4。The-new-load-is-all-light-ee。
　　5。Thebay-lum-tlee-is-flesh-and-plitty。
　　Finally，whensheattemptedtointroducethesentence，'Aroundtheroughandruggedrocktheraggedrascalran，'HopYetrosehurriedly，remarking，'Alllightee；Igonomoreschooljus'now。Ilungetlunchee。'
　　Bellcamerunningdownthepathjustthen，andlinkingherarminPolly'ssaid，'Papahasthenicestplan。YouknowtheboysaresodisappointedthatColonelJacksondidn'taskthemovertothatrodeoathiscattleranch——thoughasummerrodeoisonlytosortoutfatcattletosell，anditisnotveryexciting；butpapapromisedtotellthemallabouttheold-fashionedkindsomenight，andhehasjustrememberedthatto-morrowisAdmissionDay，September9，soheproposesarealcelebrationroundthecamp-firetoamuseElsie。Shedoesn'tknowanythingaboutCaliforniaevenasitisnow，andnoneofusknowwhatitwasintheolddays。Don'tyouthinkitwillbefun?'
　　'Perfectlysplendid!'
　　'Andpapawantsuseachtocontributesomething。'
　　'Apicnic!——butIdon'tknowanything。'
　　'That'sjustwhatI'mcomingto。Ihavesuchabrightidea。Hesaidthatwemightlookinanyofhisbooks，butGeoffandJackareatthemalready，andI'dlikeasurprise。NowJuanCapistrano，anoldvaqueroofColonelJackson's，isoverhere。Heisawonderfulrider；
　　papasaysthathecouldrideonacomet，ifhecouldgetachancetomount。Itwashewhotoldtheboysthattherodeowasover。NowI
　　proposethatwegoandinterviewPanchoandJuan，andgetthemtotellussomeoldCaliforniastories。Theyarebothasstupidastheycanbe，buttheymusthavehadsomeadventures，Isuppose，somewhere，sometime。I'lltranslateandwritethethingsdown，formypart，andyouandMargerycantellthem。'
　　'Lovely!Oh，ifwecanonlygetanexcitinggrizzlystory，sothatEveryone'sblooduponenditwillstand，Andthehairruncoldintheirveins!
　　AndwasDr。PauloutherewhenCaliforniawasadmittedintotheUnion——1850，wasn'tit?'
　　'Ofcourse；why，mychild，hewasoneofthedelegatescalledbyGeneralRiley，themilitarygovernor，tomeetinconventionatMontereyandmakeaStateconstitution。ThatwasSeptember，too——thefirstdayofSeptember1849。HewentbacktotheEastsometimeafterwards，andstayedtenorfifteenyears；buthewasarealpioneerand"forty-niner"allthesame。
　　Thenextnight，September9th，wassocoolthatthecamp-firewasmorethanordinarilydelightful；accordinglytheypiledonmorewoodthanusual，andpreparedforagrandblaze。Itwasalwaysbuiltdirectlyinfrontofthesitting-roomtent，sothatMrs。HowardandMrs。Winshipcouldsitthereiftheyliked；buttheyoungpeoplepreferredtolielazilyontheircushionsandsaddlesundertheoak-
　　tree，alittledistancefromtheblaze。Theclear，redfirelightdancedandflickered，andthesparksroseintothesombredarknessfantastically，whiletheruddyglowmadethegreatoakanenchantedpalace，intowhosehollowdometheynevertiredofgazing。Whenthelightstreamedhighest，thebronzegreenofthefoliagewasturnedintocrimson，and，asitdiednowandthen，thestarswinkedbrightlythroughthethousandtinywindowsformedbytheinterlacingbranches。
　　'Well，'saidthedoctor，bringinghisChineselounging-chairintothecircle，andlightinghispipesoastobethoroughlyhappyandcomfortable，'willyoubanishdistinctionsofageandallowmetositamongyouthisevening?'
　　'Certainly，'Margerysaid；'that'stheverypointofthecelebration。
　　ThisisAdmissionDay，youknow，andwhyshouldn'tweadmityou?'
　　'True；andhavingputmyselfintoaholidayhumourbydiningoffPancho'sdishofguisadoIsupposeto-nightofallnightswemustcallbeefandonionstewbyitslocalname，Iwillproceedtobusiness，andwewilltalkaboutCalifornia。Bytheway，Ishallonlyconducttheexercises，forIfeelratherembarrassedbythefactthatI'veneverkilled，orbeenkilledby，abear，neverbeenbittenbyatarantula，poisonedbyarattlesnake，assaultedbyastage-
　　robber，noranythingofthatsort。Youhaveallreadmystoryofcrossingtheplains。Ievendidthatinacomparativelyeasyandunheroicfashion。Ionlywish，mydeargirlsandboys，thatwehadwithussomeoneofthebraveandenergeticmenandwomenwhomadethatterriblejourneyattheriskoftheirlives。ThehistoryoftheCaliforniaCrusaders，thethirtythousandormoreemigrantswhocrossedtheplainsin'48，morethanequalsthegreatmilitaryexpeditionsoftheMiddleAges，inmagnitude，peril，andadventure。
　　SomewentbywayofSantaFeandalongthehillsoftheGila；others，startingfromRedRiver，traversedtheGreatStakeDesertandwentfromElPasodelNortetoSonora；otherswentthroughMexico，and，afterspendingoverahundreddaysatsea，ranintoSanDiegoandgaveuptheirvessels；otherslandedexhaustedwiththeirsevenmonths'passageroundtheHorn；andsomereachedthespotonfootafterwalkingthewholelengthoftheCaliforniapeninsula。'
　　'Whatprivationstheymusthavesuffered!'saidMrs。Howard。'I
　　neverquiterealisedit。'
　　'Why，theamountofsufferingthatwasenduredinthosemountainpassesanddesertscanneverbetoldinwords。ThosewhowentbytheGreatDesertwestoftheColoradofoundastretchofburningsaltplains，ofshiftinghillsofsand，withbonesofanimalsandmenscatteredalongthetrails；ofterribleandghastlyodoursrisinginthehotairfromthebodiesofhundredsofmules，andhumancreaturestoo，thatlayhalf-buriedintheglaringwhitesand。Aterriblejourneyindeed；butifanyStateintheUnioncouldbefairenough，fertileenough，andrichenoughtorepaysuchalavishexpenditureofenergyandsuffering，Californiacertainlywasandistheone。Nowwhocantellussomethingofthename"California"?You，Geoffrey?'
　　'Geoffreyhascrammed!'exclaimedBell，maliciously。'Ibelievehe'sbeenreadingupalldayandtoldpapawhatquestiontoaskhim!'
　　'I'llpassitontoyouifyoulike，'laughedGeoffrey。
　　'No——you'dnevergetanotherthatyoucouldanswer!Goon!'
　　'In1534，oneHernandodeGrijalvawassentbyHernandoCorteztodiscoversomethingorother，anditwasprobablyhewhothensawthepeninsulaofCalifornia；butaquarterofacenturybeforethisaromancecalledEsplandianhadappearedinSpain，narratingtheadventuresofanAmazonianqueenwhobroughtalliesfrom"therighthandoftheIndies"toassisttheinfidelsintheirattackuponConstantinople——bythewayIforgottosaythatshewasapagan。
　　ThisqueenoftheAmazonswascalledCalafia，andherkingdom，richingoldandpreciousstones，wasnamedCalifornia。Thewriteroftheromancederivedthisname，perhaps，fromCalif，asuccessorofMohammed。Hesays:"KnowthatontherighthandoftheIndiesthereisanislandnamedCalifornia，veryclosetotheTerrestialParadise，anditwaspeopledbyblackwomenwithoutanymanamongthem，fortheylivedinthefashionoftheAmazonia。Theywereofstrongandhardybodies，ofardentcourage，andofgreatforce。Theirislandwasthestrongestinalltheworld，withitssteepcliffsandrockyshore。Theirarmswereallofgold，andsowastheharnessofthewildbeastswhichtheytamedandrode。Forinthewholeislandtherewasnometalbutgold。Theylivedincaveswroughtoutoftherockswithmuchlabour，andtheyhadmanyshipswithwhichtheysailedouttoothercountriestoobtainbooty。"CortezandGrijalvabelievedthattheywerenearthecoastofAsia，fortheyhadnoconceptionofthesizeoftheworldnorofthevastnessofthePacificOcean；andasthenewly-discoveredlandcorrespondedwiththecountrydescribedintheromance，theynamedthepeninsulaCalifornia。'
　　'Mybook，'saidPhilip，'declaredthatthederivationofthenamewasveryuncertain，andthatitwasfirstbestowedononeofthecoastbaysbyBernalDiaz。'
　　'Now，Philip!'exclaimedMargery，'doyousupposewearegoingtobelievethat，afterGeoff'slovelystory?'
　　'Certainlynot；IonlythoughtI'dpermityoutohearbothsides。I
　　knewofcoursethatyouwouldbelievetheprettierstoryofthetwo——
　　girlsalwaysdo!'
　　'Thatisn'ta"prettystory"——yourremark，Imean，sowewon'tbelieveit；willwe，girls?'askedBell。
　　'Now，Polly，youreyessparkleasifyoucouldn'twaitanotherminute；yourturnnext，'saidDr。Winship。
　　'IamonlyafraidthatIcan'tremembermycontribution，whichisreallyBell'sandstillmorereallyPancho's，forhetoldittous，andBelltranslateditandmadeitintoastory。Wecallit"Valerio；or，TheMysteriousMountainCave。"'
　　'Beginswell!'exclaimedJack。
　　'Now，Jack，youmustbenice。RememberthisisBell'sstory，andsheislettingmetellitsothatIcanbearmyshareintheentertainment。'
　　'Panchobelieveseverywordofit，'addedBell，'andsaysthathisfathertoldittohim；butasIhadtochangeitfrombadSpanishintogoodEnglish，Idon'tknowwhetherI'vecaughttheideaexactly。'
　　'Oh，itwilldoquitenicely，I'venodoubt，'saidJack，encouragingly。'We'veoftenheardyoudogoodEnglishintobadSpanish，andturnandturnaboutisonlyfairplay。Don'tmindme，Polly；Iwillbegentle!'
　　'Jack，ifyoudon'tbehaveyourselfI'llsendyoutobed，'saidElsie；andheduckedhisheadobedientlyintoherlap，asPolly，withherhandsclaspingherknees，andwiththefirelightdancingoverherbrightface，leanedforwardandtoldtheLegendofVALERIO；OR，THEMYSTERIOUSMOUNTAINCAVE。
　　'Alongtimeago，beforethesettlementofSantaBarbarabythewhites，theMissionpadreshadagreatmanyIndiansundertheircontrol，whowereknownaspeons，orserfs。Theyweregivenenoughtoeat，werenotmolestedbytheoutsideIndians，andwereentirelypeaceable。ThereweresofewmountainpassesbywhichtoenterSantaBarbarathattheywereeasilyheld，andofcoursethepadreswereanxioustokeeptheirIndiansfromrunningaway，lesttheyshouldshowthewildertribesthewaytogetinandcommitdepredations。
　　ThesepeaceableIndianspaidtributetointermediarytribestoholdthepassesanddotheirfighting。ThoseabouttheMissiongavecornandcerealsandhidesandtheproductsofthesea，andgotinexchangepinonespinenuts。OneoftheseIndians，namedValerio，wasastrong，brave，handsomeyouth，whosehaughtyspiritrevoltedathisservitude，and，afterseekinganopportunityformanyweekshefinallyescapedtotheSantaYnezmountains，wherehefoundacaveinwhichhehidhimself，drawinghimselfupbyaropeandtakingitinafterhim。TheIndianshadunlimitedbeliefinValerio'smysteriousandwonderfulpowers。Panchosaysthathecouldmakehimselfinvisibleatwill，thatlocksandkeyswerepowerlessagainsthim；
　　andthatnoonecouldhinderhistakingmoney，horses，orfood。Allsortsofthingsdisappearedmysteriouslybydayandbynight，andtherobberieswereoneandalllaidtothedoorofValerio。ButafterawhileValeriogrewlonelyinhismountainretreat。Helongedforhumancompanionship，andatlength，becomingdesperate，hedescendedontheMissionsettlementandkidnappedayoungIndianboynamedChito，tookhimtohiscave，andadmittedhimintohiswildandlawlesslife。ButChitowasnotcontented。Helikedhomeandcomfortableslaverybetterthanthenew，strangelife；soheseizedthefirstopportunity，andbeingabright，daringlittlelad，andfleetoffoot，heescapedandmadehiswaytotheMission。ArrivingtherehetoldwonderfulstoriesofValerioandhislife；howhismarvellouswhitemareseemedtofly，ratherthangallop，andleapedfromrocktorocklikeachamois；andhowtheyliveduponwheat-
　　bread，cheeses，wine，andotherdelicaciesinsteadofthecoarsefareoftheIndians。Hetoldthemthelocationofthecaveanddescribedthewaythither；sotheAlcaldehewasthemayororjudge，youknow，Elsie，gotoutthetroopswiththeirmuskets，andthepadresgatheredtheMissionIndianswiththeirbowsandarrows，andtheyallstartedinpursuitoftheoutlaw。Amongthetroopsweretwohechiceroswizardsormedicine-men，whosebowedshouldersandgrizzledbeardsshowedthemtobemenofmanyyearsandmuchwisdom。
　　Whenaskedtogivetheiradvice，theydeclaredthatValeriocouldnotbekilledbyanyordinaryweapons，butthatspecialmeansmustbeusedtobeofanyavailagainsthissupernaturalpowers。
　　Accordingly，oneofthehechicerosbrokeofftheheadofhisarrow，castacharmoverit，andpredictedthatthiswoulddealthefatalblow。ThepartystartedoutwithChitoasaguide，and，aftermanymilesofwearisometravelupruggedmountainsidesandoversteepandalmostimpassablemountaintrails，theypausedatthebaseofacliff，andsaw，faruptheheight，themouthofValerio'scave，and，whatwasmore，Valeriohimselfsittinginthedoorwayfastasleep。
　　Alas!hehadbeendrinkingtooheavilyofhisstolenwine，orhewouldneverhavesoexposedhimselftotheenemy。Theyfiredavolleyathim。Oneshotonlytookeffect，andeventhiswouldnothavebeenpossiblesavethatthespellwasnotuponhimbecauseofhissleep；buttheoneshotwokehimand，halfrising，hestaggeredandfellfromthemouthofthecavetoaledgeofrocksbeneath。Hesprangtohisfeetinasecondandranlikeadeertowardsatreewherehiswhitemarewasfastened。Theyfiredanothervolley，but，thoughtheshotsflewineverydirection，Valeriopassedonunharmed；
　　butjustashewasdisappearingfromviewthehechiceroraisedhisbowandtheheadlessarrowwhizzedthroughspaceandpiercedhimthroughtheheart。Theyclamberedupthecliffswithshoutsoftriumphandsurroundedhimoneveryside，butpoorValeriohadsurrenderedtoamorepowerfulenemythanthey!Wonderfultorelate，hestillbreathed，thoughthewoundshouldhavebeeninstantlyfatal。
　　Theyliftedhimfromthegroundandtiedhimonhissnow-whitemare，hislonghairreachingalmosttotheground，hishandsomefaceaspaleasdeath，thebloodtricklingfromhiswound；butthemysteriouspowerthathepossessedseemedtokeephimaliveinspiteofhissuffering。Finallyoneofthehechicerosdecidedthatthespelllayinthebuckskincordthatheworeabouthisthroat——aroughsortofnecklacehungwithbears'clawsandsnakerattles——andthatheneverwoulddieuntilthemagiccordwascut。This，aftersomeconsultation，wasdone。Valeriodrewhislastbreathasitpartedasunder，andtheyborehisdeadbodyhomeintriumphtotheMission。
　　'Butheisnotforgotten。Storiesarestilltoldofhiswonderfuldeeds，andpeoplestillgoinsearchofmoneythatheissupposedtohavehiddeninhiscave。TheMexicanwomenwhotellsuertes，orfortunes，describethelocationofthemoney；but，assoonasanyonereachesthecave，heiswarnedawaybyalittleoldmanwhostandsinthedoorandprotectstheburiedtreasure。AnIndianlad，whowasridingoverthehillsonedaywithhishorseandhisdogs，dismountedtosearchforhismoccasin，whenhesuddenlynoticedthatthedogshadchasedsomethingintoacaveintherocks。Hefollowed，and，peeringintothedarkness，sawtwogleamingeyes。Hethrusthisknifebetweenthem，butstrucktheair；and，thoughhehadbeenstandingdirectlyinfrontoftheopening，sothatnothingcouldhavepassedhim，yetheheardtheclatterofhoofsandthetinkleofspurs，and，turning，sawamysterioushorseman，whosepalefaceandstreaminghairmeltedintothemountainmist，asitfloateddownfromthepurpleSantaYnezpeaksintothelapofthevine-coveredfoot-
　　hillsbelow。'
　　CHAPTERX:MORECAMP-FIRESTORIES
　　'Andstilltheywatchedtheflickeringoftheblaze，Andtalkedtogetherofthegoodolddays。'
　　'Brava!''Bravissima!''Splendid，Polly!'exclaimedtheboys。
　　'Bell，you'reagreatauthor!'
　　'Couldn'thavedonebettermyself——giveyoumyword!'criedJack，bowingprofoundlytoBellandPollyinturn，andpresentingthemwithbouquetsoffadedleaveshastilygatheredfromtheground。
　　'Pollycoveredherselfwithglory，'saidthedoctor；'andIamveryproudofyourpartinit，too，mylittledaughter。IhavesomeknowledgeofPancho'scapabilitiesasanarrator，andIthinkthe"StoryofValerio"owesagooddealtoyou。Now，whocomesnext?
　　Margery?'
　　'No，please，'saidMargery，'forIhaveanotherstory。Takeoneoftheboys，andlet'shavemorefacts。'
　　'Yes，somethinghistoricandprofound，outoftheencyclopaedia，fromJack，'saidPolly，saucily。
　　'Thanks，MissOliver。Withyouforanaudienceanymanmightbeinspired；but——'
　　'ButnotaBOY?'
　　'Mother，dear，removethatchildfrommysight，orIshallcertainlyshakeher!Phil，goon，justtokeepPollyquiet。'
　　'Verywell。BeingtheoldestCalifornianpresent，I——'
　　'WhataboutDr。Paul?'askedtheirrepressiblePolly。
　　'Hewasn'tbornhere，'respondedPhilip，dryly，'andIwas。'
　　'Ithinkthat'saquibble，'interruptedBell。'Papawasheretwentyyearsbeforeyouwere。'
　　'It'snotmyfaultthathecamefirst，'answeredPhilip。'MargeryandIarenotonlytheoldestCalifornianspresent，buttheonlyones。Isn'tthatso，sir?'
　　'Quitecorrect。'
　　'Oh，ifyoumeanthatway，Isupposeyouare；butstillpapahelpedframetheConstitution，andwashereonthefirstAdmissionDay，andwasoneoftheVigilantes——andIthinkthatmakeshimmoreofarealCalifornianthanyou。You'vejust"grownupwiththecountry。"'
　　'Blessmysoul!WhatelsecouldIdo?IwouldhavebeengladtoframetheConstitution，admittheState，andserveontheVigilanceCommittee，iftheyhadonlywaitedforme；buttheywentstraightaheadwiththebusiness，andwhenIwasborntherewasnothingtodobutstandroundandcriticisewhattheyhaddone，or，asyouexpressit，"growupwiththecountry。"Well，asIwassayingwhenIwasinterrupted——'
　　'Begpardon。'
　　'Don'tmentionit。UncleDochasaskedmetotellMrs。HowardandElsiehowtheycarriedontherodeostenorfifteenyearsago。OfcourseIwasonlyalittlechap'——'VERYlittle，'murmuredhissister——'butnevertoosmalltostickonahorse，andmyfatherusedoftentotakemealong。Therodeosnowadaysareneitherasgreatoccasions，norasexcitingones，astheyusedtobe；butthisisthewayarodeoismanaged。Whenthespringrainsaremostlyover，andthegrassisfine，——sayinApril——therancheroofacertainranchsendswordtoallhisneighboursthathewillholdarodeoonacertaindayordays。Ofcoursethecattleusedtostrayalloverthecountry，andgetbadlymixed，astherewerenofences；sotherodeowasheldforthepurposeofseparatingthecattleandbrandingthecalvesthathadneverbeenmarked。
　　'Theownersofthevariousranchesassemblethenightbefore，bringingtheirvaqueroswiththem。Theystartoutveryearlyinthemorning，havinghadacupofcoffee，andridetothe"rodeo-ground，"
　　whichisanyflat，convenientplacewherecanyonsconverge。Manyofthecattleonthehillsroundaboutknowtheplace，havingbeentherebefore，andthevaquerosstartafterthemanddrivethemtothespot。'
　　'Howmanyvaqueroswouldtherebe?'askedElsie。
　　'Oh，nineorten，perhaps；andoftenfromonethousandtothreethousandcattle——itdependsonthenumberofranchesandcattlerepresented。Someofthevaquerosformacircleroundthecattlethattheyhavedriventotherodeo-ground，andholdthemtherewhileothersgobacktotheranchforbreakfastandfreshhorses。'
　　'Freshhorsessosoon?'saidMrs。Howard。'Ithoughtthemustangsweretough，hardylittlebeasts，thatwouldgoalldaywithoutdropping。'
　　'Yes，sotheyare；butyoualwayshavetobeginto"partout"thecattlewiththefreshestandbest-trainedhorsesyouhave。Theownersandtheirbestvaquerosnowgointotheimmensebandofcattle，andtrytogetthecowsandtheunbrandedcalvesseparatedfromtherest。Youcanimaginewhatskilfulengineeringthistakes，eventhoughyouneversawit。Twoworktogether；theystartacertaincowandcalfandworkthemthroughthebandofcattleuntiltheyneartheoutside，andthen"rush"themtoaplacethreeorfourhundredyardsbeyond，whereothervaquerosarestationedtoreceiveandholdthem。Ofcoursethecattledon'twanttoleavetheband，andofcoursetheydon'twanttostayinthespottowhichtheyaredriven。'
　　'Idon'tblamethem!'criedBellimpetuously。'Probablythecowsrememberthetimewhentheywerebrandedthemselves，andtheydon'twanttheirdearlittlebossiesputthroughthesameoperation。'
　　'Verylikely。Thenmorecowsandcalvesarestartedinthesameway；
　　thegreatestdifficultybeinghadwiththefirstlot，forthecattlealwaysstaymorecontentedlytogetherasthegroupgrowslarger。
　　Occasionallyone"breaks"andrunsoffonthehills，andavaquerostartsafterhim，throwsthereataandlassoshim，or"lass's"him，astheCaliforniaboyssay。'
　　'Theremustbefrightfulaccidents，'saidMrs。Winship。
　　'Yes；butnotsomanyasyouwouldsuppose，forthehorsemanship，initsparticularway，issomethingwonderful。Whenanuglysteerislassoedandhefeelsthereataorlariatroundhisneck，hesometimesturnsand"makes"forthehorse，andunlessthevaqueroisparticularlyskilfulhewillbegoredandhishorsetoo；buthegivesadexterousturntothelariat，theanimalstepsoverit，getstangledandthrown。Frequentlyananimalbreaksahornoraleg。
　　Sometimesonefallisnotenough；thesteerjumpsupandpursuesthehorse。Thenthevaquerokeepsalittleaheadofhimandleadshimbacktotherodeo-ground，whereanothervaquerolassoshimbythehindlegsandthrowshim，whilethereataistakenoffhisneck。'
　　'Thereisanotherdanger，too，'addedDr。Winship。'Thevaquerowindsthereataverytightlyroundthepommelofhissaddletoholdthesteer，andheislikelytohavehisfingercaughtinthehair-
　　ropeandcutoff。'
　　'Yes，Iforgotthat。TwoorthreeofthefamousoldvaquerosaboutSantaBarbara——JoseMaria，JoseAntonio，andoldClemente——haveeachlostafinger。Well，thevaquerosatlengthforminacircleroundthebandofselectedcattle。Theranchownerwhogivestherodeotakeshisowncattlethathehasfound——theonesbearinghisbrand，youknow——anddrivestheminwiththeonestobebranded，leavingintherodeo-groundthecattlebearingthebrandsofalltheotherrancheros。Therehasbeenmuchdrinkingofaguardientebrandyandeverybodybythistimeisprettyreckless。
　　Thentheydrivethisselectedbandtothehomecorral，thevaquerosyelling，thecattle"calling，"andthereataswhizzingandwhistlingthroughtheair。Ifanyunfortunatetriestoescapehisfateheispursued，"lass'd，"andbroughtback。Bythistimethecattleareprettywellheatedandangry，andwhentheygetintothecrowdedcorraltheyhorneachotherandtrytogorethehorses。Afireisthenbuiltinonecornerofthecorralandthebranding-ironsareheated。'
　　'Oh!holdmyhand，Polly，ifthebrandingisgoingtobegin，Ihateitso，'exclaimedElsie。
　　'Iwon'tsaymuchaboutit，butit'snoworsethanathousandthingsthatpeoplehavetobeareveryyearoftheirlives。Animalsneverhavetohaveteethfilled，forinstance，norlimbsamputated——'
　　'Oh，justthinkofacalfwithawoodenleg，oracowwithfalseteeth!Wouldn'titbefunny?'laughedBell。
　　'Theydon'thaveathousandillsthathumanfleshisheirto，sotheymustbethankfultheygetoffsoeasy。Well!thebranding-ironsareheated，asIsay——eachcattle-ownerhavinghisspecialbrand，whichisproperlyrecorded，andwhichmaybeanydevicenotpreviouslyused。Twomennowcatchthecalves；onelassoingthembythehead，theotherbythelegs。Athirdmantakestheironfromthefireandbrandsthechosenletterorhieroglyphicontheanimal'shindquarter。'
　　'Sometimesontheforequarter，don'tthey?'askedBell。'I'veseenbrandsthere，——yourhorsehastwo，andourcowhasonealso。'
　　'Yes，abrandontheforequartershowsthattheanimalhasbeensold，butitalwayshastheoriginalbrandonthehindquarter。Whenasaleiseffected，thenewbrandisputanywhereinfrontofthefifthrib，andthisconstituteswhattheycallaventa，orsale。Ifyounoticesomeofthelittle"plugs"riddenbySantaBarbaraboys，you'llseethattheybearhalfadozenbrands。Bytheway，iftherodeohasbeenaverylargeone，theyareseveraldaysbrandingthecattle，sotheyareturnedouttopastorearalittlewhileeachday。'
　　'Thebrandwasabsolutesignofownership，youknow，girls，'saidDr。
　　Winship；'andthoughtherewasthegreatestcareexercisedinchoosingandrecordingthebrands，therewasplentyofopportunityforcheating。Forinstance，amanwouldoftenseeunbrandedcattlewhenridingabout，andtherewasnothingtopreventhisdismounting，buildingafire，heatinghisiron，andputtinghisownbrandonthem。
　　Then，atthenextrodeo，theyweresimplyturnedovertohim，for，asIsay，thebrandwasabsoluteownership。'
　　'Whene'erItakemyridesabroad，HowmanycalvesIsee；
　　And，asIbrandthemproperly，Theyallbelongtome，'
　　saidBell。
　　'HowIshouldliketoseearodeo!'sighedElsie。'Ican'timaginehowthevaqueroscanflingthereatawhiletheyareridingatfullspeed。'
　　'Itisn'tsoverywonderful，'saidPolly，nonchalantly'themostordinarypeoplecanlearnit；why!yourbrotherJackcanlassoalmostaswellasaMexican。'
　　'AndIcan"lass"anystationaryobjectmyself，'criedBell；'ahitching-post，orevenadoor-knob；Icandoittwoorthreetimesoutoften。'
　　'Thatshowsimmenseskill，'answeredJack，'but，asthethingyouwantto"lass"neverdoesstaystill，andasitisabsolutelynecessarytocatchitmorethanthreetimesoutoften，youprobablywouldn'tmakeanameandfortuneasavaquero。JuanCapistrano，bytheway，usedtobefamouswiththelariat。IhadheardofhisadventurewithabullontheislandofSantaRosa，andIaskedhimaboutitto-day；buthehadsoexhaustedhimselftellingstoriestoBellthathehadveryfewwordsforme。Youseetherewasabull，onSantaRosaisland，sowildthattheywantedtokillhim；butnobodycoulddoit，thoughhewasaterrortoanyonewhoventuredontheisland。Theycalledhim"Antiguelo，"becauseofhislonghornsandlongtail。Hewassuchaterriblefighterthatallthevaqueroswereafraidtolass'him，forhealwaysbrokeawaywiththelariat。Youseeahorsethrowsabullbyskillandnotbystrength，ofcourse。
　　Youcanchokealmostanybull；butthisonewastoosmart!hewouldcrouchonhishaunchesandpullbackuntiltheropenearlychokedhimandthensuddenly"make"forthehorse。JuanCapistranohadasplendidhorse——youseeasmuchdependsonthehorseasthemaninsuchacase——andhecameuponAntigueloontheCerroNegroandlass'dhim。Well，didhefight?Iasked。"Si，Senor。"Well，whathappened?"Yolomate"Ikilledhim，hesaid，withashrugofhisshoulders，andthat'sallIcouldgetoutofJuanregardinghisadventure。'
　　'Butyouhaven'tdoneyourshare，youlazyboy，'objectedBell。'Youmusttellusmore。'
　　'Whatdoyouwanttohear?IamuponalltheanimalandvegetablelifeofSouthernCalifornia，fullofinterestinginformationconcerningitsoldcustoms，cangiveyouSpanishnamesforallthethingsthatcomeupinordinaryconversation，andamtheonlymanpresentwhocanmakearaw-hidereata，'saidJack，modestly。
　　'Goonandtellushow，Ogreatandwisereatero，'saidBell。
　　'I'lltellyouthatmyself，'saidElsie，'forI'veseenhimdoitdozensoftimes，whenheshouldhavebeenstudyinghislittlelessons。Hetakesabigpieceofrawhide，cutsacirclerightoutofthemiddle，andthencutsroundandroundthisuntilhehasonelongcontinuousstring，halfaninchwide。Hethenstretchesitandscrapesthehairoffwithaknifeorapieceofglass，getsitintofourstrands，andbraidsit"round。"'
　　'Perhapsyouthinkbraiding"round"iseasytodo，'retortedJack，inaninjuredtone；'butIknowittookmesixmonthstolearntodoitwell。'
　　'Ifailtosee，'saidhismother，'howaknowledgeof"braidinground"andlassoingofwildcattleisgoingtoserveyouinyouruniversitylifeandfuturecareer。'
　　'Ohyes，itwill。IshallbetheBuffaloBillofHarvard，andI
　　shallgivecharminglittleentertainmentsinmyrooms，orinsomelittlegarden-plotsuitabletothepurpose。'
　　'Shallyoumakeapointofkeepingupwithyourclass?'askedMrs。
　　Winship。
　　'Ohyes，unlesstheygotoofast。Mysportswon'ttakeanymoretimethanrowingorbaseball。They'llbealittlemoreexpensive，becauseI'llhavetokeepsomewildcattleconstantlyonhand，andperhapsavaqueroortwo；butavaquerowon'tcostanymorethanavalet。'
　　'Ididn'tintendfurnishingyouwithavalet，'remarkedhismother。
　　'ButIshallbeself-supporting，motherdear。Ishallgiveexhibitionsonthecampus，andthegate-moneywillkeepmeinluxury。'
　　'Thisisallveryinteresting，'saidPolly，cuttingly；'butwhathasittodowithCalifornia，I'dliketoknow?'
　　'Poordear!Yourbrainissoweak。Can'tyouseethatwhenIamthefashioninCambridge，itwillbenoisedaboutthatIgainedmymarvellousskillinCalifornia?Thiswillincreaseemigration。I
　　don'tpretendtosayitwillswellthepopulationlikethediscoveryofgoldin'48，butitwillhaveaperceptibleeffect。'
　　'Youaremoremodestthanawholemossybankofviolets，'laughedDr。
　　Paul。'Now，Margery，willyougiveusyourlegend?'
　　'MineisthestoryofJuandeDiosliterally，JuanofGod，andI'msorrytosaythatithasahorseinit，likePolly's；onlyherswasasnow-whitemare，andmineisacoal-blackcharger。Buttheywouldn'ttellusanyromanticlove-stories；theywereallabouthorses。'
　　STORYOFJUANDEDIOS。
　　'Inearlydays，whenAmericanswerecomingintoSantaBarbara，thereweremanycattle-buyersamongthem；andtherewerelargebandsofrobbersalloverthecountrywhowerereadytopounceonthesetravellersontheirwaytothegreatcattleranchos，killthem，andstealtheirmoneyandclothes，aswellastheirhorsesandtrappings。
　　Noonecouldunderstandhowtherobbersgotsuchaccurateinformationofthemovementsofthetravellers，unlesstheyhadaspysomewhereneartheMission，wheretheyoftenstoppedforrestandrefreshment。
　　'Now，therewasacertainyoungIndianvaquerointheemployofthepadresatLaMissiondelaPurisima。Hewasawonderfulhorseman，andgreatlylookeduptobyhisbrothervaqueros，becausehewassostrong，alert，andhandsome，andbecausehewasalwaysdressedelegantlyinricholdSpanishembroideriesandvelvets，giventohim，hesaid，bymenforwhomhehaddonegreatservices。
　　'Onedayacertaintraveller，aSpanishofficialofhighdegree，camefromMontereytowedhissweetheart，thedaughteroftherichestcattle-ownerinallthecountryround。Hisspursandbitandbridlewereofsolidsilver；hisjaquimahalterwasmadeofahairropewhosestrandshadbeendyedinbrilliantcolours；histapaderosfrontofthestirrups，mochilaslargeleathersaddleflaps，andsudaderosthinbitsofleathertoprotectthelegsfromsweat，wereallbeautifullystampedinthefashionusedbytheMexicans；hissaddleblanketsandhishousingswereallsuperb，andheworeabroadsombreroencircledwithasilversnakeandtrimmedwithsilverlace。
　　'ThetravellerstayedatLaPurisimaallnight，andsetoutearlyinthemorningtoridethelastfortymilesthatseparatedhimfromhisbride。ButJuanandtwootherrobberswerelyinginwaitforhimbehindagreatrockthatstoodattheentranceofalonelycanyon。
　　Theyappearedonhorseback，onebehindtheunfortunatemanandtwoinfront，sothathecouldescapeneitherway。Theyfinallysucceededinlassoingthehorseandthrowinghimtothegroundwithhisrider，whodefendedhimselfbravelywithhisknife，butwasfinallykilledandrobbed，Juantakinghisclothesandtrappings，andtheothertwodividingthecontentsofhispurse。Theycouldnothaveburiedtheirvictimassuccessfullyasusual，orelsetheyweresurprised，andhadtoescape，forthebodywasfound；andJuan，whomthepadreshadbeguntoviewwithsuspicion，wasnowheretobefoundabouttheMission。Troopsweresentoutinpursuitofhim，forthisparticulartravellerwasahighofficial，anditwasnecessarythathisdeathshouldbeavenged。TheyatlastheardthatJuanhadbeenseengoingtowardsSantaYnezMission，and，pursuinghimthither，theycameuponhimashewasdrivingabandofhorsesintoacorral，andjustintheactofcatchinghisownhorse，anobleandpowerfulanimal，calledAzabache，becauseofhisjet-blackcolour。Themensurroundedthecorral，andorderedhimtosurrender。HebeggedthemtowaituntilhehadsaddledAzabache，andthentheymightshootthembothdowntogether。Heaskedpermissiontocallthreetimespegartresgritos，andafterthethirdcalltheyweretoshoot。Hislastwishwasgranted。Hesaddledandmountedhissplendidhorse，calledonce——
　　twice——thrice，——butwhenthelastshoutfadedintheair，andthetroopsraisedtheirmusketstofire，behold，therewasnoJuandeDiostobeseen。Theyhadbeensurroundingthecorralsothatnoonecouldhaveriddenout；theylookedamongthehorses，butAsabachewasnowheretobefound。
　　'Justthenajoyousshoutwasheard，soringingandtriumphantthateverymanturnedinthedirectionfromwhichitcame。There，gallopingupthehillside，nearlyhalfamiledistant，wasJuandeDios，mountedonhiscoal-blackAzabache!Butitwasnocommonsunshinethatdeepenedthegorgeouscoloursofhistrappingsanddanceduponhissilverspurstilltheyglistenedliketwogreatstars!Itwasabroad，glitteringstreamoflightsuchasnomortalhadeverseenbeforeandwhichalmostblindedtheeyes；andoverthisradiantpathofgoldensunbeamsgallopedJuandeDios，untilhedisappearedoverthecrestofthemountain。Thenthelightfaded；
　　thepadrescrossedthemselvesinsilenceandwenthometotheirMission!andJuandeDiosneverwasheardofmore。'
　　ModestlittleMargerywashailedwithsuchcheersthatyoucouldnothaveseenhercheeksfortheblushes；and，justasthepartybegantothinkofforsakingthefascinatingcamp-fireforbed，Belljumpedupimpetuouslyandcried，'Here，Philip，givemethecastanets，please。
　　PollyandJack，youplay"LasPalomas"forme，andI'llsingandshowyouthedanceofthatprettyMexicangirlwhomIsawattheballgivenundertheBigGrapeVine。WaittillItakeoffmyhairribbon。
　　Lendmeyourscarf，mamma。Nowbegin!'
　　LASPALOMAS。{2}
　　THEDOVES。
　　Cua-tropa-lo-mi-tasblan-casquevie-
　　nendepora——lla。U-nasalaso-trasdi-cennohaya-morcomoeldea-ca。
　　Itisbarelypossible，butnotlikely，thatanythingprettierthanBell'sMexicandanzawastobeseenunderthelightoftheSeptemberstarsthatnight；althoughtheyweredoubtlessshiningdownuponathousandlovelythings。Withallthebrightnessofherloosenedhairrisingandfallingwiththemotionofherswayingfigure——withhertwinklingfeet，hercrimsoncheeksandpartedlips，shelookedtheveryspiritofthedance，andherenraptured——audienceonlyallowedhertostopwhenshewasabsolutelybreathless。
　　'Ohwhatabeautifulevening!'exclaimedElsie，whenthecelebrationwasfinallyover。'Wasthereeversuchadear，dearcanyonwithsuchdearpeopleinit!Ifitonlywouldn'trainandwecouldlivehereforever!'
　　'Rain，rain，stayaway!
　　Comeagainanotherday，LittleElsiewantstoplay，'
　　recitedPolly，andtheneverybodywenttotheirstrawbeds。
　　CHAPTERXI:BREAKINGCAMP
　　'Thethirstyearthsoaksuptherain，Anddrinksandgapesfordrinkagain；
　　Theplantssuckintheearthandare，Withconstantdrinking，freshandfair。'
　　Butitdidrain；anditdidn'twaituntiltheywereoutofthecanyoneither。Itbeganlongbeforethepropertime，anditbynomeansconfineditselftoashower，butopenedthewinterseasonfullyamonthbeforetherewasanyneedofit，andbehavedaltogetherinamostheartlessandinconsideratemanner，likeaveryspoil-sportofarain。
　　Itbeganafterdark，soastobejustasdisagreeableaspossible，andunderthetooslightcoveroftheirtentsthecamperscouldheartherushandtheroarofitlikethetrampingofmyriadfeetontheleaves。PanchoandthetwoChinamenhuddledunderthebroadsycamoresintheirrubberblankets，andweredryandcomfortable；butallthewaterprooftentsleaked，saveElsie's。
　　Butwhenitwasdawn，theSun，havingheardnothingapparentlyofanyprojectedchangeintheweather，roseattheusualtimeinthemostresplendentfashion——brighter，rosier，andmoregloriously，ifyouwillbelieveme，thanhehadrisenthatwholelongsunshinysummer!
　　Andhereallymusthavefeltpaidforgettingupatsuchanunearthlyhourinthemorning，when，afterhehadclamberedoverthegreymountainpeaks，helookeddownuponLasFloresCanyon，bathedinthelightofhisowngoldenbeams。
　　IfheknewanythingaboutAncientHistoryandBiblicalGeography——andifhedidn'tIdon'tknowwhoshould，inasmuchashehadbeenpresentfromthebeginningoftime——hemusthavethoughtitasfairastheGardenofEden；forNature'sfacesimplyshonewithcleanliness，likethatofasmilingchildjustfreshfromitsbath，andeveryleafofeverytreeglistenedashebeameduponit，andshookoffitscrystaldropsthathemightturnthemintodiamonds。
　　'Itwasonlyashower，'saidDr。Winship，asheseatedhimselfonadampboardandpartookofamoistbreakfast，'andwiththissunthetentswillbedrybeforenight；Elsiehascaughtnocold，thedustwillbelaid，andwecanstayanotherweekwithsafety。'