Before we set out a pleading message came (and it was not the first, either) from those left at headquarters, begging us to give up our exploration scheme, and, in view of weather reports, to return in peace to the civilisation of San Cristobal; but needless to say, nothing daunted, The Instigator still kept to his determination to see all there was to be seen, and the more people try to dissuade him from a thing, once he has decided to do it, the more fixed becomes his intention to do that thing.  So, expostulations were useless, the final preparations and farewells were made, a last communication held with Our Hostess at Cristobal, before our passing into the wilds, and the Tacuru coaches with their freight of precious humans, and still more precious food and drink, started off from their pleasant rest at Lucero.  Someone was heard to murmur as the coaches drove off—­

    “Then hey! for boot and horse, lad,
      And round the world away;
    The Instigator must have his tour, lad,
      And never will give way!”

But this puerile parody met with the indifference it deserved, and, accompanied by the Section Manager, we commenced our journey, travelling for some hours over the land which is in his charge.  “Monte,” too, seemed to consider that his presence as a guide and friend would be necessary to the party, and came along with us; he is a “wild” dog of the deerhound type, who was taken as a tiny puppy from a litter found in a wood near Los Moyes, and has ever since been devoted to his captors.  There is a calm air of disinterested abstraction about “Monte” which is very satisfying, and he is undoubtedly a philosopher.  One of the two Indian guides we picked up during the day’s journey also had a dog, but it was of a very different appearance and character to “Monte.”  “Monte” looked on mankind in general as needing his care and supervision, while the little black smooth-haired terrier felt “the great passion” for one alone.  His master was evidently his god, and if he lost sight of “master” for two minutes it was really touching to hear his cries, almost like those of a child, as he tried to trace his master through the shallow water which we sometimes crossed.

His yelps as he splashed along, nose to the ground, almost voiced the sentiment:—­

    “Rank and wealth I pass unheeding,
      Never giving them their due;
    For my heart and soul are needing,
      Nothing in the world but “YOU!”

And he and his “YOU” were never very far apart.

In a country where kindness to animals is not considered necessary, and is very rarely found, this example of devotion between dog and man was all the more noticeable and appreciated.  Needless to say, as soon as The Saint observed it she wanted to “give the man a present,” and was only restrained from doing so because she had nothing suitable for presentation in her luggage, or in that of The Instigator.