho that we would convey the reader, and with one dash of the fee set him down on the grassy ocean of the Buenos Ayrean plains, \ A lovely spring day, during which a warm wind had rustled the tall thistles of the pampas, was drawing to a close; the sun, sinking behind a cloudless horizon, was leaving the vast plains to night, and the shadow of a tall ombu treo stretched to the biscacho town a goodly distance from its trunk, MWNear the tree stood a building known on the pampas asa post-house. It was a low, one-story structure, built of the stalks of gigantic thistles. It was surrounded by stock- ades sharply pointed at the top, and these, in turn, were circumvallated hy a formidable growth of cacti, whose needle-like spines would resist a charge of cavalry. Although a post- house in the common acceptation of the term, on the pampas, it was more of a fort; but just why it should be so guarded in that free coun- try, the stranger would have been ata loss to discover. : A few dirty-looking hawks perched upon the stockades were the only signs of life about the premises; but, as the golden day-god disap- peared, a rude-looking gate flew open on ita leathern hinges, and a man came out. This fellow .was a tall, swarthy, -but good. looking Gaucho. He wore a hugescarlet poncheo over his Atlantean shoulders, and carried in his hand a curiously-shaped horn. Patting this to his lips, he blew a blast that made the sleepy hawks raise their heads, and brought some strange responsive chattering from the biscacho town. After awhile the Gaucho’s wonderful vision detected something moving toward him over the level surface of the plain, and his dark eyes twinkled with satisfaction. Then he bounded back into the inclosure, clapped a pair of silver spurs to his heels, saddled a lithe-limbed pie- bald horse, and dashed from the post-house like a Centaur, The biscacho village lay directly in his path; he cleared it in three bounds, frightening the whiskered inhabitants into their holes, and gal- loped on, his scarlet poncho streaming behind him like a bloody banneret. Not far from the post-house the Gaucho drew rein; he had encountered a little cavalc: Je con- sisting of five persons. They were all well- mounted and loaded with game, Over the back of each horse hung a lot of duck and flamingo, with here and there a bag of tanned bhuanacu- skin well-stuffed with downy ostrich feathers. The hunters, for hunters the five undoubtedly were,\bad just closed a day of rare sport, ana the manner in which they greeted the Gaucho procluimed them in the best of humor, though a little fatigued. ‘*Look!” cried one, a boy of seventeen, whose ripe, rich voice and American’ features pro- claimed him a youthful representative of the United States.. “Just take’ a peep into my game-sack, my good Cruz!” and he distended the mouth of the bag while he addressed the Gaucho. ‘Four gray duck and two flamingives —none of your little kind; but the big fello ws with the crimson legs.” “And then inspect my game bag,” cried ?n- other youth, ‘Six plovers and a sly old bis ‘a- cho. We've had a day of jolly sport, Crug; but we're tired and want a sip of your matvh- less mate.” ‘Which the little senors shall have,” replied the old Gaucho, with a bow, as he placed t im- self beside the only full-grown individuahof the hunting-party, a well-formed “Gaucho mach younger than himself, The party then set out for the post-house at a brisk gallop, the boys—there were four of them—riding in pairs, while the Gauchos in earnest conversation brought up the rear. The youths were not all Americans; one was a young Gaucho named Monte, a stout-limbed, wiry boy of sixteen, and one with whom the reader shall become acquainted before we final ly leave him, : a The Pampae Hunters. 3 A halt was had at the post-house, the jaded | horses. were soon relieved of their loads, the cumbersome recados, or saddles, which are also the Gauchos’ beds, were carried into the fort, and after a can of cold water had been poured upon the back of each horse to relieve him, the whole lot were permitted to roll, a luxury which they bugely enjoyed, The young Americans showed by their ac- tions that this was not their first visit to old Cruz’s home. They made themselves free about the premises, and began at once to clean the ‘weapons which had performed such good ser- vice during the day. “Thus far we've found Arteiza a capital fel- low,” remarked one of the young Nimrods to his companions. ‘‘ Father and uncle Jared said that at the end of a week we wotild come back to Buenos Ayres tired, sore, and completely played out, This is the end of the third week, and the real sport of life on the pampas has just fairly opened, With such a tutor as Ar- teiza, and a companion like Monte, I-believe I could end my days here.” There was enthusiasm.in the boy’s tone and look, and his companion replied in a like strain. Jack Monroe, Ned Grinnell, and Louis Bloom were genuine American boys. Fired with en- thusiasm by such books as Head’s ‘‘ Trip Across the Pampas,” they had eagerly embraced the opportunity afforded them to visit that wonder- ful country, in company with their parents, who had embarked in a mining project in Buenos Ayres. Fond of adventure, which here- tofore had consisted of water-fowl shooting among the lakes of upper New York, they were ready to face the dangers that beset pampas life, for the sake of drawing trigger on a scar- let flamingo, or the wily jaguar. For the time being they had given themselves over to the care of Arteiza, the Gaucho, who with his son, Monte—in more ways than one ‘‘a chip of the old block ”—had promised to initiate them into the mysteries of the vast plains. Let us return to them in the fort, or post-~ house. All at once the boys were interrupted in their 5 perrcleaning by the sonorous voice of Cruz, the ort-keeper, who came forward with a bowl of mate, the favorite drink on the pampas. As it is indecorous to refuse anything offered you by a'Gaucho, our young hunters resolutely took a few sips, burning their lips with the bombilla, and then turned away. ‘‘Here’s a go!” cried Jack, suddenly. “I came back with a loaded gun. Shall I draw, or shoot?” “Go down to the pontana, and try “your juck,” said Louis. ‘You can at least wake the echoes of the marsh, if nothing more.” a ‘* A’ good idea!” responded Jack, and a mo- ment later he passed the gate and was hurrying toward a large pontana, or marsh, which was not far from the post-house. The moon was now up and shining brilliant- ly, and as Jack glided through the brown and ellow grass he drew his poncho over his head ‘or a crawl upon thg water-fowl that frequent- ed the reedy pontana. Ned and Louis resumed work on their fire- arms. ‘ ‘Where Senor Jack?” said old Cruz, sudden- ly making his appearance in the little court be- fore the post-house, “ Gone to try_his last load at the fowl in the pontana.” “Hl pontana ?” echoed Cruz, with a sly pence at Monte. ‘The lion will catch Senor ack! : “The lion?” ejaculated Ned and Louis, spring- ing up with white faces. ‘‘ What did you say, Cruz? There is no lion.at the pontana ?” The old Gaucho showed his discolored teeth in a grin, \ E “ Hl lion makes his home in the p’ntana ; be is a sly old fellow, and he will meet Senor Jack!” The two boys stood fur a moment, spelibound before the Gaucho. ““We will save Jack! it is not too Jate!” cried Ned, seizing his gun. ‘‘He does not know that be is hastening to his death.” . But Cruz quietly put his herculean frame be- tween them and the gate. ** No, senors!” he said, with a show of stern- ness. ‘‘ Let Senor Jack meet el lion. It will be a meeting which he will thick of when big hair is : : “Tf the lion doesn’t get the better of him!” Cruz did not reply. : ‘‘Something strange is at the bottom of this, Ned,” suddenly whispered Louis, ‘Old Cruz has a merry twinkle in his eyes, and Monte is actually laughing!” CHAPTER TI. JACK AND THE LION—A LAKE FULL OF BIRDS. Wir twoof Eley’s never-failing cartridges in his ornamental dnck-gun, Jack burried to- ward the pontana, feasting his imagination on the superb shot waiting for him there. The marsh, bordered with tal] reeds, many of which were tipped with strange flowers peculiar to the lagunas of the pampas, was but a short journey from the post-house. ‘‘T shall find the water covered with ducks and widgeon,” said the enthusiastic boy to him- self. ‘‘Butif I get a good chance at a brace of big teal, as the birds rise, I will treat them to s sample of Eley’s best.” When near the pontana, which was not Jarge but fairly in the silvery moonlight, the youth ful sportsman balted, and put one corner of hin poncho over his head. ‘Then, dropping to the ground on his hands and knees, he crawled for- ward as he had seen the boy Monte do upon one occasion. The birds of the pampas are ex- tremely shy of a man on foot; you can ride upon many boldly and do excellent work with your breech-loader; but when on foot ycu must exercise the greatest caution if you wish to bag your game, Jack. presented a singular appearance as he crept forward with the poncho draggirg behind him. He parted the reeds without noise, ard was congratulating himself upon the success of bis maneuver, when a sudden noise betwecn a bark and a roar startled him. At the same moment something struck heavi- ly upon his feet, and the poncho was alixost wrenched from his grasp. Another moment gnd he would have emptied f 4 the conten‘s of his gun into the waterfowl that completely covered the pontana; tut, now, surprised by the growl and spring of some beast, he shot from beneath tke folds of the | oncho, and found himself face to face with—a jon! f Jack’s countenance told that it was his first encounter with the wild king of the pampas. Though by no means as dangerous as the mon- arch of the African jungles, the lion or puma of South America is no mean foe. When hungry he will not hesitate to attack man; and the stories that the Gaucho can tell of his feats are almost incredible, Our frightened young hero stood at the edge of the pontana; astep backward would preci- pitate him into the water, and his knowledge of the lagunas rendered such a bath the least desirable. ‘Here’s a pretty go!” mentally ejaculated the boy. ‘‘ What does a lion care for two charges of duck shot?” If Jack was surprised at finding himself face to face with such a brute, the lion himself was none the less astonished. : Accustomed to follow everything that indi- cates itself an easy prey, the puma does not stop to guess at results, Our night marauder had not stopped. His countenance told that he had not expected to find a man—or boy, rather —under the poncho, Hence the surprise was mutual, — With his fore feet planted firmly on the pon- cho, the beast presented a fine front to the boy. Jack instinctively raised his gun, but recollect- ing that it was charged with nothing but bird- shot, he lowered it with a smile. There, face to face in the moonlight, stood Jack and the lion, a few erumpled reeds be- tween therm, and hundreds of teal, duck and widgeon not twenty yards away. “This eye-staring must come to an end!” Jack said. ‘‘V’ll treat ‘his lednine majesty to the best my magazine affords, and trust to luck for the sequel.” Slowly, while he kept his eyes steadily fixed on the beast, Jack raised the gun, with his fin- ger resting lightly on the trigger. But to his delight he saw the fore feet leave the poncho, and noticed tuat the lion was slowly retiring from the field. Fhe gun did not touch Jack’s shoulder; the lion, as if acknowledging the supremacy of man, was retiring, and while the boy looked he deliberately turned his head and walked majes- tically away! “There is something in looking a lion out of countenance affer all!” the boy exclaimed. “ Tnis.beats all the adventures I ever had; they will scarcely credit me when I relate it in Bue- nos Ayres Now for the birds,” But the boy did not turn his attention to the water-fowl till the step of the retreating liov was heard no more among the reeds of the pon~ tana; and even then, curbing his impatience to get a crack at the birds, he waited several min- utes, or until he felt satisfied ef lion was not coming back. Then, with the poncho once more over his head, Jack reapproached the marsh, and at last looked out upon it. The Pampas Hunters. cme The sight that- encountered his gaze baffle, | description. The entire surface of the water | was literally covered with water-fowl of every species, Jack beheld countless numbers of tirn-teros, or horned plovers, while flamingoes arid water-hens were present in abundance. Here and there the screaming scissor beaks dived in their rapid flight after a fish, while the staid cranes that stood near the shore found their supper on the insect-incrusted water-lilies and lofty reeds. > For several minutes the boy looked at the in- teresting sight. He had seen many birds since his arrival upon the pampas; bub here were countless thousands, as it seemed, within easy gun-shot, and, as yet, totally unaware of his presence. To frighten them would be to dissipate the scene before him, and fill the air with wings of many colors, and theusands of strange bird- cries. Bus the heart of the enthusiastic sportsman beat in the boy’s breast, and his foot bent a clump of tall reeds that crackled as they went downward. Iustiantly the scene on the pontana was changed; the cranes lengthened their un- gainly necks and started up in heavy flight; the lighter-winged fowl rose quickly, and in less than a minute front the breaking of the reeds the air was full of birds. Jack was almost driven back by the rush of wings; but recovering in a moment he fired at a brace of scarlet-legged flamingoes that were making off in a northerly direction, and saw one of the beautiful birds drop its long wings. ‘Now fora duck!” he ejaculated, turning to- ward the water from which a number of birds were constantly rising. ‘‘There go a flock of brown-backs, I'll try to drop the leader,” Quick as thought the glistening barrel of the gun shot upward, and another repor$ was min- gled with the cries of the water-fowl, Again Jack’s aim was not unrewarded, for the veteran leader of the brown-backs fell whirling earth- ward, and the young hunter heard him fall heavily among the reeds at the further side of the marsh. f By this time the nearest birds were dark specks on the silvery disk of the moon; and ack stood alone by the pontana with the empty gun in his hands. He was not long in securing the flamingo, which had fallen on the open plain, and proved to be quité dead, It was a large bird of the species, and Jack could not but admire its va- ried plumage which looked weirdly beautiful in the moonlight. As he stroked the silky feath- ers, he regretted the shot that had brougkt the bird down; but a thought of the more tempting duck lying on the other side of the marsh diverted bis attention, ; Throwing the flamingo across his shoulder, he set out to find the duck. -His eye had marked | the spot where the duck had fallen and a fow steps brought him to the place. | “Hat a noble fellow!” exe aimed the boy,'as } his eye caught sightot hisgame. ‘ Cruz shall ; try his hand on duck soup to morrow, for this | isa veritable king of the brown-backs.” | Jack’s hand fell upon the duck as he uttered | the last words; but the next moment the same x Ba repre Se re =, tate Ae ae ae & The Pampas Hunters 5 sound that had lately driven him from beneath his poncho made him start back. “The lion, again!” was the young Nimrod’s asp. ‘* He’s caught me sleeping, this time, for haven’t a cartridge to my name—not even a load of bird-shot!” The beast whieh presented a full front to Jack was evidently the same one which he had late- ly looked out of eountenance, But, now, as if aware of the condition of the boy’s fowling- piece, he did not show any signs of retreat; but, on the contrary, looked aggressive. Nevertheless Jack picked up the duck, al- - though, in doing so, be dropped .he flamingo. “Youre a sneaking old curmudgeon!’ be said tothe lion, ‘I expect I disturbed you in a little bird-catching amusement. Now, what are you going to do about it?” The old fellow, for that he was aged, a circle of gray hairs about his short nevk attested, an- swered in a low growl, which displayed a few short, snaggy teeth, and then to Jack’s second amazement began to sneak away. in a few moments the puma had disappeared, and recovering the flamingo, the boy sturted to return to the post-house, He was pleased with the result of his shot as well as with bis remark- able escapes from el lion. After having been relieved of his game by Monte, the Gaucho boy Jack was pressed to relate his adventures at the pontana, which he did to the amusement of his dark faced friends. “What are you laughing at, Senor Cruz?” said Jack, with tartness, turning upon the oid Gaucho, whose face was abroad grin. ‘‘Is it pleasant to face a lion with an empty gun? Do you covet the situation? If so—” “ Bl Americano doesn’t know el lion like Cruz does,” was the reply. ‘The old fellow has huated birds in el pontana for twenty-five years, His teeth are gone; he has no claws and could not crush a biseacho. Besides, senor, he is almost blind.” “All this is very good, Cruz,” said Jack, somewhat disgusted with the Gaucho’s descrip- tion of his late antagonist. ‘‘ But to me he bad immense claws, perfect teeth, and was the man- destroyer that he was twenty years ago.” ‘Tbe senor could lasso ei lion with éase.” “But I shall not attempt it!” said Jack. * CHAPTER. If. \ NED'S FIRST CAST—THE DEATH TRAP—INTO THE THISTLES. wu have already given a brief description of the fort or post-house in which ‘our young friends found themselves domiciled on the pam- as. It was situated but a short distahce from jhe boundary of the thistle division of the vast plain, and was, therefore,in an exposed posi- tion. For the Gauchos possess deadly enemies in the pampas Indians, and the salteadores, or robbers of the plains. But Cruz and Arteiza, old friends from boyhood, and mutual heroes of many a bard fight with Indians and wild cat- tle, had fortified the little fort to the best of their ability, and deemed it impregnable to the attacks of red or white foes, The Guacho always sees the sun rise. If he be dwelling in a hut, the song of the oven bird rouses him from his recado, and he it once pro- ceeds to transform his bed into a sac dle. It was the notes of this thrush of the pampas that awakened the three American boys on the morning after the adventures which we have already recorded. Cruz and his Gsucho com- panions had been up for some time, and Monte had polished the spurs to a degree of dazzling brightness. The ducks and flamingoes made a palatable breakfast, which, washed down with some excellent cana, which Cruz brought ont from a mysterious little room in the hut, pre- pared them for the hunt decided upon before they retired on the previous evening. Ned and Louis had, under Monte’s eye, be- come creditable wielders of the lasso, ard the Gaucho boy was proud of his puvils. When “at rest” they were constantly practicing, and had learned to cast the noose with a dexterity that called forth praise from old Cruz, who was at all times chary with his favors. When the company rode from the post-house, each one was the? possessor of a lazo. . Louis and Ned were delighted with tte promised sport of lassoing some wild cattle, but’ as for ack, who trusted more to the trigyer than the noose for sport, a flock of flamingocs or a deer would*hayve been the more welcomed sight. Arteiza was the guide. To him the favorite eattle grounds of the pampas were well known, and it was not long before a cry indicative of the discovery of a berd surprised all. The cat- tle, numbering several hundred, were found grazing in close proximity to a dense belt of the pampas thistles whose giant stelks of fitteen feet high, armed with enormous sword-like spines, will keep back a horse, Ins:antly lazcs were uncoiled, and according to the commands of Arteiza, preparations to surround the herd were commenced, “T don’t like this sport,” whispered Jack to Ned. ‘* What if a mad bpll charges you?” ‘“Then you must get ott of his way.” “Tf you ean!” was the response, “That ring in your saddle-girth looks like a death trap to me, for if the bull gets to going at full specd be will drag your horse along much after the mean- ner of a whale dragging a boat through the water. Have you a knife?” “Yes; but Ido not expect to find use for it to-day.” “We do not know what'may happen. If our -eattle get frightened, they are liable to take to the thistle. Once buried among those awful stalks there is no escape.” f Ned looked at the forest of stalks and spines, but made no reply to Jatk’s observation. “Come, senors!” said Monte, riding up, “Cruz is about to give the signal to charge.” As he spoke he turned and rode toward the vast herd which had stopped grazing, and was staring at the lassoers, As Jack rode off he leaned over and_raised a portion of his recado, or saddle, ‘“ Monte has set the trap,” he said. to himself, “The boy is an enthusiast in his calling; Lut we are Americans, not Gauchos.” ’ _ The full-rigged recado of the plains is to an inexperienced, cyea preat, unwieldy affair. It consizis OF & greut many coverings and heits, some for use and some for ornament. It hea EP Be TE LE a a enone Sp Re 6 The Pampas Hunters. more uses than one: the English saddle will make you a pillow; the recado is pillow and bed. Attached to the Gaucho’s saddle is a strong girth about nine inches wide which goes completely round the horse. On one side of this necessary fixture is a strong iron ring worked into it, so as to bear the entire pressure of the lazo, A Gaucho could not hold the rope in his hands when it was entangled in the horns of a pull dashing forward at full speed; but with the other end firmly fixed in this iron ring he pits the weight'and strength of his trained horse against the mad animal. f This ring Jack had called a death-trap. And wuy? Because the Gaucho cannot get rid of his lazo, even if he wishes, and, if he cannot con- trol the Jassoed steer, he is liable to be charged upon and killed! ack frowned when he saw his lazo attached to the iron ring; then unseen by Monte, he drew his knife and tried to cut it. But this was labor lost as*he soon found, for the lazo is com- posed of pieces of raw-hide, pliable as a silken iL but almost impervious to the edge of a vife. f i ** T will not use the lazo to-day,” he said, de- sisting. ‘‘I will be merely a looker-on in Venice.” : But Ned and Louis, with eyes beaming with enthusiasm, galloped forward and soon left their companion behind. “Fine fellow yonder, senor!” said Monte, ee to.a- magnificent steer as he glanced at ed, and a moment later the boy found himself near the animal, Carefully preparing himself for a cast, Ned sent the well-noosed lariat through the air, and with’a cry of triumph which he could not sup: press, saw it drop over the horns of the first steer! Then rising in his stirrups he pulled off his sombrero, and sent up a cheer that reached the ears of his companions. At the same time er succeeded in lassoin a cow, while Cruz brottght a steer to the peed by a successful cast at-his hind feet. The herd now scattered, and each lassoer, save Jack, who took'no active part in the hunt, had to take care of bis own victim. A great many of the berd took madly to the thistles which were checkered with cattle-paths, while not a few dashed through the long grass toward the south. Ned soon discovered that he had no ordinary game tohandle. Asthe animal started off to follow his unlariated comrades, the boy’s borse planted his fore-feet firmly in the earth, but ae unceremoniously jerked from that posi- ‘ion. . > Jack saw that his friend was in danger. “T knew it was a death-trap!” he said, as he spurred his horse forward. Horse and steer were now bounding toward the thistles at a break-neck pace. It was in vain that Jack, now’ white-faced and thoroughly frightened, rose in his broad Gaucho stirrups, and shouted: “Cut the lazo/ cut it, for Heaven’s sake! Pe oe yourself off! Monte has shown you Ow But the wind was against the boy; his words were borne backward instead of toward the young lassoer. Jack looked around. Monte had thrown his steer, and having fin- ished his work was riding to intercept Ned be- fore he should be dragged into the thisties. The Gaucho was riding like the wind; his hat was off and his long blue poncho streamed behind bim. Louis’s cow had escaped, and he was gaz- ing speechless at Ned. Old Cruz had met with a mishap; his horse had stumbled in a biscacho hole and was injured. But Arteiza was free, and, like his boy, he was skimming over the plain with his eyes fixed on the captured lassoor. Ned’s horse couid not control the movements of the steer. What added to his misfortune was the strange circle the steer had made around him before darting off, thus wrapping him once in the folds of his own Jazo, But fortunately the coil had caught upon one of the knobs of the recado, thus keeping it from cutting into the boy’s flesh, as it would otherwise’have done, As Jack dashed past the thunderstruck Louis, he said, excitedly: — “*T knew it, boy! poor Ned!” At that very moment, as if in response to Jack’s words, the ery, “Help! help!” floated across the plain. : Still bearing down upon a point which he had fixed in his eye, Monte rode like a winged cen- taur. He saw nothing kut the rope-encircled boy. Before him were the thistles beyond whose terrible spines death lurked in a thousand forms; their cattle-patns were the highways of starva- tion, gloomy and destitute of water. Ned saw the fate in store for bim. He had shouted twice, thrice for help, but no response had reached his ears, His knife had failed to cut the lazo; the iron ring could not be wrenched’ from its socket! Jack saw that he could not reach Ned in time to save him, “Tl follow him into the thistles. that!” he said. He saw the foremost cattle disappear among the spines; he saw Monte striking his horse madly with the bloody Spanish spurs, Then he shut his eyes; he could 1.06 look. It was a moment whbdse excitement cannot be portrayed. : All at. once the entangled boy-lassoer saw the ellow-skinned youth who was trying to head fain off. Then from the depths of his heart he shouted: ‘‘ Help, Monte!” Monte, with a responsive cry, bent forward and raised his arm. In his hand glittered a heavy Gaucho knife, not unlike a short sword, But he did not get to strike, for the pluvging steer drew Ned beyond the sweep of his naked arm, and the next moment the thistles swal- lowed him ops z Jack and Louis uttered cries of horror. Monte smote his breast with his clinched band. : It was a terrible termination of the day's sport! — The death-trap has caught I can do ont — a tend este See > The Pi. mpas Hunters. ; a CHAPTER IV. COMRADES TO THE RESCUE—FOUND!—NEW DANGERS, THE terrible thistles of the pampas are the dread of man and beast alike. Often from their dark recesses at the dead hour of night comes a roar of pain, and the listening Gaucho knows that a puma or jaguar has stepped upon one of the. needle-like spines, which his weight has buried in his foot. There are two species of thistles that abound on these vast plains. One is a weed of the ar- tichoke family, which the natives call ‘‘ecar- doon;” the other is the thistle proper. The “eardoon” bets are quite easily penetrated, as there are no needles to keep the explorer back; then, this species is not so tall as the spine-armed plants, and the light of day plainly reveals the paths that meander through them. The inhabitant of the pampas is not afraid to become lost among the cardonales. While tra- versing the narrow paths found there, if he be on horseback, he has only to avoid the viscacha burrows. Among the spine-armed thistles he must exercise the same care;.but there a thou- sand and one other dangers confront him, He has to watch for the jaguar, the pampero, the fire of the salteadores, or, for the pampas rob- bers themselves. : Thousands of fine cattle perish annually among the thistles, Rushing deeper and deeper into their labyrinths of death, driven Oy and on by the sharp points of the cruel spines, they at last become bewildered and lost, and perish from starvation, or fall before.the attack of the bloodthirsty gu a. =<, A It was into one of these terrible thistle thick- ets that a goodly portion of the frightened herd rushed for safety. Ned, the young lassoer, be- ing caught in what Jack has designated the “death-trap,” was compelled to follow them. The rescuing arm of Monte had proven too short to save; and the unfortunate boy, white- faced and speechless, was drawn among the spines, and toa fate which he had often heard escribed by the tongues of Arteiza and Cruz. _ “Santissima!” cried Monte, as he beat his} breast with his clinched hand. ~ “Ah! poor senor! sta. muerto,” (he is dead), responded Cruz; and Jack.and Louis ‘joining the group at the edge of the thistles, foun: them melancholy and cast down over the termi- nation of the afternoon’s sport. ; A breeze was blowing through the giant stalks, and the spines clashing together like the swords of duelists, made doleful music to the ears that heard. ae “‘ What's to be done?” demanded Jack, looking at Arteiza, ‘The thistles have received Ned into their embrace. We must rescue him!” The old Gaucho looked into the speaker’s face, “ie senor does not know the many paths,” he said. \ ‘ “ We can acquaint ourselves with them,” was the reply. ‘Arteiza did not answer. x Grks “IT am going!” suddenly oried Jack, “‘ No triend of mine shall be left to perish in a brake of thistlea, If none of you wish to follow me, stay!” : < ‘*Boy shall not go alone. Monte ‘vill go with im !” ‘““Thanks, my friend,” and then be raised. his voice and shouted, ‘“‘Keep up ypur courage, Ned! If human aid can avail anything; ‘you will be saved.” Arteiza and Cruz did not object to the rescu- ing expedition, Their looks told that they had great confidence in Monte, who boasted that he knew the interior of the thistles as well as the jaguar or the puma, A few moments later, and just as the sun went down behind the ombu tree that almost. concealed the post-houso with its mighty branebes, the would-be rescuers, Monte, Jack and Louis, rode into the thistles, while Arteiza and Cruz turned back toward the/fort. The path at the edge of the thicket was quite wide, buf, as it narrowed, the spines began to prick our young friends. With the aid of-the re- benque, or native whip, they manay;ed to ward off many of the sharp points; but all, of course, they could not avoid, The trail of many of the cattle lay before them; but among the countless tracks Monte distinguished the print of a horse's hoofs. Ail Gauchos are. not good rastreadors (trackers); but Monte had early served an apprenticeship in this art under the eye of his father, and, be- sides being a rastreador of no mean standing, as‘a vaqueno (guide) he had few equals west of La Plata. Jack and Louis trusted everything to this Gaucho boy; they felt that Ned’s safety lay with him; not Ned’s safety alone, but their own. For the moment they forgot that the wild cattle, gored by the spines, might have turned and trampled their companion to death, or that the lariat, slipping from tho saddle, had finished his existence by literally cutting him in twain, ~ Monte saw the horse tracks where the, Ameri-* can boys could distinguish nothing. He knew that the steer, following in the rear of a portion of the scatrered herd, was still towibg his vic os on—deeper into the labyrinthne cardon- ales, - But all at once Monte came to a halt, and the boys saw him leap to the ground. “A dead steer!” exclaimed Jack to Louis, as he sprung from his recado, and, running for- ward, he halted before Monte, the Gaucho boy. Sure enouzh, the huge object which the boy had seen lying in the path was a steer. He had not been dead long, for his sides were still bleeding; there were great thrusts behind his fore-shoulder, as if made by the long spears of the Pampas Indians, A ‘ Jack called Monte’s attention to this, but the ‘boy shook bis head, % See!” he said, laying his hand on one of the great horns of the steer, “‘The young senor’s rope has been here.” * Ned's‘ rope?” ejaculated the boys. “‘ Monte, ‘do you say that this is the steer that dragged our comrade into the thistles?” Mont. nodded. Z “Steer drag senor this far,” he replied. “ Here his con alene turn upon him, and fight. Look at the ground, senors; see how the big thistles have been broken.” E i epee eyo 8 The Pampas Hunters. *Y see! I see!” cried Jack, following the wave of Monte’s hand. ‘‘These gashes were made by the horns of the other steers. They turned and deliberately killed their lassoed | comrade, What must have been Ned’s feelings as he witnessed the terrible struggle!” ‘* Ah! we cannot know,” said Louis, a shud- der creeping over his frame. ‘‘ But they did not treat him as this giant steer was treated. Ha has recovered his lasso.” “But where is he now?” The boys turned their eyes upon the Gaucho boy. cf Senor ride that way,” Monte said, pointing down a bridle-path hardly discernible to the most practiced eye. ~~ “Good! Then we will follow him!” But the young Gaucho did not venture to re- turn to his horse until he had bent the huge thistles down, avd looking up through the break thus made, discovered a certain little star that shone with wonderful brightness. Was Monte, with his knowledge of the thistle belt, afraid of being lost init? _ ** Monte is afraid of something,” Louis sud- ' denly whispered over Jack’s shoulder. “T have suspected,” was the reply. “But what frightens him? He looks uneasily aloft_as if the threatened danger is above. Hs has not lost the trail; such a rastreador as he never loses one. I have my opinion of his fears.” \ “Out with it.” “ He fears a pampero.” ‘Not to-night, I hope. Think of these terrible thistles being torn up and hurledagainstus, I cannot believe that this new danger confronts us, Ceasing, Jack leaned forward and touched Monte’s shoulder. At that moment the boy was pushing some thistle-tops aside with his rebenque in order to take an observation of the heavens. “ My good Monte—” * Hist!” Jack paused with his wildly-beating heart in his throat, and his hand remained glued as it were to the Gaucho’s shoulder. From far away came a strange rustling among the thistles, and fast upon it the loud bellowing of a herd in fright. “ What does that mean?” asked Jack, “ El pampero |” was the reply. If the young Nimrod could have seen Monte’s face at that moment he‘would have noticed that he had spoken without parting his lips “Heaven help usif that awful catastrophe strikes us here!” gasped Louis, who bad heard Monte’s answer. ‘* We shall all perish, and that without finding Ned.” With the noise of the rushing herd now came ths sound of the pampero. Monte could not see a single star. All at once the boy hunters started in their saddles, for a voice that did not seem to come from a point one hundred yards away fell upon their ears, “ By my soul! I believe those mad cattle are rushing back! What can have taken possession of them? Ah! that cold wind! I understand all now, They are flying before the pampero! Which way must I fly? Death for me lies In any direction. But I will not stand here and face the mad steers without a struggle!” The next moment the snort of ® horse struck fiercely with a pair of Gaucho spurs fell upon the astonished listeners’ ears, and the snapping of thistle-stalks followed. “Tt is Ned!” said Jack. Then all held their breath. But a moment later Monte seemed to throw himself from his recado, as a cry pealed from his lips. “Ned! Ned, thank Heaven!” ejaculated Louis, ‘ We will meet the pampero together!” A ery. of joy was the response. For on the horse whose bridle-rein Monte held in his hand sat Ned Grinnell, the lost lassoer, The three bad found him; but on'the eve of the onslaught of the dreaded pampero! CHAPTER YV. A PAMPERO—NED’S STORY—A SURPRISING SHOT, Nep did not have time to relate his adven- tures, for the increasing violence of the wind ad- monished all tq prepare to meet the pampero. At Monte’s command the boys dismotnted and forced their horses tothe ground. The di- lated eyes of the poor beasts told that they knew what was coming, for the horses of the pampas must, of necessity, accustom them- selves to the sudden storms. that sweep them with demoniac fury. Not only did the quar- tette dismount, but they passed the lassoes about their waistsso as to prevent the wind from blowing them away from their animals, ‘“Where are the cattle? asked Louis, ‘* Will they not trample us under foot?” “Cattle turn to right,” was Monte’s wel- comed reply. ‘Tantissima! el panpero will cover us with dust.” i “That renders the storm the more terrible,” said Ned. The boy had scarcely ceased speaking before the storm with a roar like that of a hundred lions uttered at once was upon them, The wind was cold and heavy with dust. It had swept from the foot of the distant cordilleras in a2 incredibly short space of time, and gaining m<- mentum as it crossed the plains, a thicket cf ee was the last thing expected to check its ury. The adventurers. hugged tho shivering forms of their horses, and covered their heads with their ponehos. The roar of the storm was ter- rible; great flashes of lightning for a moment lit up the darkened heavens, and deafening peals of thunder seemed to shake the solid earth, A few drops of rain fell; but it was nota. rain storm. ore than once the young hunters were lifted from their places by the force of the wind and carried to the end’ of the lazos. Meanwhile wild cries mingled with the crack- ing of the tall thistles aud the shrieking of the storm, and quite often a heavy body struck the boys like some great ball. he pampero levels everything in the open country; the tall thistles go down before it like reeds before a gale. It has been known to dry up rivers by sweeping every vestige of water The Pampas Hunters. Se Si P= 2 from their beds; it {s literally one of the great- est of nature’s levelers, The strange cries that accompanied the striking of the objects against the boy Nimrods told them that the pampero had struck some layunas on its course. Jack put out his hand as something struck him with great force, and then dropped at his side. It came in contact with a mass of fea- thers, and the next moment his fingers encir- eled the leg of a flamingo! Almost at the same time Louis announced that a large duck had been driven against him. At last the pampero began to subside; there was nothing left for it to conquer. ‘“« Dios be thanked for the thistles!” ejaculated Monte, rising and shaking a covering of dust from his person. “They were not very strong, senors, but they broke the force of el pampero. We must thank them.” Once more the young adventurers saw the stars overhead, Jack was startled at this. ‘““Why can we see so many stars?” he asked, turning to Monte. ‘Because el pampero has removed the this- ties.” ‘ All of them?” “ Si, senor |” This was true. Not a single thistle was stand- ing on the vast plain. hen the.moon again showed herself, the American boys could see the work of the pam- pero. The thistles, with their needle-like spines, were level with the ground; but this was not all. On every side lay countless numbers of birds which had been dashed to the earth by the violence of the wind. Some were quite dead, but many were but partially stunned, and flut- tered violently when the boys picked them up. There were tirn-tiros, plovers of other families, ducks, teal, widgeon, and here and there an ungainly crane, or a beautiful, scarlet-legged flamingo. “* El pampero is the greatest of all hunters!” exclaimed Ned, surveying in anftazement the prostrate birds. ‘‘I am glad that I was not doomed to encounter him alone in these wilds,” * You had your adventure,” said Louis, “Will you not teil us about it, now?’ “JT would rather forget it,” responded Ned, with a shudder. ‘‘The steer took me through the thistles with what seemed to me the speed of a train of cars. I gave myself up for lost, for at every moment I expected the lazo to-slip from the knob of the recado, that held it from my body, and envelop me in its folds, All at once a quarrel ensued between my steer and one of the herd. The whole gang seemed to take part in the melee. They turned furiously upon my captor. I could not escape. They got tan- gled in the lazo, and almost overthrew my torse. May Heaven preserve me from ever witnessing another such combat! It did not last long, however. The horns of the berd did the work; they gored the voor steer, and then thundered on, leaving hi... dead in his blood. You may be sure tbat 1 was thankful. I se- cured the lazo once more, and left the spot of my strange deliverance, not knowing whither I went,” , * The trio listened attentively to Ned’s brief ac- count of his terrible ride at the heels of a mad / steer, and a fervert prayer of thanks fell from Monte’s lips as he concluded. “Now we will leave el thistles,” said the Gaucho boy. The horses, oneé more on their fect, had shaken themselves much after the manner of a dog, as he emerges from the water, and were eager to leave the uncomfortable spot. After securing a few of the birds, the little party, complete once more, rode away. “Do you think el pampero struck house?” Jack asked Monte. ‘““No; it go to left of that,” was the answer. “Then we will find some good mate awaiting us, and, if I mistake not-—” ‘* Hist, senor!” Instantly every rein was drawn, and the boy hunters looked inquiringly into. Monte’s face. For several minutes the Gaucho boy kept his swarthy face turned toward the south. Ail the time he was eagerly watched by his com- panions. When at last he turned to the young Nimrods, it was to tell them to prepare their lazos for a cast. “Everything js fish in one’s net on_ these plains,” said Jack, smiling to Louis. ‘‘I shall not try the rope to-night, Ifthe game is warth the powder, I will treat it to a brace of Eley’s best. But Ned, notwithstanding his late terrible ad- venture, and Louis, followed Monte’s example, and took the lariat from its pin on the saddle, “What kind of game is coming? That is what. puzzles me!” said Ned, impatiently. ‘It old Cruz’s must be near, but I cannot hear the tramp of { cattle.” At that moment Monte pointing forward with his outstretched arm cried, eagerly: * Vea, senors!” (sec!) ‘*Yes, look!” Louis-said, catching the young Gaucho’s enthusiasm, ‘A troop of. ostriches, as I live!” There was no mistaking the noble birds that had come in sight. The storm had probably driven them from their latitude, for they were grouped closely together as if through fear of some enemy. “ Hl pampcero carry them off!” Monte said, smiling. ‘‘They going back now. Senors ready?” ‘ “ All ready, Monte!” After the mantier of the Gaucho, the four boys-began to ride around the bewildered birds which seemed surprised ‘at the appearance of the nocturnal hunters. Gradually the circle diminished, and the boys who carried the lazo ready for a cast, were about to ride upon their victims when the | irds darted off as fast as their legs could carry them. ; ‘Hurrah! now for a race!” cried Ned, and the ey moment away went pursuers and pur- sued, : The rhea or South American ostrich is re- markably swift of foot. He can for a* time give a horse a good chasef but in time he succumbs to the endurance of the trsined animal, ; Ox this occasion, however, the pursuers came upon the giant birds sooner than expected. Spe 10 The Pam) as Hunters. Jong neck of a beautiful specimen of the species, Ned, by a lucky cast, threw his lazo over. us| and brought him down after (he most approved manner of the Gaucho, Louis was equally for- tunate, but with a female bird, while Jack, having seleeted the Je‘der of! the troop, was riding after him over the moonlit plain. | { } **Senor, senor, look out for biscacho holes!” | cried Monte, as the eager boy dashed past, see- | ing nothing but the great bird whose long; strides were taking him rapidly over the ground, But Jack never heard the Gaucho boy. With his double-barreled fowling piece ready to.pour its well charged cartridges into the ostrich, the boy galloped after his prey. At lust he fouad himself almost directly alongside ot the bird, and the opportunity for a magnificent shot that presented itself could not be disre- garded. So rising in his stirrups as he permitted the lines to fail on bir horse’s neck, Jack dashed the ean against his shoulder, and glanced down tha arrel, But alas! at that moment the front hoofs of his horse suddenly disappeared, and’ the ani mal, caught in a biscacho burrow, pitched for- ward, while the would-be ostrich-killer shot over his bead like a bomb, As Jack struck the yielding ground some thirty feet in advance of his horse, a deafening noise saluted his ears, and his piece went spin- ning past his head. “Confound the burrow!” ejaculated the young bunter. ‘It had to cheat me out of tie king ostrich, and in all probability bas left me a horse with a broken limb. But bis animal, beyond a sprain, was not in- jured, and Jack looked a sorry picture as Monte galloped up. “ Vea, senor!” cried the Gaucho, pointing to al: rge object lying beside burrow. Juck looked. Couid he believe his eyes? A hound! ought him to the spot. Sure enough! there lay the king ostrich— dead} CHAPTER VI." .. A GAUCHO DISH—NIGHT ATTACK ON TEE PAMPAS. LADEN with the trophies of the moonlight chase, which consistgd of Jack’s king ostrich, besides the most valuable feathers of threo more, the boy Nimrods once more set out for the post-house, which they reachéd just/as day was breaking on the vast stretch of timberless country that lay on every hand. The joy of Arteiza and Crnz on bcholding Ned was very great, for to be plain the old Gaushos had about given him up as lost. The keen, observing eye of Monte soon suspected that somethiny of importance had ti anspired at the fort during their absence; but when he went to question his father concerning it, a subtle sign from the old herdsman bade bim de- - gist, In order to celebrate Ned’s escape from the thistles, Cruz brought forth some excellens mate, which was drank with zest; but the cream of that plain feast was the carne con cuero, in the preparation of which thé old fort- ‘keeper was an adept, If any of my young { readers expect fo visit the romantic pampas, they cannot call their visit complete until they have indulged in a few mouthfuls of this truly South American dish. “ V7bat is Cruz doing?’ asked Louis, turning in amazement upon Monte, who was quietl roasting a choice piece of Jack’s ostrich on his asadero. ‘* As I live, Monte, our old friend has forgotten, to remove the skin from his choice roast.” The otherwise studious features of the Gaucho boy broadened into a smile as he glanced at Cruz busy as an enthusiastic cock over his own fire, “Senor Cruz has not forgotten; carne con cuero |” was the reply. After awhile Cruz removed his roast. smok- ing from the fire, and laid it with an air of tri- umph on the large wooden dish which he had placed for its reception. lie had actually cooked a large piece from a buillock’s ribs-cooked it with the hide on! Thig half-barbarous dish is called carne con cuero on the pampas. On the La Plata, and adjoining country, the hide is the most valuable part of the bullock, and it is only on especial occasions, jete days or the like, that a Gaucho will spoila whole skin to prepare this strangé, but delicious aish. ~Delicious, we say, for this mapner of roasting bullock ribs, while it, of course, spoils a hide, preserves the juice and flavor of the tender meat in all its wild perfection. Our young bunters, hungry as wolves, to use acommon expression, were soon testifying in rapturous. language to the merits of carne con cuero, and the result was that Monte’s ostrich- hump, though done to a turn, went begging around the board. Arteiza oxplained his sceming desertion df Ned at the edge of the thistles by saying th it certain discoveries made during the catule chase imperatively demanded his presence at the lone post-house. This language’ excited Monte the more, and at the’ first opportunity that offered itself the voung Gaucho climbed to the top of the ombu tree. There, standing upon a platform which had been placed there’for a lookout, he shaded his eyes and began to sweep the plaix’ The work of the pampero was vis- iblo @verywhere; the bent grass marked