CHAPTER XXVII

BUSINESS AND PLEASURE ON THE LLANOS

Venezuela--Don Ramon Paez--An extraordinary commission--Looking for Indians--Finding them--Native fishermen on the Orinoco--The _payara_ and the _caribe_--A vicious fish--In search of the three thousand wild horses--Business-like lassoing--The aide-de-camp's first attempt--The struggle with a wild horse--The race--Rescued by a Carib--Deer-hunting with masks 340

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

A Startling Experience Frontispiece PAGE A Gallant Rescue 20 A Narrow Escape 40 A Plucky Rescue 52 A Bully Well Served 64 A Game at Ball 76 The Snow-shoe Dance of the Red Indians 92 A Fierce Retort 126 Almost a Tragedy 186 Red Indian Attack on a Store 198 A Bison Surround 220 Stocking the Larder 234 A Primitive System of Telegraphy 286 A Novel Bridal Ceremony 298 An Arduous Task 312 Crane Stalking-Masks 346

ADVENTURES AMONG RED INDIANS