authority, that when Our Guest perceived a closed gate in the way, and no peon at hand, he leapt from the carriage (perhaps “flew” would be a better word) and opened that gate.  Possibly he had been fired with ambition to earn money while inspecting those crimson and blue handkerchiefs at the stores, for we know he appreciates “colours”; but, whatever his motive, he did open that gate, and let it be recorded to the honour of his fellow-passengers that his action was not allowed to pass unappreciated or unrewarded.  When all the party were collected at Michelot estancia house, lunch was served on the verandah by a dour-looking Oriental, who apparently combined the duties of cook and parlourmaid in his own somewhat yellow person, and very well he performed his task, but as he went silently about his business of serving this large party, which he did with a slow precision and apparent utter disregard of his master’s orders, he reminded us irresistibly of the soi-disant American definition of “Life,” and we began to wonder whether it were not a Chinaman who summed up existence in the words, “After all, Life is only one d——­d thing after another.”

[Illustration:  Herd of Cattle.]

A short siesta followed lunch, and after an early tea everyone mounted horses or carriages and went forth to see the sights of the Section—­everyone, that is to say, save The Chaperon, who had other work to do; he it was who discovered and averted what might have been a disaster.  Some members of the party were quite content as long as they were given three cups of tea, others fancied cocktails, and some babbled for cocoa.  It was suddenly found that the supply of this last useful article was running short.  The Kid not being a cocoa-drinker, casually suggested filling up the tin with tannin extract or dust; she said “it looked the same and nobody need smell it,” but The Chaperon declined to resort to subterfuges and rode off to the stores to supply a deficiency caused by his own lack of attention.

At Michelot, as at Polvareda, great progress has been made of late years, alfalfa laid down, fences and wells made, and the cattle are improving yearly.  Our last sight, before the inspection for the day was finished, was a wonderful rodeo of 3,000 cattle, which we viewed from the vantage point of the banks of a newly made reservoir.  It was a striking picture, which will not easily be erased from the memory of those who saw it.  The cattle, with their long continuous lowing, were rounded up below us, and away on the horizon the sun was setting with the glory one never sees better elsewhere than over a plain, leaving, as it rapidly sank from sight, marvellous shades of gold and crimson on the fantastically shaped clouds.  Save for the animals and their drivers just around us, the whole vast space seemed so still and empty, yet on every hand were traces of man’s labour and skill, conquering a tract of land which was almost valueless a few short years back.