"The States were mamma's," she murmured, and her father held her close and kissed her as he whispered, "Little Loyalty!"
FOOTNOTE:
[15] Owner of the plantation.
CHAPTER XI
THE FALLS OF IGUAZU
The morning dawned cool and pleasant. All were ready for an early start and there followed a week of delight for the children. The railway journey over, they took their way through the forests, over plains and across rivers. In some the hoofs of the horses or of the sure-footed little burros the children rode sank in the sand which covered the land as at one time the sea had covered it. Again, trees appeared, and at last they reached the virgin forest where monkeys scampered among the trees and the cries of parrots were heard in the air, as their brilliant plumage flashed in the sunlight.
At times the bridle path was so narrow that no two horses could have passed each other had they met.
Convolvulus and creeping plants encircled the huge trees, and, swaying in the breeze, long vines swung gracefully down, often forming natural swings in which the children delighted. At night the party camped in tents, the negro servants cooking wonderful meals from the game shot during the day.
The days were not too hot and at night a fire was often necessary, for when the terral[16] did not blow from the land the veracao[17] wafted zephyrs from the ocean. The air was laden with the subtle perfume of the magnolia and orange blossom, and life seemed an existence of pleasure and joy.