IN THE OLD WEST 247 



in most parts of the world. Loopholes peer from 

 its plastered walls, and on a flat portion of the 

 roof a comically-mounted gingall or wall-piece, 

 carrying a two-pound ball, threatens the assail- 

 ant in time of war. At one end of the oblong 

 building, a rough irregular arch of sun-burned 

 bricks is surmounted by a rude cross, under which 

 hangs a small but deep-toned bell the wonder 

 of the Indian peones, and highly venerated by the 

 frayles themselves, who received it as a present 

 from a certain venerable archbishop of Old Spain, 

 and who, whilst guarding it with reverential awe, 

 tell wondrous tales of its adventures on the road 

 to its present abiding-place. 



Of late years the number of the canonical in- 

 mates of the convent has been much reduced 

 there being but four priests now to do the duties 

 of the eleven who formerly inhabited it: Fray 

 Augustin, a capuchin of due capacity of paunch, 

 being at the head of the holy quartette. Augustin 

 is the conventual name of the reverend father, who 

 fails not to impress upon such casual visitants to 

 that ultima Thule as he deems likely to appreciate 

 the information, that, but for his humility, he 

 might add the sonorous appellations of Ignacio 

 Sabanal-Morales-y Fuentes his family being of 

 the best blood of Old Castile, and known there since 

 the days of Ruy Gomez el Campeador pos- 

 sessing, moreover, half the " vega " of the Ebro, 

 &c., where, had fate been propitious, he would now 



