LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 173 



" Only hear the girl I" cried another ; "if these savages come, 

 then will they kill Pedrillo, and what will Juanita say to lose her 

 sweetheart ?" 



" Pedrillo I" 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 Americanos come." 



At this juncture Fray Augustin called for a glass of aguardiente, 

 which Juanita was dispatched 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 galloped 

 up to the door of the Mission, his horse covered with foam, and 

 its sides bleeding from spur- wounds. 



" Oh, padre mio I" he cried, as soon as he caught sight of his 

 reverence, " vienen los Americanos — the Americans, the Americans 

 are upon us. Ave Maria purissima I — more than ten thousand 

 are at my heels I" 



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 Avas instantly given ; peones, vaqueros 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 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 



