262 IN THE OLD WEST 



" Tell the old coon then to quit that, and make 

 them darned greasers clear out of the lodge, and 

 pock some corn and shucks here for the animals, 

 for they're nigh give out." 



This being conveyed to him in mountain Span- 

 ish, which fear alone made him understand, the 

 padre gave orders to the men to leave the Mission, 

 advising them, moreover, not to recommence hos- 

 tilities, as himself was kept as hostage, and if a 

 finger was lifted against the mountaineers, he 

 would be killed at once, and the Mission burned to 

 the ground. Once inside, the hunters had no fear 

 of attack — they could have kept the building 

 against all California ; so, leaving a guard of two 

 outside the gate, and first seeing their worn-out 

 animals supplied with piles of corn and shucks, 

 they made themselves at home, and soon were pay- 

 ing attention to the hot tortillas, meat, and chile 

 Colorado which were quickly placed before them, 

 washing down the hot-spiced viands with deep 

 draughts of wine and brandy. It would have been 

 amusing to have seen the faces of these rough 

 fellows as they gravely pledged each other in the 

 grateful liquor, and looked askance at the piles 

 of fruit served by the attendant Hebes. These 

 came in for no little share of attention, it may be 

 imagined, but the utmost respect was paid to them ; 

 for your mountaineer, rough and bear-like though 

 he be, never by word or deed offends the modesty 

 of a woman, although sometimes obliged to use a 



