f
the spunkerblues."

Comforted and reassured by his master's hearty tone and manner, the
negro led the way to the spot where he had spent such a busy day.

Now, we do not know whether we have made it obvious to the reader that
Lawrence Armstrong's kindliness of nature embraced not only the human
race but the whole animal kingdom. At all events it is true that
wherever he came in contact with the lower animals he managed by some
species of fascination to gain their affections. The mode of
fascination began, no doubt, with their stomachs, but this does not
alter the fact. Among other creatures Lawrence had gained the
affections of Quashy's steed, and also of Manuela's and Pedro's horses,
as well as his own, by means of sugar. With this simple appliance he
went into the hollow, and held out his hand.

"Come, Ole Scrubby," he cried, using Quashy's words.

With a cheerful neigh the rebellious one trotted up, received the sugar,
and suffered himself to be led once more into servitude.

"Even among the brutes, Quash," he remarked, as he patted the nose of
his own steed, "we are meant to `overcome evil with good.' Come, we
must spend another night here, for it is too late to start off now;
besides, I am tired out, and starving."

"Massa," returned Quashy, as they mounted, "I's done up to dat extent,
an' _so_ hungry, I could sleep on prickly pears, an' heat my wittles
raw."

In this condition of body and mind they galloped back to camp, and took
particular care that the horses should not again stray.

Next morning, after breakfasting on the remains of their food, they
mounted, and, taking the sun as their guide, headed away eastward at
full gallop.

Silently and steadily for two hours or more they swept along over the
Pampas waves, turning aside only a little once or twice to avoid ground
that had been riddled and rendered unsafe by the biscachos.

As noon approached Quashy gave a shout, and pointed to the horizon ahead
of them, where living objects of some kind were seen moving along.

"Ostriches," said Lawrence.

"Dey's a noo kind ob ostriches wid four legs," returned the negro, "an'
wid peepil on deir backs."

"I believe you are right. A party of mounted men, apparently. Come,
this is well. Whoever they are we shall at least be able to gather some
information from them, and, at the worst, we can follow them to some
inhabited spot."

"True, massa, an' if dey's rubbers we kin fight dem."

On drawing