u passed the night on my ranch because the
river had risen?"

The Patron did not remember anything about it. But a vague instinct
warned him that the woman was probably telling the truth. "Well, what of
it?"

"Patron, here he is. . . . It is better for him to grow to manhood by
your side than in any other place."

And she presented him with the little hybrid. One more, and offered with
such simplicity! . . . "Lack of religion and good habits!" Then with
sudden modesty, he doubted the woman's veracity. Why must it necessarily
be his? . . . But his wavering was generally short-lived.

"If it's mine, put it with the others."

The mother went away tranquilly, seeing the youngster's future assured,
because this man so lavish in violence was equally so in generosity.
In time there would be a bit of land and a good flock of sheep for the
urchin.

These adoptions at first aroused in Misia Petrona a little
rebellion--the only ones of her life; but the centaur soon reduced her
to terrified silence.

"And you dare to complain of me, you weak cow! . . . A woman who has
only given me daughters. You ought to be ashamed of yourself."

The same hand that negligently extracted from his pocket a wad of bills
rolled into a ball, giving them away capriciously without knowing just
how much, also wore a lash hanging from the wrist. It was supposed to be
for his horse, but it was used with equal facility when any of his peons
incurred his wrath.

"I strike because I can," he would say to pacify himself.

One day, the man receiving the blow, took a step backward, hunting for
the knife in his belt.

"You are not going to beat me, Patron. I was not born in these parts.
. . . I come from Corrientes."

The Patron remained with upraised thong. "Is it true that you were not
born here? . . . Then you are right; I cannot beat you. Here are five
dollars for you."

When Desnoyers came on the place, Madariaga was beginning to lose count
of those who were under his dominion in the old Latin sense, and could
take his blows. There were so many that confusion often reigned.

The Frenchman admired the Patron's expert eye for his business. It was
enough for him to contemplate for a few moments a herd of cattle, to
know its exact number. He would go galloping along with an indifferent
air, around an immense group of horned and stamping beasts, and
then would suddenly begin to separate the different animals. He had
discovered that they were si