ee or four years--disturbed by
factious quarrels which too often end in riot and bloodshed, though
these are not often on so large a scale as to be styled civil war.
Well, there is a party of peace-lovers even here, who do their best to
bring about a better state of things, and a more settled and powerful
government. Some of the men of influence at Buenos Ayres, and some even
of the military men, are of this party. I am, as I have said, their
secret agent--secret, because if I were to attempt the thing openly, or
as a government agent, I should be treated with ridicule by some, or be
murdered perhaps by others, in either of which cases my influence would
be gone. Of course, as you have seen, I run considerable risk in
travelling through the land on my mission, for I have been several times
taken for a spy, but I don't object to run risk, the cause being a good
one.

"As to the news, which I have received by mere chance from a passing
Indian, it is another outbreak in the San Juan district which makes a
change in the disposition of troops necessary; and as I have particular
business with one of the officers, I must change my route and make for
Buenos Ayres as straight as possible. That is all the mystery about it;
so you see, as I said, it is not very profound."

"It is very interesting, however," returned Lawrence, "and you may
depend on my falling in with your plans, whatever they are."

"Well, then," returned the guide, "the first part of my plan is simple
enough--merely to start off to-morrow by the first peep of day. Will
you go, therefore, and tell Quashy to get ready, while I have a talk
with Manuela?"

We do not intend to inflict on the reader the whole of the conversation
that took place in the Indian tongue between the little brown maiden and
the guide. A small portion of it will suffice.

"I repeat, Manuela," said the latter, in a remonstrative tone, "that you
are not wise."

"My kind protector forgets," replied the girl, with a modest look, "that
I have never set up any claim to wisdom."

"But what will your father say?"

"I really cannot guess what he will say," she answered, with one of her
prettiest little smiles.

"But you may be quite sure that the thing is impossible. Consider the
immense difference between you, and, forgive me, Manuela, but I think it
is not fair."

"Now my protector forgets _himself_," returned the maiden, drawing
herself up and bestowing a look on the guide which