150 LIFE IN THE FAB WEST. 



my own country, and they are fine fellows, very tall, and as 

 white as the snow on the sierras. Let them come, say I ! " 



" Only hear the girl ! " cried another : " if these savages 

 come, then will they kill Pedrillo, and what will Juanita 

 say to lose her sweetheart ? " 



" Pedrillo ! " sneered the latter ; " what care I for Pe- 

 drillo ? Soy, Mejicana, yo a Mexican girl am I, I'd have 

 you know, and don't demean me to look at a wild Indian. 

 Not I, indeed, by my salvation ! What I say is, let the 

 Norte Americanos come." 



At this juncture Fray Augustin called for a glass of 

 aguardiente, which Juanita was despatched to bring, and, on 

 presenting it, the churchman facetiously inquired why she 

 wished for the Americans, adding, " Don't think they'll 

 come here no, no : here we are brave men, and have Don 

 Antonio with us, a noble fellow, well used to arms." As 

 the words were on his lips, the clattering of a horse's hoofs 

 was heard rattling across the loose stones and pebbles in 

 the bed of the river, and presently an Indian herder gal- 

 loped up to the door of the Mission, his horse covered with 

 foam, and its sides bleeding from spur-wounds. 



" Oh, padre mio ! " he cried, as soon as he caught sight 

 of his reverence, " vienen los Americanos the Americans, 

 the Americans are upon us. Ave Maria purissiina ! more 

 than ten thousand are at my heels !" 



Up started the priest and shouted for the Don. 



That hidalgo presently appeared, armed with the sword 

 that had graced his thigh in so many glorious encounters 

 the sword with which he had mowed down the enemies 

 of his country, and by whose aid he now proposed to 

 annihilate the American savages, should they dare to 

 appear before him. 



The alarm was instantly given ; peones, vagueros 

 hurried from the plains ; and niilpas, warned by the 

 deep-toned bell, which soon rung out its sonorous alarum. 

 A score of mounted Indians, armed with gun and lasso, 

 dashed off to bring intelligence of the enemy. The old 

 gingall on the roof was crammed with powder and bullets 

 to the very muzzle, by the frayle's own hand. Arms were 



