256 IN THE OLD WEST 



they are only men, and will not molest us women. 

 Besides, I have seen these white men before, in 

 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 Pedrillo ? 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 Ameri- 

 canos come." 



At this juncture Fray Augustin called for a 

 glass of aguardiente, which Juanita was dis- 

 patched 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 clat- 

 tering 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 galloped up 

 to the door of the Mission, his horse covered with 

 foam, and its sides bleeding from spur-wounds. 



" O, padre mio! " he cried, as soon as he caught 

 sight of his reverence, " menen los Americanos — 

 the Americans, the Americans are upon us. Ave 



