The Guide of the Desert

en suddenly emerged from a narrow ravine, and began to ascend a steep path on the flank of a mou

ubt to cross the Rio Tietê, if, as the direction which they followed

os, and were armed with sabres, pistols, knives, and carbines. Their la?os, r

of the gaucho of the pampas in the Banda Orienta

e route, and to guard against ambuscades, offered in the oblique and mild rays of the setting sun, in the midst of that majestic scene, a striking resemblance to those troops of Paulista adventurers who in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries

charged with the mules loaded with baggage, and who, in case of attack, were to j

nd, composed of a dozen horsemen, in the midst of wh

e first had arrived at the summit of the mountain, it stopped

ista, which, at the first glance of a person accustomed to Brazilian manners, clearly showed that the chie

by it, the strange accoutrement without which they never undertake an expedition-that is to say, the cuirass, named gibao de armas, a kind of greatcoat stuff

called fac?o, which was of use to them in cutting bamboos to open up a passage; they each had also an espingole, or a fusil without bayonet, which they ordinarily loaded only with large shot, as it

ans and the runaway Negroes, whom they hav

lity, whenever put to the test; thus the presence of a dozen of them in the caravan was a certain

spread before them, to a considerable distance, over a landscape of forests, of varied valleys, traverse

em, and moreover fatigued by a long journey through almost impracticable paths, while a torrid sun prof

mprovised camp; the strongest made a heap of trees as a provisional intrenchment, and some others lit the fires int

hose aristocratic manner, bold look and short manner of speaking, denoted the habit of command, gave the order for

e to know of what sex was the person whom the palanquin had enclosed, and who had just quitted it. The palanquin was immediately borne away. The s

had given, withdrew under a somewhat smaller tent, erected at some paces from the

was studied with care, to assume an expression of mocking and cruel wickedness, which inspired fear and almost repulsion; his large black eyes had a vague look which was rarely fixed, his mouth furnished with brilliant white teeth, surmounted by a fine

o give passage to a man who, after having assured himself by looking around, that the horseman of whom we h

d considerably removed from each other, his nose long and hooked, his high cheekbones, his large mouth with flat lips, gave him a distant resemblance to a bird of prey of the least noble kind. His monstrous head, supported by a thick and short neck, was buried between two shoulders of great br

the young man recognised the m

u, Malco Dia

me," answered the mameluco[1],

do you want

ception that your lordship gives me is scarcely en

the use of my putting myself out? Are you not in my pay, and con

dog, and ought to be treated as such; however, y

me, without more circumlocution, what brings yo

ths at Rio Janeiro, in order to serve you as a guide, for four Spanish ounces p

get that you received be

pted the mameluco; "on the cont

you wan

bargain expiring at ten o'clock tomorrow morning, I prefer to settle wi

long since we be

e, your l

as long," replie

s a long

e young man abruptly, in a more friendly tone

gement terminate

but you ca

d; his master did not

ship allow me t

pe

poor devil, compared with you, very little and of no account. However, mis

tha

g and of coming, without rendering anyone an account of my pro

you sa

l, your

ot a servant,

the guide, to think only of the servant; and as to me, I cannot get u

layed upon the lip

that you give me is the only on

nly one, you

I propose to you five quadruplet instead o

ordship," said he,

I offered

you offer

biting his lip; "When do

ordship will

should remain with us unti

remain,

a tone of indifference, "I s

idedly,

der that I owe you; you shall the

ces of gold from a purse, and

it," s

hand, but soon th

said he, "you are

ow is

owe me four oun

el

giving

others, because, before parting with you, I wish to give a proof o

to wish to escape the fascination exercised over him by the sight of the metal, he placed, although with

u, my lord, but I cannot

e it, Malco? Am I not the master,

o do that; but I repeat that

nation of this enigma, for if I do

, but I am not a beggar to accept a remuner

nour," answered the young m

ld, chinked them in his hand, and

e are

ry ill at ease under the searching look of the marquis, did not wait fo

lf in the saddle, and went off with a pensive air, descending the mountain at a gentle trot

ot to fear being seen, he broke off

he suspects something; I have not a moment to lose; for-I know him. If I permit myself to hesitate, I am a lost man; but if I don't hes

to a gallop, and was not long disappearing into the darkness; for,

tent, the marquis rose with a gesture of rage and o

him have complete security; the traitor does not think me so well informed. Oh, I

the greatest tranquillity, the most complete calm, reigned in the

o! Di

ared to expect, a man appr

am," s

ctly," resume

f of the soldados da

mongrels born of a white man a

d turn dese

This formidable sum is worth abou