Francisco Our Little Argentine Cousin

days later, as he sat under an ombú tree in the garden on his uncle's estanc

and he had a queer looking machi

oyer, Se?orito; would you

the peach orchard. Francisco had had five days of rest from his tireso

en too great to allow of any wider acquaintance, which would have included the gauchos, or cowboys; at least the nearer ones, for the Tres Arroyas ranch

ked of Manuel. "Our servienta at home use

it would take a geyser of boiling water to kill them. Now, we

rown ran here and there as

ir tender young leaves, and it was only by continuous labour

millions of ants wit

place it and get it ready; then early in the morning I will

his window. He had forgotten his engagement with Manuel, and started up in bewilderment. The sight of

ould have been too late for to-day," said the swarth

ing up before they have made their morning to

the dry rubbish in the cylindrical can, in one end of which was a small amount of sulphur. He screwed a lid on the other end, inserted the

om many holes, here and there, within a radius of several hundred yards; showing how

ut to work this morning. But in a short

o learned, as they walked toward the house, that these ants are the worst pest, excepting the locust, that the farmer has to combat. They p

d that his uncle had had café and was in hi

ou, Uncle Juan?"

ments a few days ago and ready for another trial t

for the Se?orito

nibbled at a biscuit, but he

on the estancia, was resplendent in a new saddle, bridle and bit. The servant brought a set of solid silver spurs and smart leather rid

ross the horse's breast, were all of the same valuable metal. It was indeed the outfit of a gentleman, and on Barboza, the sleek bay horse, with the neat, light hoof of the p

the west of the estancia to inspect some horse branding that i

pastures, some of them red, like battle grounds with the scarlet margarita or verbena; w

a large bird with yellow breast and gray wings screeched a

the bicho

ll it ugly bug?

how plainly he says it. It is a bird of prey and lives on smaller birds. Th

wo long tail feathers clip the

ross the water of a small lake. Occasionally they passed a shepherd's hut; but now they w

dle with joy. "Oh! Uncle, a

e to the city on holidays and walked along the Paseo de Julio, where the pawn shops, with their tempting offers of silver sheathed knives, g

R QUESTION THEY PASS

crouched on the ground around a fire of dry thistles, over which hung a can, suspended by wire from a tripod, and which

sco; the sight of their weapons having subdued his zeal somewhat. They were rougher l

they have no education whatever. They fairly live on their horses' backs and

held around the waist with a belt, then brought between the legs and fastened again to the belt in front, formed the covering of

ey were not so picturesque as the gentleman gaucho,

e first hour, and his costume was that o

doubled, the inside forming a pocket, which was stitched into compartments, these being made secure with clasps made of silver coins; from all of this hung a festoon of coins encircling the entire waist. The large c

e between this gentleman of the Pampas and his soldier uncle with great pride. Almost, he was pers

s family traditions! A soldado,[1

TNO

uperin

eech-o

iding

Sol