nded; one of these being a silk
handkerchief of a bright scarlet colour, also taken out of the
inexhaustible _alparejas_. This he ties about Cypriano's neck, not as
an ordinary cravat, but loosely folded, so as to expose a breadth of
several inches all round.

The gaucho's next move is to snatch from off the fire one of the faggots
still only half consumed; from which with his knife he scrapes the red
coal, leaving the surface black, at the same time paring the stick to a
sharp point. With some wet gunpowder he further blackens it; then
placing the thick end against Cypriano's forehead, he binds it fast with
a piece of raw-hide thong, the last carried around and firmly knotted at
the back of the neck.

A few more touches and the toilet is complete; transforming Cypriano
into what, at a distance, might be supposed a soldier-crane! At all
events, the ostriches will so suppose him, as Gaspar knows; for he is
but copying a scheme often practised by South American Indians for the
capture of these shy birds.

"_Muy bien_!" he exclaims, as he stands contemplating his finished task.
"By my word, _muchacho mio_, you look the character to perfection. And
if you act it cleverly, as I know you can and will, we'll make breakfast
on something better than beans. Now, senorito; you're in costume to go
_garzoneando_."

Long ere this, Cypriano has come to comprehend what is required of him,
and is quite eager to have a try at the ruse so cunningly contrived.
Declaring himself ready to start out, it but remains to be decided what
weapon he ought to take with him. For they have the three kinds--gun,
_bolas_, and _lazo_; and in the use of the two last he is almost as
skilled as the gaucho himself.

"The gun might be the readiest and surest," remarks Gaspar; "and it will
be as well to have one with you, in case of your not getting a good
chance to cast either of the others. But just now the less noise that's
made the better. Who knows, but that some of these traitorous redskins
may be still straggling about? Hearing shots they'd be sure to come up
to us; which we don't want, though ever so much wishing to come up with
them. Therefore, I say, use either the balls or the rope."

"All the same to me," observes the young Paraguayan. "Which do you
think the better?"

"The _bolas_, decidedly. I've known the _lazo_ slip over an ostrich's
head, after the noose had been round its neck. But once the cord of the
_bolas_ gets a tur