A False Trail

           THESierraTandilrisesathousandfeetabovethelevelofthesea.Itisaprimordialchain—thatistosay,anteriortoallorganicandmetamorphiccreation.Itisformedofasemi-circularridgeofgneisshills,coveredwithfineshortgrass.ThedistrictofTandil,towhichithasgivenitsname,includesallthesouthoftheProvinceofBuenosAyres,andterminatesinariverwhichconveysnorthalltheRIOSthattaketheirriseonitsslopes.

           Aftermakingashortascentupthesierra,theyreachedtheposterngate,socarelesslyguardedbyanArgentinesentinel,thattheypassedthroughwithoutdifficulty,acircumstancewhichbetokenedextremenegligenceorextremesecurity.

           AfewminutesafterwardtheCommandantappearedinperson.Hewasavigorousmanaboutfiftyyearsofage,ofmilitaryaspect,withgrayishhair,andanimperiouseye,asfarasonecouldseethroughthecloudsoftobaccosmokewhichescapedfromhisshortpipe.HiswalkremindedPaganelinstantlyoftheoldsubalternsinhisowncountry.

           Thalcavewasspokesman,andaddressingtheofficer,presentedLordGlenarvanandhiscompanions.Whilehewasspeaking,theCommandantkeptstaringfixedlyatPaganelinratheranembarrassingmanner.Thegeographercouldnotunderstandwhathemeantbyit,andwasjustabouttointerrogatehim,whentheCommandantcameforward,andseizingbothhishandsinthemostfree-and-easyfashion,saidinajoyousvoice,inthemothertongueofthegeographer:

           "AFrenchman!"

           "Yes,aFrenchman,"repliedPaganel.

           "Ah!delightful!Welcome,welcome.