Chapters 11-13, The Vaquero Never Had a Chance, An Urgent Message, The Patrón Summary

Chapter eleven opens with a busy day for the gauchos, driving bulls into their corrals. The mayordomo is busy directing them. Juan, Carlos and Pedro note how productive of a family the Pizzettis are and they later go and visit them to share Maté. After they arrive, the Vaquero, Pedro's father, shows up. He appears to be something of an alcoholic. He reports that the mayordomo had finally seen Chúcaro and liked him, but in a bad way. Vaquero noted that the estanciero, or patrón, was coming to visit and wanted a nice pony for his son, Armando. Pedro was on the verge of tears when the Vaquero reported that the mayordomo has demanded that...