they act the part of wilderness-detectives."

While continuing their journey next day, Lawrence resolved to have a
chat with the Gaucho youth. Riding up alongside, he saluted him, and
received a reply and a graceful bow that would have done credit to a
Spanish grandee. He discovered ere long that the young man's mind, like
his body, had been cast in a noble mould, and that, although ignorant of
almost everything beyond his own wild plains, he was deeply imbued with
reverence for Truth and Justice in all the relations of life. Indeed,
his sense of these attributes of God was so strong that the constant
violation of them by those around him roused in him occasional bursts of
hot indignation, as Lawrence very soon found when he touched on a recent
revolution which had taken place in the province of San Juan.

"Are the troops we search for sent out to aid the government of
Mendoza?" demanded Pizarro, turning an earnest and frowning glance on
his companion.

"I believe not," answered Lawrence; "at least I have not heard the
colonel talk of such an object; but I am not in his confidence, and know
nothing of his plans."

Pizarro made no rejoinder, and Lawrence, seeing by the continued frown
that the youth's spirit was somewhat stirred, sought for further
information by asking about Mendoza.

"Do you not know," said the Gaucho, with increased vehemence, and a good
deal of fine action, "that the people of San Juan have deposed their
governor, because he is a bad man?"

"I had not heard of it," said Lawrence, "but what has that to do with
Mendoza?"

"You shall hear, senhor. The governor of San Juan is dishonest. He is
bad in every way, and in league with the priests to rob the people. His
insolence became so great lately that, as I have said, the people arose,
asserted their rights, and deposed him. Then the government of Mendoza
sent troops to reinstate the governor of San Juan; but they have not yet
succeeded! What right," continued the youth, with grand
indignation,--"What right has the government of Mendoza to interfere?
Is not the province of San Juan as free to elect its own governor as the
province of Mendoza? Have its men not brains enough to work out their
own affairs?--ay, and they have arms strong enough to defend their
rights, as the troops shall find when they try to force on the people a
governor of whom they do not approve."

Lawrence felt at once that he was in the presence of one of those
stron