flying two or three yards through the air, descending with a heavy
thud upon the soft ground.

He was up in a moment, unhurt, except for a knock on the eye
against his gun, which he was carrying before him; and after a
minute's rueful look he joined heartily in the shouts of laughter
of his father and brother at his expense, "Ah, Charley, brag is a
good dog, but holdfast is a better. I never saw a more literal
proof of the saying. There, jump up again, and I need not say look
out for holes."

They were soon off again, but this time at a more moderate pace.
This fall was not, by a very long way, the only one which they had
before they had been six months upon the plains; for the armadillos
were most abundant, and in the long grass it was impossible to see
their holes. In addition to the armadillos, the ground is in many
paces honeycombed by the bischachas, which somewhat in size and
appearance resemble rabbits, and by a little burrowing owl.

The Hardys soon crossed a little stream, running east to fall into
the main stream, which formed the boundary of the property upon
that side; and Mr. Hardy told the boys that they were now upon
their own land. There was another hurrah, and then, regardless of
the risk of falls, they dashed up to the little clump of trees,
which stood upon slightly rising ground. Here they drew rein, and
looked round upon the country which was to be their home. As far as
the eye could reach a flat plain, with a few slight elevations and
some half-dozen trees, extended. The grass was a brilliant green,
for it was now the month of September. Winter was over, and the
plain, refreshed by the rains, wore a bright sheet of green,