EIGHTH:  My Lady—­is a general favourite; she will look after the lot of us in her own gracious fashion.  Everyone goes to her for advice, sympathy, or help, which she is always ready to give.  Even without her tea-basket she would be an absolute necessity for the social success of the trip, for, as the advertisements say of patent sweepers and the Encyclopaedia Britannica, “no party is complete without” her, so every one was glad to hear that she had agreed to accompany the northern pioneers.  Those favoured ones who have seen her “on the boards,” whisper that her histrionic genius is marvellous; we, who are not among the fortunate number, can only say that if her acting equals her talent for giving (when required) a really concise, lucid description of anything, it must indeed be wonderful.  Her quotations, too, are so ready and apt, though occasionally they remind us, by their vagueness, of her namesake and favourite book.

NINTH:  The Kid.  Why she is brought along, nobody will ever know.  It may have been as a “contrapeso” ("an addition of meat or fish of inferior quality, thrown in to complete the weight,” vide Arturo Cuyas’ Dictionary), but we think she came with the sheep.  Anyhow, it was not until the first part of the journey had been accomplished that she was discovered bleating in the corner of one of the coaches.  We had a meeting to decide whether she should come on with us or not, and arranged to put her on the job of tidying up for the trip; but her hopeless incompetence and ready impertinence to her superior officers, necessitated instant dismissal without a character.  However, as she is really not worth the trouble of sending back, we locked up the tea tin, and let her continue the journey on the condition that she will not talk too much, awake or asleep.  With any luck, we may yet lose her somewhere in the wilds.

* * * * *

The one disappointment expressed by all the party was that Our Hostess decided not to accompany us on the trip, but to await our return at Cristobal.

We started out from the estancia house as soon as the ladies’ luggage could be brought downstairs, and we should like to remark, in passing, that it was a very affecting sight to see Our Guest, The Delineator, and The Wild Man lifting and carrying heavy boxes and baggage (with no thought of gain) out to the peons, who, under the able direction of The Chaperon, loaded them scientifically on to one of the four carts, which, when ready, were sent on ahead with the nine peons who had been told off for the trip.  Cameras appeared from every available corner as we prepared to move, and many invaluable photos of the start of the caravan must have been secured by those who gave us such a hearty send-off.  When at last Our Hostess had put in the final cushion and rug, and provided us with biscuits and bull’s-eyes, and was satisfied that even she could do nothing more for our comfort, we parted from her with great regret, promising that she should receive numerous marconigrams concerning our welfare, and our travels en route.  First went off the four-in-hand driven by The Jehu, who had four members of the party in his care; he was followed by The Chaperon, who drove a pair, and looked after the rest of the explorers.