Bidding adieu to Polvareda, where the green fields of alfalfa show the march of progress, we pushed forward, but as we left we were unable to decide whether it was a desire to escape observation (and, perhaps, the too-effusive thanks of the lady members of the party), or a violent toothache, which caused our host to conceal himself in a huge blanket wrapped around his head as we left, but we fear it was toothache that necessitated the extra wrappings.

[Illustration:  The Green Fields of Alfalfa.]

We had not gone far on our journey before we crossed the bridge over Las Conchas.  The manager of the next section met us soon afterwards, and we inspected the cattle on his domains.  On our way from Polvareda to Michelot we passed the emporium of the Universal Provider of the North, in other words, “the stores,” where most of the necessities and many of the luxuries of life can be obtained.  The Saint can never resist the desire of a bargain, and others of the party were anxious to see all that the stores contained, so we made a halt and inundated the building, where everything was extraordinarily neat and clean, shelves piled high with bales of bright-coloured cottons, cloths, and handkerchiefs; hats hanging in long lines, brilliant saddle-cloths, pipes, knives, tobacco, axes, leather goods and harness, every variety of tinned foods, barrels of flour, sugar, etc., all arranged with precision, and showing cleanliness and method at every turn.  Some men were sitting on the benches, smoking and drinking and chatting together, for apparently “the stores” constitutes the local rendezvous and news agency for miles around.

The Saint at once made purchases, for no place is stamped on her memory unless she has spent money there.  She wanted to make the whole party presents of hats, handkerchiefs, or pipes, but she was restrained, and ultimately satisfied her generosity by choosing the best saddle-cloth the establishment could supply, and one or two hats.  We went into the living-rooms of the storekeeper, and found the same attractive neatness there.  A gramophone occupied a side table, and skins and pictures were hanging on the walls.  The storekeeper’s wife and her sister were attractive Englishwomen; there were two or three children running about, but none of them could speak anything but their father’s native language.  After this inspection we drove on, and we are glad to be able to register the fact that Our Guest for once acted up to the first part of the old adage, “Earn sixpence a day and live up to it.”  The Jehu’s coach had stayed behind for a while, to allow The Instigator to observe and note a great many things which were no business of his at all, and the peons had likewise remained, but The Saint, having fulfilled her mission of purchasing whenever possible, was content, and anxious to get on to the Section house for a rest before her afternoon ride, so The Chaperon drove on with his coach, and we are assured, on what we consider good