THE BEAR-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 

 the 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. 



The 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 



