Sleep was sweet that night, and Francisco's head was scarcely on his pillow when guanacos, vicuñas and even _gauchos_ were forgotten in dreamless slumber.
THERE was not a dull moment for Francisco during the weeks that followed. Don Carlos, the superintendent, lived in the great house the year through. He was a bachelor and a man of education, so that when the Colonel came each summer he insisted that he keep his usual quarters; for the house was very extensive and the Colonel enjoyed his company at meals and during the long evenings.
Francisco had accompanied Don Carlos on several excursions and once, with a _tropilla_ of horses (eight or ten riding horses driven loose by a _peon_ for fresh mounts on a long journey), they had gone on a journey of five days to a neighbouring _estancia_ to purchase algarroba posts for the extensive fencing that was taking place on the Tres Arroyas ranch. This algarroba wood is like iron and under water is almost imperishable.
They had passed by one small _estancia_ devoted almost exclusively to peanut culture; there were leagues and leagues of them being raised to be shipped to the Mediterranean ports to be made into _olive oil_. They had their dinner at this _estancia_ and Francisco ate bread made from powdered peanuts mixed with wheat flour and he found it very delicious.
José had taken him on several fishing excursions, and once they had hunted _armadillos_ with small dogs. Francisco had laughed heartily at the antics of one dog, who had almost caught the horny-plated little animal when it suddenly rolled up into a ball, its back of movable, bony bands enveloping it like an armour, and rolled off a bluff over the river bank, falling fully fifty feet; while the puzzled dog peeped cautiously over the brink to see it unroll itself and with its short legs hastily dig a retreat under the earth.
On Francisco's birthday his uncle had given a _fiesta_ in his honour. There were fireworks and races, and cowboys from all parts of the _estancia_ came in their full cowboy regalia on their best horses to participate. It was very interesting, and then there was a dinner for everybody and after that a dance. Francisco, himself, presented the prizes, and his uncle made a speech.