IN THE OLD WEST 257 



Maria purissima! — more than ten thosuand 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, vaque- 

 ros hurried from the plains ; and milpas, 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 in- 

 telligence 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 brought and piled in the sala, ready for use. 

 The padre exhorted, the women screamed, the men 

 grew pale and nervous, and thronged within the 

 walls. Don Antonio, the fiery Andaluz, alone re- 

 mained outside, flourishing his whetted saber, and 

 roaring to the padre, who stood on the roof with 

 lighted match, by the side of his formidable can- 

 non, not to be affrighted — " that he, the Trueba, 

 was there, with his Tizona, ready to defeat the 

 devil himself should he come on." 



He was deaf to the entreaties of the priest to 

 enter. 



