n to appropriate them for himself and party. His joy at the
discovery had not subsided when another bag drew his attention, and this
was the signal for another delightful surprise. His hand touched the
new bag in a trice. There was a rattling sound within. Peas? No--
maize.

"Good!" ejaculated Guapo; "maize and macas! That with what is left of
the charqui--we shall not fast to-night."

Guapo now backed himself out of the hut, and joyfully announced the
discoveries he had made. The travellers dismounted. The horse and mule
were picketed on lassoes on the plain. The llamas were left to go at
will. They would not stray far from their owner.

It was piercing cold in this highland region. Dona Isidora and the
children entered the hut, while Don Pablo and Guapo remained without for
the purpose of collecting fuel. There was not a stick of wood, as no
trees of any sort grew near. Both strayed off upon the plain to gather
the _taquia_, or ordure of the cattle, though no cattle were in sight.
Their tracks, however, were visible all around.

While engaged thus, the old Indian suddenly raised himself from his
stooping position with an exclamation that betokened alarm. What had
startled him? A loud bellowing was heard--it was the bellowing of a
bull. But what was there in that sound to alarm two full-grown men?
Ah! you know not the bulls of the Puna.

Coming around a promontory of rocks a large black bull was in sight. He
was approaching them in full run, his head thrown down, his eyes glaring
fiercely. At every spring he uttered a roar, which was terrific to
hear. A more horrid object it would be difficult to conceive. You may
suppose that an adventure with an enraged bull is one of an ordinary
character, and may occur any day, even in the green meadow pastures of
Old England. So it is, if the animal were only an English bull. But it
is a far different affair with the bulls of the Puna. Throughout all
Spanish America animals of this kind are of a fiercer nature than
elsewhere. It is from them the bulls used in the celebrated fights are
obtained; and, perhaps, the race has been made fiercer by the treatment
they receive on such occasions--for many of those that exhibit in the
arena, are afterwards used to breed from. But, in general, the
Spanish-American "vaqueros," or cattle--herds, treat the cattle under
their charge with much cruelty, and this has the effect of rendering
them savage. Even in herds o