Tales of the Pampas | Page 6

summer, when it
is dryer and more brittle than an empty eggshell."
Remember that there were slaves in those days, also that there was a
law fixing every man s price, old or young, so that if any slave went,
money in hand, to his master and offered him the price of his liberty,
from that moment he became a free man. It mattered not that his master
wished not to sell him. So just was the law.
Of his slaves Santos was accustomed to say, "These are my children,
and serve because they love me, not because they are slaves; and if I
were to offer his freedom to any one among them, he would refuse to
take it." He saw their faces, not their hearts.
His favourite was Meliton, black but well favoured, and though but a
youth, he had authority over the others, and dressed well, and rode his
master's best horses, and had horses of his own. But it was never said of
him that he gained that eminence by means of flattery and a tongue
cunning to frame lies. On the contrary, he was loved by all, even by
those he was set above, because of his goodness of heart and a sweet
and gay disposition. He was one of those who can do almost anything
better than others; whatever his master wanted done, whether it was to
ride a race, or break a horse, or throw a lasso, or make a bridle, or whip,
or surcingle, or play on a guitar, or sing, or dance, it was Meliton,
Meliton. There was no one like him.
Now this youth cherished a secret ambition in his heart, and saved, and
saved his money; and at length one day he came with a handful of
silver and gold to Santos, and said, "Master, here is the price of my
freedom, take it and count it, and see that it is right, and let me remain
at El Ombú to serve you henceforth without payment. But I shall no

longer be a slave."
Santos took the money into his hand, and spoke, "It was for this then
that you saved, even the money I gave you to spend and to run with,
and the money you made by selling the animals I gave you--you saved
it for this! Ingrate, with a heart blacker than your skin! Take back the
money, and go from my presence, and never cross my path again if you
wish for a long life." And with that he hurled the handful of silver and
gold into the young man's face with such force, that he. was cut and
bruised with the coins and well nigh stunned. He went back staggering
to his horse, and mounting, rode away, sobbing like a child, the blood
running down from his face.
He soon left this neighbourhood and went to live at Las Vivoras, on the
Vecino river, south of Dolores, and there made good use of his freedom,
buying fat animals for the market; and for a space of two years he
prospered, and every man, rich or poor, was his friend. Nevertheless, he
was not happy, for his heart was loyal and he loved his old master, who
had been a father to him, and desired above all things to be forgiven.
And, at length, hoping that Santos had outlived his resentment and
would be pleased to see him again, he one day came to El Ombú and
asked to see the master.
The old man came out of the house and greeted him jovially. "Ha,
Meliton," he cried with a laugh, "you have returned in spite of my
warning. Come down from your horse and let me take your hand once
more."
The other, glad to think he was forgiven, alighted, and advancing, put
out his hand. Santos took it in his, only to crush it with so powerful a
grip, that the young man cried out aloud, and blinded with tears of pain,
he did not see that his master had the big brass pistol in his left hand,
and did not know that his last moment had come. He fell with a bullet
in his heart.
Look, señor, where I am pointing, twenty yards or so from the edge of
the shadow of the ombú, do you see a dark green weed with a yellow
flower on a tall stem growing on the short, dry grass? It was just there,

on the very spot where the yellow flower is, that poor Meliton fell, and
was left lying, covered with blood, until noon the next day. For no
person dared take up the corpse until the Alcalde had been informed of
the matter and had come to inquire into it.
Santos had mounted his horse and