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front； so that he could escape neither way。 They finally succeeded
in lassoing the horse and throwing him to the ground with his rider；
who defended himself bravely with his knife； but was finally killed
and robbed； Juan taking his clothes and trappings； and the other two
dividing the contents of his purse。 They could not have buried their
victim as successfully as usual； or else they were surprised； and had
to escape； for the body was found； and Juan； whom the padres had
begun to view with suspicion； was nowhere to be found about the
Mission。 Troops were sent out in pursuit of him； for this particular
traveller was a high official； and it was necessary that his death
should be avenged。 They at last heard that Juan had been seen going
towards Santa Ynez Mission； and； pursuing him thither； they came upon
him as he was driving a band of horses into a corral； and just in the
act of catching his own horse； a noble and powerful animal； called
Azabache； because of his jet…black colour。 The men surrounded the
corral； and ordered him to surrender。 He begged them to wait until
he had saddled Azabache； and then they might shoot them both down
together。 He asked permission to call three times （pegar tres
gritos）； and after the third call they were to shoot。 His last wish
was granted。 He saddled and mounted his splendid horse； called once…
…twicethrice；but when the last shout faded in the air； and the
troops raised their muskets to fire； behold； there was no Juan de
Dios to be seen。 They had been surrounding the corral so that no one
could have ridden out； they looked among the horses； but Asabache was
nowhere to be found。
'Just then a joyous shout was heard； so ringing and triumphant that
every man turned in the direction from which it came。 There；
galloping up the hillside； nearly half a mile distant； was Juan de
Dios； mounted on his coal…black Azabache！ But it was no common
sunshine that deepened the gorgeous colours of his trappings and
danced upon his silver spurs till they glistened like two great
stars！ It was a broad； glittering stream of light such as no mortal
had ever seen before and which almost blinded the eyes； and over this
radiant path of golden sunbeams galloped Juan de Dios； until he
disappeared over the crest of the mountain。 Then the light faded；
the padres crossed themselves in silence and went home to their
Mission！ and Juan de Dios never was heard of more。'
Modest little Margery was hailed with such cheers that you could not
have seen her cheeks for the blushes； and； just as the party began to
think of forsaking the fascinating camp…fire for bed； Bell jumped up
impetuously and cried； 'Here； Philip； give me the castanets； please。
Polly and Jack； you play 〃Las Palomas〃 for me； and I'll sing and show
you the dance of that pretty Mexican girl whom I saw at the ball
given under the Big Grape Vine。 Wait till I take off my hair ribbon。
Lend me your scarf； mamma。 Now begin！'
LAS PALOMAS。 ｛2｝
（THE DOVES。）
Cua…tro pa…lo…mi…tas blan…cas que vie…
nen de por alla。 U…nas a las o…tras
di…cen no hay a…mor como el de a…ca。
It is barely possible； but not likely； that anything prettier than
Bell's Mexican danza was to be seen under the light of the September
stars that night； although they were doubtless shining down upon a
thousand lovely things。 With all the brightness of her loosened hair
rising and falling with the motion of her swaying figurewith her
twinkling feet； her crimson cheeks and parted lips； she looked the
very spirit of the dance； and her enrapturedaudience only allowed
her to stop when she was absolutely breathless。
'Oh what a beautiful evening！' exclaimed Elsie； when the celebration
was finally over。 'Was there ever such a dear； dear canyon with such
dear people in it！ If it only wouldn't rain and we could live here
for ever！'
'Rain； rain； stay away！
Come again another day；
Little Elsie wants to play；'
recited Polly； and then everybody went to their straw beds。
CHAPTER XI： BREAKING CAMP
'The thirsty earth soaks up the rain；
And drinks and gapes for drink again；
The plants suck in the earth and are；
With constant drinking； fresh and fair。'
But it did rain； and it didn't wait until they were out of the canyon
either。 It began long before the proper time； and it by no means
confined itself to a shower； but opened the winter season fully a
month before there was any need of it； and behaved altogether in a
most heartless and inconsiderate manner； like a very spoil…sport of a
rain。
It began after dark； so as to be just as disagreeable as possible；
and under the too slight cover of their tents the campers could hear
the rush and the roar of it like the tramping of myriad feet on the
leaves。 Pancho and the two Chinamen huddled under the broad
sycamores in their rubber blankets； and were dry and comfortable； but
all the waterproof tents leaked； save Elsie's。
But when it was dawn； the Sun； having heard nothing apparently of any
projected change in the weather； rose at the usual time in the most
resplendent fashionbrighter； rosier； and more gloriously； if you
will believe me； than he had risen that whole long sunshiny summer！
And he really must have felt paid for getting up at such an unearthly
hour in the morning； when； after he had clambered over the grey
mountain peaks； he looked down upon Las Flores Canyon； bathed in the
light of his own golden beams。
If he knew anything about Ancient History and Biblical Geographyand
if he didn't I don't know who should； inasmuch as he had been present
from the beginning of timehe must have thought it as fair as the
Garden of Eden； for Nature's face simply shone with cleanliness； like
that of a smiling child just fresh from its bath； and every leaf of
every tree glistened as he beamed upon it； and shook off its crystal
drops that he might turn them into diamonds。
'It was only a shower；' said Dr。 Winship； as he seated himself on a
damp board and partook of a moist breakfast； 'and with this sun the
tents will be dry before night； Elsie has caught no cold； the dust
will be laid； and we can stay another week with safety。'
Everybody was hilarious over this decision save the men…of…all…work；
who longed unspeakably for a less poetic existenceHop Yet
particularly； who thought camping out 'not muchee good。'
Dicky was more pleased than anybody； perhaps； as every day in the
canyon was one day less in school； not that he had ever been to
school； but he knew in advance； instinctively； that it wouldn't suit
him。 Accordingly； he sought the wettest possible places and played
all day with superhuman energy。 He finally found Hop Yet's box of
blueing under a tree； in a very moist and attractive state of
fluidity； and just before dinner improved the last shining hour by
painting himself a brilliant hue and appearing at dinner in such a
fiendish guise that he frightened the family into fits。
Now Dr。 Winship was one of the most weather…wise men in California；
and his predictions were always quite safe and sensible； but somehow
or other it did rain again in two or three days； and it poured harder
than ever； too。 To be sure；