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by a tarantula； poisoned by a rattlesnake； assaulted by a stage…
robber； nor anything of that sort。 You have all read my story of
crossing the plains。 I even did that in a comparatively easy and
unheroic fashion。 I only wish； my dear girls and boys； that we had
with us some one of the brave and energetic men and women who made
that terrible journey at the risk of their lives。 The history of the
California Crusaders； the thirty thousand or more emigrants who
crossed the plains in '48； more than equals the great military
expeditions of the Middle Ages； in magnitude； peril； and adventure。
Some went by way of Santa Fe and along the hills of the Gila； others；
starting from Red River； traversed the Great Stake Desert and went
from El Paso del Norte to Sonora； others went through Mexico； and；
after spending over a hundred days at sea； ran into San Diego and
gave up their vessels； others landed exhausted with their seven
months' passage round the Horn； and some reached the spot on foot
after walking the whole length of the California peninsula。'
'What privations they must have suffered！' said Mrs。 Howard。 'I
never quite realised it。'
'Why； the amount of suffering that was endured in those mountain
passes and deserts can never be told in words。 Those who went by the
Great Desert west of the Colorado found a stretch of burning salt
plains； of shifting hills of sand； with bones of animals and men
scattered along the trails； of terrible and ghastly odours rising in
the hot air from the bodies of hundreds of mules； and human creatures
too； that lay half…buried in the glaring white sand。 A terrible
journey indeed； but if any State in the Union could be fair enough；
fertile enough； and rich enough to repay such a lavish expenditure of
energy and suffering； California certainly was and is the one。 Now
who can tell us something of the name 〃California〃？ You； Geoffrey？'
'Geoffrey has crammed！' exclaimed Bell； maliciously。 'I believe he's
been reading up all day and told papa what question to ask him！'
'I'll pass it on to you if you like；' laughed Geoffrey。
'Noyou'd never get another that you could answer！ Go on！'
'In 1534； one Hernando de Grijalva was sent by Hernando Cortez to
discover something or other； and it was probably he who then saw the
peninsula of California； but a quarter of a century before this a
romance called Esplandian had appeared in Spain； narrating the
adventures of an Amazonian queen who brought allies from 〃the right
hand of the Indies〃 to assist the infidels in their attack upon
Constantinopleby the way I forgot to say that she was a pagan。
This queen of the Amazons was called Calafia； and her kingdom； rich
in gold and precious stones； was named California。 The writer of the
romance derived this name； perhaps； from Calif； a successor of
Mohammed。 He says： 〃Know that on the right hand of the Indies there
is an island named California； very close to the Terrestial Paradise；
and it was peopled by black women without any man among them； for
they lived in the fashion of the Amazonia。 They were of strong and
hardy bodies； of ardent courage； and of great force。 Their island
was the strongest in all the world； with its steep cliffs and rocky
shore。 Their arms were all of gold； and so was the harness of the
wild beasts which they tamed and rode。 For in the whole island there
was no metal but gold。 They lived in caves wrought out of the rocks
with much labour； and they had many ships with which they sailed out
to other countries to obtain booty。〃 Cortez and Grijalva believed
that they were near the coast of Asia； for they had no conception of
the size of the world nor of the vastness of the Pacific Ocean； and
as the newly…discovered land corresponded with the country described
in the romance； they named the peninsula California。'
'My book；' said Philip； 'declared that the derivation of the name was
very uncertain； and that it was first bestowed on one of the coast
bays by Bernal Diaz。'
'Now； Philip！' exclaimed Margery； 'do you suppose we are going to
believe that； after Geoff's lovely story？'
'Certainly not； I only thought I'd permit you to hear both sides。 I
knew of course that you would believe the prettier story of the two
girls always do！'
'That isn't a 〃pretty story〃your remark； I mean； so we won't
believe it； will we； girls？' asked Bell。
'Now； Polly； your eyes sparkle as if you couldn't wait another
minute； your turn next；' said Dr。 Winship。
'I am only afraid that I can't remember my contribution； which is
really Bell's and still more really Pancho's； for he told it to us；
and Bell translated it and made it into a story。 We call it
〃Valerio； or； The Mysterious Mountain Cave。〃'
'Begins well！' exclaimed Jack。
'Now； Jack； you must be nice。 Remember this is Bell's story； and she
is letting me tell it so that I can bear my share in the
entertainment。'
'Pancho believes every word of it；' added Bell； 'and says that his
father told it to him； but as I had to change it from bad Spanish
into good English； I don't know whether I've caught the idea
exactly。'
'Oh； it will do quite nicely； I've no doubt；' said Jack；
encouragingly。 'We've often heard you do good English into bad
Spanish； and turn and turn about is only fair play。 Don't mind me；
Polly； I will be gentle！'
'Jack； if you don't behave yourself I'll send you to bed；' said
Elsie； and he ducked his head obediently into her lap； as Polly； with
her hands clasping her knees； and with the firelight dancing over her
bright face； leaned forward and told the Legend of
VALERIO； OR； THE MYSTERIOUS MOUNTAIN CAVE。
'A long time ago； before the settlement of Santa Barbara by the
whites； the Mission padres had a great many Indians under their
control； who were known as peons； or serfs。 They were given enough
to eat； were not molested by the outside Indians； and were entirely
peaceable。 There were so few mountain passes by which to enter Santa
Barbara that they were easily held； and of course the padres were
anxious to keep their Indians from running away； lest they should
show the wilder tribes the way to get in and commit depredations。
These peaceable Indians paid tribute to intermediary tribes to hold
the passes and do their fighting。 Those about the Mission gave corn
and cereals and hides and the products of the sea； and got in
exchange pinones （pine nuts）。 One of these Indians； named Valerio；
was a strong； brave； handsome youth； whose haughty spirit revolted at
his servitude； and； after seeking an opportunity for many weeks he
finally escaped to the Santa Ynez mountains； where he found a cave in
which he hid himself； drawing himself up by a rope and taking it in
after him。 The Indians had unlimited belief in Valerio's mysterious
and wonderful powers。 Pancho says that he could make himself
invisible at will； that locks and keys were powerless against him；
and that no one could hinder his taking money； horses； or food。 All
sorts of things disappeared mysteriously by day and by night； and the
robberies were one and all laid to the door of Valerio。 But after a
while Valerio grew lonely in his mountain retreat。 He lo