The boots are long and are made of undressed leather. They wear a
broad leathern belt, with pockets in it; in this a knife, too, is
always stuck. Upon _fete_ days they come out with gay silver
ornaments upon themselves and their horse-trappings. Their saddles
are very clumsy and heavy, and are seldom used by Europeans, who,
as Mr. Hardy had done, generally bring English saddles from home.
After an absence of a month Mr. Hardy returned with the welcome
news that he had made his choice, and had bought at the public
auction a tract of four square leagues, upon a river some twenty
miles to the south of the town of Rosario, and consequently only a
few days' journey from Buenos Ayres. Mr. Thompson looked a little
grave when he heard the location of the property, but he only said
that he was very glad that his friend had fixed upon a spot which
would make it easy for the families to see something of each other.
After the first greetings were over Mr. Hardy proceeded to satisfy
the curiosity of his hearers as to the new property.
"It is six miles square," he said, "that is, about twenty-five
thousand acres, and I bought it for about sixpence an acre. There
is a good-sized stream runs through it; there are a good many
trees, considering that it is out on the Pampas; there are several
elevations which give a fine view over the plain, and upon one of
these our future home will stand.
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