"It seems that is my vocation."
Pedrito led Mercedes to the house he had referred to, warmly recommended her to the hostess, and then turned into a street, in the middle of which a large fire was burning, and several men reposing round it, wrapped in their cloaks. The bombero roughly shook the foot of one of the sleepers.
"Come, come, Patito," he said to him, "up with you, my boy, and gallop to the Estancia of San Julian."
"Why, I have just come from there," the gaucho muttered, yawning and rubbing his eyes.
"The better reason; you must know the road. It is Doña Concha who sends you."
"If the señorita wishes it, of course," Patito said, whom the name thoroughly aroused; "what am I to do?"
"Mount your horse and carry this letter to Don Valentine; it is an important letter, you understand?"
"Very good."
"Let nobody take it from you."
"Of course not."