d our horses must rest."

He spoke in a tone of cynical joviality, as if defying his misfortunes.
The simple-minded Quashy, accepting it as genuine, said, "All right,
massa," in a tone of cheerful satisfaction, as he slid off his steed and
set about preparing the encampment.

If our hero's mind had been more at ease, it is probable that he would
have enjoyed his surroundings greatly, for, although lost on the wide
Pampas, they had not begun yet to suffer physically from that
misfortune. Their wallets were still supplied with food sufficient for
at least three full meals, the weather was serene, and the situation,
viewed in one aspect, was exceedingly romantic. From the top of the
rising ground where the fire was burning and the steaks of mare's flesh
roasting, the complete circle of the horizon could be seen, and the
yellow-brown grass of the Pampas, at that time about a foot high, rolled
with a motion that strangely resembled the waves of the liquid ocean
itself.

But poor Lawrence was incapable of enjoying the beauties of nature just
then. After one long, anxious look round to see if any object should
present itself which might raise the faintest echo of hope, he returned
to the camp, and sat down on a mound with a profound sigh.

"Chee' up, massa," said Quashy, raising his face, which glittered with
his efforts to blow the fire into a glow. "You's git her in de long
run."

"Get who?" demanded Lawrence, in surprise, not unmingled with a touch of
severity, for this was the first time that his humble follower had dared
to touch on the theme that was uppermost in his mind.

With a strange compound of what is well named "cheek" and humility,
Quashy replied, "_Her_, you know, de Inca princess--Manuela. It's all
right!"

"And pray, Quashy, how do _you_ know that it's all right, or that I want
anything to be all right. In short, what business have you to presume
to--to--"

"Oh, it's all right, massa," replied the negro, with a wink--and _what_
a wink that was!--"I knows all about it, bein' _zactly_ in de same state
wid Sooz'n."

Lawrence sought refuge from conflicting feelings in a loud laugh, and
asked what hope Quashy could by any possibility entertain of ever seeing
Susan again--she having, as it were, vanished from off the earth.

"Oh, nebber fear," was Quashy's comfortable reply. "I's sure to find
Sooz'n, for she no can git along widout me, no more nor I can git along
widout her. We's sure to find o