The tower, they all agreed, was an especial
feature. It was built of adobe up to the height of the other walls,
but the upper story had been built of bricks two thick and laid in
mortar. The top had been embattled; and the boys laughed, and said
the house looked exactly like a little dissenting chapel at home.
It was a joyful day when a fire was first lighted in the kitchen
chimney, which, with that in the sitting-room, was lined with
bricks; and the whole party sat down to a dinner of mutton and wild
fowl of three or four sorts.
The same evening Mr. Hardy told the boys that he should start the
next day to bring up their mamma and the girls, who were all
getting very impatient indeed to be out upon the pampas. He
explained to them that he should bring up iron bedsteads with bedding,
but that he relied upon them to increase their stock of
tables and benches, and to put up shelves, which would do until
regular cupboards and closets could be made. Mr. Hardy thought that
he should not be away much more than a week, as, by making a long
ride to Rosario the next day he should catch the boat, which left
the following morning for Buenos Ayres; and as he had already
written to Mr. Thompson saying when he should probably arrive,
there would be no time lost.
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