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           Tallgrassblockedthemup,andtheywereinvolvedintheperilbeforetheywereaware.

           Thesebogshadalreadyprovedfataltomorethanonelivingthing,forRobert,whohadgotagoodbitaheadoftheparty,camerushingbackatfullgallop,callingout:

           "MonsieurPaganel,MonsieurPaganel,aforestofhorns."

           "What!"exclaimedthegeographer;"youhavefoundaforestofhorns?"

           "Yes,yes,oratanyrateacoppice."

           "Acoppice!"repliedPaganel,shrugginghisshoulders."Myboy,youaredreaming."

           "Iamnotdreaming,andyouwillseeforyourself.Well,thisisastrangecountry.Theysowhorns,andtheysproutuplikewheat.IwishIcouldgetsomeoftheseed."

           "Theboyisreallyspeakingseriously,"saidtheMajor.

           "Yes,Mr.Major,andyouwillsoonseeIamright."

           Theboyhadnotbeenmistaken,forpresentlytheyfoundthemselvesinfrontofanimmensefieldofhorns,regularlyplantedandstretchingfaroutofsight.Itwasacompletecopse,lowandclosepacked,butastrangesort.

           "Well,"saidRobert.

           "Thisispeculiarcertainly,"saidPaganel,andheturnedroundtoquestionThalcaveonthesubject.

           "Thehornscomeoutoftheground,"repliedtheIndian,"buttheoxenaredownbelow."

           "What!"exclaimedPaganel;"doyoumeantosaythatawholeherdwascaughtinthatmudandburiedalive?"

           "Yes,"saidthePatagonian.

           Andsoitwas.Animmenseherdhadbeensuffocatedsidebysideinthisenormousbog,andthiswasnotthefirstoccurrenceofthekindwhichhadtakenplaceintheArgentineplains.