The Trail-Hunter, by Gustave Aimard [Tr. by Sir F.C.L. Wraxall]. (Paperback)

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: had a lofty brow, a bent nose, small but piercing eyes, a large mouth, and square chin; in short, he presented the complete type of the Araucano race, which inhabits a limited territory in the south of Chili. This hunter had round his brow a purple-coloured fillet, in which was thrust over the right ear a plume of the Andes eagle, a sign which serves to distinguish the chiefs of the Aucas. These two men, whom the reader has doubtless already recognised, as they played an important part in our previously published works, were Valentine Guillois, ex-noncommissioned officer in the Spahis, and Curumilla, his friend?Ulmen of the GTreat Hare tribe. We will introduce a parenthesis to explain their present position, and which is indispensable for a right understanding of what follows. The moment is capitally selected, by the way, for opening this parenthesis; for the three hunters are gaily talking round their fire, the night is gloomy, the forest quiet, and it does not appear likely that anything will arise to disturb them. CHAPTER III. DON MIGUEL ZAEATE. Were Mexico better governed, ft would be, without contradiction, one of the richest countries on the face of the globe. Indeed, the largest private fortunes must still be sought in that country. Since the United States Americans have revealed to the world, by seizing one See "The Tiger Slayer," "Gold-Seekers," and "Indian Chief." Same publishers. half of Mexico, whither their ambition tends, the inhabitants of that fine country have slightly emerged from the torpor they enjoyed, and have made great efforts to colonise their provinces, and summon to their soil, which is so rich and fertile, intelligent and industrious labourers, who might change the face of affairs, and cause abundance and wealth to abound at spot...