The Rover of the Andes | Page 4

his leisure.
Perhaps the--the--"
"Patriots!" suggested the Peruvian.
"The scoundrels," said Lawrence, "may have spared or overlooked it.
The hut would furnish shelter enough, and we have provisions with us."
After a moment's reflection the Peruvian assented to this proposal, and,
leaving the ruins together, they returned to the road, where they found

the Indian girl holding the youth's mule as well as that of her
companion.
Hastening forward, Lawrence apologised for having in the agitation of
the moment allowed his mule to run loose.
"But I forgot," he added, "of course you do not understand English."
"Try Spanish," suggested the Peruvian, "she knows a little of that."
"Unfortunately I have forgotten the little that I had picked up here when
a boy," returned Lawrence, as he mounted, "if I can manage to ask for
food and lodging in that tongue, it is all that I can do."
They soon reached an opening in the bushes at the roadside, and, at the
further end of a natural glade or track, observed a small wooden hut
thatched with rushes. Towards this young Armstrong led the way.
He was evidently much affected, for his lips were compressed, and he
gave no heed to a remark made by his companion. Entering the hut, he
stood for some time looking silently round.
It was but a poor place with bare walls; a carpenter's bench in one
corner, near to it a smith's forge, one or two chairs, and a few
tools;--not much to interest a stranger but to Lawrence full of tender
associations.
"It was here," he said in tones of deepest pathos, "that my father
showed me how to handle tools, and my mother taught me to read from
the Word of God."
Looking at his companions he observed that the large dark eyes of the
Indian girl were fixed on him with an expression of unmistakable
sympathy. He felt grateful at the moment, for to most men sympathy is
sweet when unobtrusively offered whether it come from rich or poor--
civilised or savage.
"Come, this will do," said the Peruvian, looking round, "if you will

kindle a fire on the forge, Senhor Armstrong, Manuela will arrange a
sleeping chamber for herself in the closet I see there, while I look after
the beasts."
He spoke in cheering tones, which had the effect of rousing the poor
youth somewhat from his despondency.
"Well, then," he replied, "let us to work, and it is but just, as we are to
sup together, and you know my name, that I should be put on an equal
footing with yourself--"
"Impossible!" interrupted the other, with a slight curl of his moustache,
"for as I am only six feet one, and you are at least six feet four, we can
never be on an equal footing."
"Nay, but I referred to names, not to inches. Pray, by what name shall I
call you?"
"Pedro," returned the Spaniard. "I am known by several names in these
parts--some of them complimentary, others the reverse, according as I
am referred to by friends or foes. Men often speak of me as a confirmed
rover because of my wandering tendencies, but I'm not particular and
will answer to any name you choose, so long as it is politely uttered.
The one I prefer is Pedro."
He went out as he spoke to look after the mules, while Lawrence set
about kindling a small fire and otherwise making preparations for
supper.
The Indian girl, Manuela, with that prompt and humble obedience
characteristic of the race to which she belonged, had gone at once into
the little closet which her companion had pointed out, and was by that
time busily arranging it as a sleeping chamber for the night.
CHAPTER TWO.
COMPACT WITH THE NEW FRIEND AND DISCOVERY OF AN
OLD ONE.

Keeping the fire low in order to prevent its being seen by any of the
wandering bands of patriots--alias soldiers, alias banditti--who might
chance to be in the neighbourhood, the three travellers thus thrown
unexpectedly together ate their supper in comparative silence,
Lawrence and Pedro exchanging a comment on the viands now and
then, and the handsome Indian girl sitting opposite to them with her
eyes for the most part fixed on the ground, though now and then she
raised them to take a quick stealthy glance at the huge youth whose
appetite did not seem to be greatly affected by his misfortunes. Perhaps
she was wondering whether all Englishmen, possessed such innocent
kindly faces and such ungainly though powerful frames. It may be that
she was contrasting him with the handsome well-knit Pedro at his side.
Whatever her thoughts might have been, the short glances of her
lustrous eyes gave no clue to them, and her tongue was silent, save
when she replied