THE BEAB-SLAYER. 143 



That is, all but one or two. The boy 

 from Boston said savagely to the little 

 Aztec, as he stood directing the counting 

 of the ears, "You're a brigand! You're 

 tke black brigand of San Diego City, and I 

 can whip you !" 



The brigand said nothing, but kept on 

 with his work. 



In a little time the president and head 

 gardener came forward, and roughly esti 

 mated that about one thousand of the pests 

 had been destroyed. Then the kindly pres 

 ident went to the bank and brought out 

 one hundred silver dollars, which he 

 handed to the little Bear-Slayer of San 

 Diego in a cotton handkerchief. 



Th poor, timid little fellow's lips quiv 

 ered. He had never seen so much money 

 in all his life. He held his head down in 

 silence for a long time and seemed to be 

 thinking hard. His half-naked little broth 

 ers and cousins grouped about and seemed 

 to be waiting for a share of the money. 



The boy's schoolmates also crowded 



