.

That is the way I like a man." Desnoyers did not know exactly what this much-admired seriousness could be, but he felt a secret pride in seeing him aggressive with everybody else, even his family, whilst he took with him a tone of paternal bluffness.
The family consisted of his wife Misia Petrona (whom he always called the China) and two grown daughters who had gone to school in Buenos Aires, but on returning to the ranch had reverted somewhat to their original rusticity.
Madariaga's fortune was enormous.

He had lived in the field since his arrival in America, when the white race had not dared to settle outside the towns for fear of the Indians.

He had gained his first money as a fearless trader, taking merchandise in a cart from fort to fort.

He had killed Indians, was twice wounded by them, and for a while had lived as a captive with an Indian chief whom he finally succeeded in making his staunch friend.