l power of observation indeed, as well as memory," said
Lawrence, looking with increased interest at the young Gaucho, who could
be seen, by the light of the neighbouring camp-fire, moving about in a
graceful, free and easy manner, assisting in the preparation of supper.

"It was pretty well in its way," returned Pedro, "but he did a sharper
thing than that last year. A gold escort was attacked somewhere in the
west, and the robbers, after killing most of the men, escaped with the
bags of gold. The authorities being very anxious to trace out and
punish the robbers, offered a high reward for any useful information as
to their whereabouts. Now it chanced that Pizarro was moving about the
country at that time, and, hearing of the adventure and the reward, kept
his eyes open and his wits about him a little more sharply than usual--
though he does that pretty well at all times by nature. One day he saw
a little child leading a mule laden with raw hides along a narrow path.
This is a common enough sight, in no way calculated to attract
particular attention; nevertheless it did attract the attention of
Pizarro. I don't pretend to understand the workings of a Gaucho's mind.
Perhaps it was the extreme smallness of the child that struck him,
causing him to think that as no father or mother would risk such a
little thing with the charge of a loaded mule without a special reason,
it would be as well to find out what that special reason might be.
Perhaps it was something else. Anyhow, suspicion being awakened, he
followed the mule for a short distance, and soon observed that it
stepped as if it carried a much heavier weight than a mere pack of
hides. At once the stolen gold flashed into Pizarro's mind. He stopped
the mule, cut the bandages off the hides, and there, concealed among
them, found the stolen bags!"

"After that," said Lawrence, "I have no doubt whatever that he will soon
find the troops."

"Neither have I," returned Pedro; "but Pizarro, and men like him, can do
much more than I have told you. By a flight of birds they can tell of
an approaching band of men before they are in sight, and by the cloud of
dust they make when they appear they can form a close estimate of their
numbers. When the Indian hordes are about to make a raid, Gauchos are
warned of it by the ostriches and llamas and other timid beasts of the
Pampas all travelling in one direction, and in many other ways that seem
little short of miraculous