LIFE IN THE FAE WEST. 149 



" There is no cause for alarm," answered the Andaluz. 

 " I " (tapping his breast) " have served in three wars : in 

 that glorious one ' de la Independencia,' when our glorious 

 patriots drove the French like sheep across the Pyrenees ; 

 in that equally glorious one of 1821 ; and, in the late mag- 

 nanimous struggle for the legitimate rights of his majesty 

 Charles V., King of Spain " (doffing his hat), " whom God 

 preserve. With that right arm," cried the spirited Don, 

 extending his shrivelled member, " I have supported the 

 throne of my kings have fought for my country, mowing 

 down its enemies before me ; and with it," vehemently 

 exclaimed the Gachupin, working himself into a perfect 

 frenzy, " I will slay these Norte Americanos, should they 

 dare to show their faces in my front. Adios, Don Augustin 

 Ignacio Sabanal-Morales-y Fuentes," he cried, doffing his 

 hat with an earth-sweeping bow ; " I go to grind my 

 sword. Till then, adieu." 



" A countryman of mine ! " said tlie frayle, admiringly, 

 to the administrador. "With him by our side we need 

 not to fear : neither Norte Americanos, nor the devil him- 

 self, can harm us when he is by." 



Whilst the Trueba sharpens his Tizona, and the priest 

 puffs volumes of smoke from his nose and mouth, let us 

 introduce to the reader one of the muchachitas, who knelt 

 grinding corn on the metate, to make tortillas for the even- 

 ing meal. Juanita was a stout wench from Sonora, of 

 Mexican blood, hardly as dark as the other women who 

 surrounded her, and with a drop or two of the Old Span- 

 ish blood struggling with the darker Indian tint to colour 

 her plump cheeks. An enagua (a short petticoat) of red 

 serge was confined round her waist by a gay band orna- 

 mented with beads, and a chemisette covered the upper 

 part of the body, permitting, however, a prodigal display 

 of her charms. " Whilst pounding sturdily at the corn, 

 she laughed and joked with her fellow-labourers upon the 

 anticipated American attack, which appeared to have but 

 few terrors for her. " Que vengan," she exclaimed " let 

 them come ; they are only men, and will not molest us 

 women. Besides, I have seen these white men before, in 



