Last of the Incas

atagonia a factory, situated on the left bank of the Rio Negro, about seven le

dians of a large quantity of clothing and other useful articles, sold them the course of that river from its mouth up to San Xavier. In addition to this, by the wish of t

dressed stone, and flanked by three bastions, two on the river to the east and west, and the third on the plain. The interior contains the chapel, the priest's house, and the powder magazine; on the other side run spacious quarters for the commandant, treasurer, officers, garr

walls, for want of repairs, are everywhere decaying

ted between the fort and the Rio Negro, on the slope of the cliff, and consists of some forty houses of varying height and style, and forming an i

the range of the guns. Población forms a vast quadrilateral, round which are about one hundred houses, mostly new, only one storey high, tile-covered, and serving as a

low soil, subject to inundations. These houses, which are poorer than those of the north side, serve as a shelter for

of a pulverized sand, which obeys the direction of the wind. This description of a country hitherto

ated in a pulquero's shop, were holding a sharp discussion while swallowing long draughts

r Don Antonio Valverde, insists in plundering us in this way, Pincheira is not so far off but that we may manage to come to an understa

would do better if you swallowed your words wit

d Panchito, who was moistening

rowling about us, and that ears are open

the shoulders, "you are always frightened, Corrocho.

nch

Why does Don Antonio

"the governor, on the contrary, desires your comfort, and the

scamp he is," Panchito exclaimed, bursting into a

le let us drink

drown our cares. Besides, have we not Don

ecially here," Corrocho exclaimed, striking the table angril

and looked askan

me? Canario, you are be

. "Caray, for the last two hours you have been drinking like a sponge; you are as full as a b

as he dug his knife vigorously into th

ou good, and my hand itches to give

ops, did

ed for him with a firm foot. The other gauc

iend's," the pulquero said, "no quarrelling in my ho

said Panchito; "come on

ling

treet. As for the pulquero, standing in his doorway with his hands

each other, after rolling their poncho round the left arm, in guise of a buckler, drew their long k

the adversary in the face; a blow dealt below the waist

The other gauchos, with husk cigarettes in their mouths, followed the duel with unconcerned eye, and applauded the more skilful. The fight continued on both sides with equal success for some

gauchos exclaimed simu

their knives again, bowed to each other, with a species of courte

much as life, and recoil before no danger. Well, these men, who frequently abandon their families to go and live in greater liberty amid savage hordes; who gladly and without emotion shed the blood of their fellow men; who are implacable in their hatred; are yet capable of ardent friendship, and extraordinary self-denial and devotion. Their character offers a strange medley of good and evil, of unbridled vices and of real qualities. They are, in turn, and simultaneo

this little incident, a man, wrapped in a large cloak, and with his hat pulled over his eyes, entered the shop, without saying a word, went up to the bar,

silent as if they had received an electric shock. Panchito and Corrocho started, and tried to see through

. A moment after, Panchito, who was wiping his cheek, and Corrocho, both pretending to remember some important

be arranging some dog's trick, in which every man's head will no

iced the departure of their comrades. The stranger, when at some distance from the pulquería, turned round. The t

tito? He had

, by an insensible curve, left the waterside and gradually entered the plain. This road, after leaving Población, t

her the gauchos nor the stranger, being, doubtless, busy with serious thought, remarked him. As for the rider, h

t can he be doing there in the company of those two bandits, who look to me exactly like imps o

n the other hand, the squareness of his wide shoulders and his sturdy limbs indicated his muscular strength. A small gray eye, quick and sparkling with

especially in the Población del Sur, it is almost a miracle for two persons to meet. He stamped his foot angrily, pas

surprise and himself remain unseen. The gauchos were ahead of him, and disappeared behind a shifting sand ridge, at the moment he turned the corner in the road. Stil

but entered the wood after the man whom Blas had recognized as Don Torribio Carvajal. When Blas, in his turn, reached the skirt of the wood, instead of entering the wood immediately, he

the three men standing together and talking eagerly in a clearing about ten pac

nd the haughty attitude which is produced by a habit of commanding. Two large quick eyes lit up the oval of his face; two eyes charged, apparently, with lightning, and whose strange fascination it was almost impossible to endure. His flexible nostrils seem to expand through quick passions; a cold mockery was imbedded in the

ather boots. As for his dress, which was extremely costly, it was in appearance much like that of the gauchos. His shirt c

fortified it, surrounded it with moats and palisades, and mounted six guns. He had thus walled in his existence and routed curiosity. Though the gates of his estancia were never opened to any guest, he was welcomed by the first families at Carmen, whom he visited assiduously, and then to the great surprise of all, he disappeared for several months. The ladies had wa

ing to Panchito in the brake, a

interrupting the gaucho; "you

Panchito, draw

crush you, like th

ho shouted, pale with rag

his gloved hand, and twisted it so rudely, t

," the gentleman said, as he t

ll me s

n; you are only

ps were livid, and his whole body trembled. He picked up his knife

st, but I love you, after all. Forgive

gon

your la

es

demon,

ment rapid as thought, rais

er checking Panchito's arm; "but if you

sses, like a dog licking his master, who has chastised it

to be thus beloved?" muttered Blas Salazar