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Out on the pampas, or, The young settlers
Out on the pampas or The young settlers Author:G. A. Henty Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. A NEW LIFE. IDE was fortunately high, and the boat containing the Hardys and the lighter portion of their luggage was able to get up to the la... more »nding place without the carts being called into use. As they approached the land they were hailed in a hearty voice, and greetings were exchanged between Mr. Hardy and his friend Mr. Thompson—a sunburnt-looking man with a great beard—in a Panama hat and in a suit of spotless white. 1 Why, Mrs. Hardy,' he said as they landed, ' you hardly look a day older than you did when I last saw you—let me see—fourteen years ago, just as this big fellow was beginning to walk. And now, if you please, we will be off as soon as we can, for my estancia is fifteen miles away. I have made the best arrangements I could for getting out; but roads are not a strong point in this country, and we seldom trust ourselves in Mr. Thompsons Kind Attention. 33 wheeled vehicles far out of the town. You told me in your letters, Hardy, that the young people could all ride. I have horses in any number, and have got in two Very quiet ones, with side-saddles, which I borrowed from some neighbours for your girls; but if they prefer it, they can ride in the trap with Mrs. Hardy.' ' Oh no, please,' Maud said; ' I had much rather ride.' Ethel said nothing, and her mamma saw that she would rather go with her. Accordingly, Mrs. Hardy, Ethel, Sarah, and some of the lighter bags were packed into a light carriage, Mr. Thompson himself taking tha reins, as he said he could not trust them to any one but himself. Mr. Hardy, the boys, and Maud mounted tke horses prepared for them, and two of Mr. Thompson's men stowed the heavier trunks into a bullock-cart, which was to start at once,"but which would not reach the estancia until late at night. As the part...« less