Connecticut western news., 1874-07-17
A RIDE FOR LIFE.

y is word for word true, written down as told me by the principal actor in it. Ii IS not very sensational one, as sensa- tion goes in South America but ] think it is interesting as showing what sort of adventures tamely-bred young sters go through when transplanted tc try sheep-farming in the far south.
 B. O." is the Anglicized abbrevia, tion of Banda Oriental, as " R. A." is of Republica Argentina, the two being those large tracts of pastoral country on either side of the Rio de Ia Plata, the open uncultivated parts of which are called in English parlance the "camp," free translation of the Span ish word " campo" or country, and an swering to the Australian bush"
 It was lovely morning in the depth of winter, one of those we so often see in those countries when a hard hoar- frost has fallen during the night, and the whole camp, as far as the eye can reach, is a sheet of pure white rime. Even the trees belting the Santa Lucia river were that morning lightly frosted over, an event of rare occurrence, and denoting an exceptionally severe cold The effect was perfect; but I don't think was quite in the mood to ap preciate it. You'll easily understand why in moment.
 At the time I'm telling you about, the revolution stirred up by the " Blancos (the White or Conservative party) ha6 been dragging on it's "fght-and-run. away" tactics for more than a year and horses, considered by the wild and undisciplined soldiery of both Govern ment and Revolutionists as articulo dt guerra, or any ones property, were getting awfully scarce. I had dwindled down to being the possessor of one solitary mount" very fair specimen of his kind, which I valued more al that time than all the Blink Bonnys and Gladiateurs that were ever foaled. You see I knew too we'll that without him my focks would stray nc one knows where; I should be unable to kill COW or bullock for home con. sumption or, in fact, save my life in more ways than one.
 He was kept locked up right care. fully in room of my house every night; and out of that room took and saddled him at sunrise of this eventful day, with the intention of sallying out in searcL of any waif or stray in the shape of horsefesh that it might be my good 1usk to come across (when a fel. low has been robbed of all his horses, it's hard if he mayn't suppose that any odd screw he may find about is part oi his missing property), with which tc hunt back such of my cattle, or brood mares, as might have strayed too fal into neighbors' land.
 Up in the Sierras of Minas it had rained heavily some days before, and g large volume of water had come down the Santa Lucia river, which in its nor. nal state is not at all formidable but which, after the heavy rains of winter, shows a wonderful capacity for swal lowing up any unfortunate individual who, not being much of 8 swimmer dares to brave it's strong current and curling eddies. In front of my house the lords were too deep and the cur. rents too rapid for any one, not on { matter of life or death, to attempt pass Ing over so I mounted my horse, an6 quietly trotted upstream over the long rolling hills, for six or seven miles, to { ford called ''Paso de Ia Calera, 9 whicf I knew would be just at depth to al low me (kneeling on my saddle) tt cross over on my horse-poaching expe dition.
 We carry out the adage of "All's fail in love or war" to the fullest extent as regards horsefesh-th is, if the ami nal be not marked with friend ol neighbours brand.
 got over safely, and dismounted tc allow my horse to shake and partially dry himself before continuing my some what dangerous quest; for not having seen any acquaintances from that side of the river for many days, was en tirely ignorant as to what military forces might be down there, or whether they were Blancos or Colorados. knew there was small force somewhere about for I had seen from my house groups of horsemen, varying from three to eight or ten, moving in the distance for some days past.
 Naturally, kept on the low ground first, because I knew any aninRsls would be most likely to be there, as the sweetest grasses grow in the low, damI ground near the river and, secondly because I could better avoid being seer by scouts, who are generally sent out from the encampment at dawn, to re connoitre from the highest points fol any sign of an enemy.
 The slight breeze was quite chilly although the warmth of the sun as il rose higher was gradually melting the frost-so, feeling that both myself an6 horse would feel the advantage of a lit tie spurt, set off at g gallop towards { bend in the river where T. espied two ol three horses evidently enjoying a feec of "granilla," the sweetest grass the country produces and thinking should make good haul, went right at them, when, to my astonishment, ou of clnmp of trees came shout "Atto ahi 7" (Halt, there), and Ipullet up short on discovering group O about twenty five men. There was moth