"We have nothing to claim from him, your Excellency."
"Then you are open to execute a mission for me."
"We know that you are very generous, your Excellency; will you tell us what it is, and if we can do it we will."
"The mission with which I wish to charge you is not difficult. I have a despatch to send to General Don Eusebio Moratín; if you could undertake this, I confess you would greatly serve me."
"And why should we refuse to charge ourselves with it, your Excellency?"
"I do not know; you know your own affairs better than I do, and you know if it is possible."
The partisan's proposition was all the more agreeable to the gauchos, as they wanted a pretext to introduce themselves to the general. This despatch would naturally make their path smoother; moreover, recommended by Zeno Cabral, they would awaken no suspicion, and were sure of being well received.
"Well," resumed Zeno Cabral, after a pause, "what do you say?"
"We will take the despatch, your Excellency."
"Bear in mind that it must be given to General Moratín himself."
"Hum! That is, perhaps, too much to exact," murmured the partisan to himself; "I am going to write the despatch by the light of the fire; and you will permit me to offer you ten ounces."
"We accept it with gratitude, your Excellency," joyously answered the gauchos.
Zeno Cabral drew from his alforjas a little travelling companion, containing ink, pens, and paper, and immediately proceeded with his despatch, which he then folded, sealed, and handed to Mataseis.
"Now," said he, "there are the ten ounces; I rely on your attention."
"Consider it as good as done, your Excellency," answered Mataseis, pocketing the money.
In a few minutes the three men wrapped themselves in their skins and blankets, stretched their feet towards the fire, and were soon asleep.
"If these fellows do not now succeed in being received by Moratín," said the partisan, "they must be very awkward."
When the gauchos awoke at break of day, they were alone; Zeno Cabral had gone, having taken French leave.
The gauchos easily reconciled themselves to this want of politeness; they were paid in advance, and very well paid too.
We will briefly say that they met General Moratín at Santiago del Estero, and that they found no difficulty in being incorporated in the general's escort.