The Purple Land

ering look at lovely Margarita, and mounted my horse. Scarcely was I in the saddle before Marc

friend; I am also going in that direct

ow me the way," I

puddles and pitfalls, and long to travel. It is only meant t

is poverty-stricken appearance and his furtive glances filled me with suspicion. I looked at my host, who was standing near, thinking to take my cue from the expression of his face; but it was only a stolid Oriental face that revealed nothing. An an

, my young friend, in casting away idle fears when you accepted my company. Why do you let them return to trouble your peace? Men of your blood have never inflicted injuries on me that cry out for vengeance. Can I make myself young again by shedding your life, or would there

nding away on our left hand towards the south-east. But we were gradually drawing nearer to it, and apparently going purposely out of our way only to traverse a most lonely and difficult country. The few estancia houses we passed, perched on the highest points of the great sweep of moor-like country on our right, appeared to be very far away. Wher

"My friend, I assure you, I fear nothing, but I cannot understand why you keep near these hills

water you see over there is the Rio de las Canas {River of Grey Hairs

s. A glance was enough to tell us that they were soldiers or mounted policemen, scouring the country in search of recruits, or, in other words, of deserters, skulking criminals, and vagabonds of all descriptions. I had nothing to fear from them, bu

ear so gre

through as much hell-fire as I have and have rested as sweetly with a corpse for

face prevented me from uttering it-it was, in its ex

up to us, and one, their commander, a

ationality is a sufficient protection,

ection, in this country. If you have not got one you must suffer for it, and no one but yourself is to blame. I see in you only a young man complete in

hing of the sor

You know I warned you a month ago that it was imprudent to leave Montevideo without our passports. This officer is

rovided with a passport, I suppose? You might at least have supplied yourself w

hman is looking for an estancia to buy, and I came as his attendant from t

man has plenty of money in

contradicting them might be. I therefore replied that I was not so foolish as to travel in a country like the Banda Orient

"and will pay for all the bread and cheese you will require. It will also provide

os built round a large plaza overgrown with weeds. On one side stood the church, on the other a square stone building with a flagstaff before it. This was the official building of the Juez de Paz, or rural magistrate

d the officer, with a curse. "I feel

doing so, except, perhaps,

ice is asked!" retorted the off

w, Lieutenant," suggested the old man by the door, speakin

e I am neglecting my own affairs to serve the State, and this is how I am treated. We mus

where the magistrate sat at a table on which lay a great number of papers-goodness knows what they were about. The Juez was a little hatchet-faced man, with bristly grey whiskers, standing out like a cat's moustache, and angry eyes-or, rather with one angry eye, for over the other a cotton handkerchief was tied. No

, starting up in a fury. "Man, go and bring your m

in threadbare military clothes; and in two or three minutes he returned, followed by a very fat, slatte

, Fernando?

r pestilent fowls are creating amongst my papers-papers that concern the safety of the republic! Wom

I thought you wanted to ask my advice about these pr

ly intentions, but with shockingly bad aim-shouting, shaking his fist at his wife, and even threatening to commit her for contempt of court when she laughed. At last, after a great deal o

began to smooth his ruffled feathers. "Proceed,"

nglish millionaire going about the country buying up estates, while the other man is his servant. There are twenty-five reasons for disbelieving their story, but I have not sufficient time to impart them to you now. Having found the doors o

hat I have no private interests; that the State feeds and clothes my wife and children? No, sir, I am the servant of the republic,

authorities. However, since these things are differently arranged, and I am compelled to come with my reports to you in the first place, I am only here to

what you like, since you are responsible, not I. And be sure, sir officer,

rdination towards a person one is not bound to obey. And now, sirs," he added, turnin

ose with

d the fierce old man, "you are dismissed from further attendance here. The republic you profess to serve would perhaps be just as

a profound and sarcastic bow, tur

tocks," continued the little despo

agistrate's order had produced in me, and shook them roughly aside. "Se?or Juez," I said, addressing him, "let me beg you to consider what you are doing. Surely my accent is enough to satisfy any reasonable person that I am not a native of this country. I am willing to remain in

rently taken a great fancy to me, interposed on my

my house for the present; if you are telling the tru

to the kitchen, where we all sat down to parta

him confined in a large empty room built apart from the house; he had been provided with a maté-cup and a kettle of hot water, and was sipping his bitter beverage with an air of stoical indifference. His legs, confined in the stocks, we

andancia, I suppose, and after a few days liberate me. I am a good workman on horseback, and there will not be wantin

ly, if I can,

me," he said. "I have the devil's temper, and to-day, in a moment of rage, I insulted you. It therefore surprised me when you came here and spoke kindly to me. I desired to know whether that feeling

had travelled with that day. Touched with his words, I sat down on th

the key, and take me out, I will sleep well; then in the morning, before the old one-eyed

t thinking of e

e faintest wish to

room would be locked, of course. But if I were dis

ng lovingly on your face-for, doubtless, you reminded her of some absent relative, a favourite nephew, perhaps.

," I said, and shortly

r of amiable host, came and discoursed for half an hour on lofty matters relating to the republic. Presently his wife came out, and, declaring that the evening air would have an injuri

nging her tone somewhat abruptly. "Do you keep all your ga

w-traveller is fastened in the stocks, where your cruel husband would also have confined me but for your timely interventio

o is a monster of cruelty, and would immediately put out my eyes without remo

dly; a born diplomatist could no

our husband is so terrible a despot, surely you can do this without letting him know! Let me get my poor Marcos out of the stocks and I giv

be?" she asked, again p

of my heart," I returned, this

to get it from his room. Before Fernando retires, ask to see your Marcos, to take him a rug, or some tobacco or som

difficulty in liberating my friend in misfortune. Luckily the man who took me to Ma

my hand, wrung it till I

ossible for one man to render to another. You have, in fact, now placed me in a position to-enjoy my n

when I had seen him safely locked up for the night, I w