e lustre of any fortune, but now that it has pleased the Almighty to
give me back my child, I will gladly, for her sake, try to extract a
little more than the mere necessaries of life out of my silver-mine.
Now, my friend," added Pedro, suddenly stopping and confronting our hero
with a decided air, and an earnest look, "will you join me in this
venture? I would not give up my life's work here for all the mines in
Peru. In order to raise the people and improve the condition of this
land, I must continue to be a Rover of the Andes to the end of my days.
So, as I cannot superintend extensive mining operations at the same
time, I must have a manager, and I know of no one whom I should like to
have associated with me half so well as Senhor Lawrence Armstrong. Will
you go with me to the Mariquita Valley?"

Lawrence paused a minute, with his eyes on the ground, before answering.

"I am flattered by your good opinion, Pedro," he said at length, "and
will give you an answer to-morrow, if that will do. I never take any
important step in haste. This afternoon I have an appointment with
Quashy, and as the hour is near, and I promised to be _very_ punctual,
you will excuse my leaving you now."

"Certainly--to-morrow will do," said Pedro, "I hope to take Quashy also
with me. He is a queer fellow."

"He is particularly queer just now," returned Lawrence. "I think his
marriage with Susan has turned his brain. So, good-bye, Pedro--till
to-morrow."

They shook hands heartily, and parted.

That same afternoon Quashy paid a formal visit to Manuela at her
father's residence in the suburbs of Buenos Ayres, and told her, with a
visage elongated to the uttermost, and eyes in which solemnity sat
enthroned, that a very sick man in the country wanted to see her
immediately before he died.

"Dear me, Quashy," said Manuela, an expression of sympathy appearing at
once on her fine eyebrows, "who is it? what is his name? and why does he
send for me?"

"I can't tell you his name, miss. I's not allowed. But it's a bad
case, an' it will be awrful if he should die widout seein' you. You'd
better be quick, miss, an' I'll promise to guide _you_ safe, an' take
great care ob you."

"That I know you will, Quashy. I can trust you. I'll order my horse
im--"

"De hoss am at de door a'ready, miss. I order 'im afore I come here."

Manuela could not restrain a little laugh at the cool presumption of her
sable friend, as she ran out of the