a summer in a canyon-第30部分

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long　continuous　string；　half　an　inch　wide。　　He　then　stretches　it　and
scrapes　the　hair　off　with　a　knife　or　a　piece　of　glass；　gets　it　into
four　strands；　and　braids　it　〃round。〃'

'Perhaps　you　think　braiding　〃round〃　is　easy　to　do；'　retorted　Jack；　in
an　injured　tone；　'but　I　know　it　took　me　six　months　to　learn　to　do　it
well。'

'I　fail　to　see；'　said　his　mother；　'how　a　knowledge　of　〃braiding
round〃　and　lassoing　of　wild　cattle　is　going　to　serve　you　in　your
university　life　and　future　career。'

'Oh　yes；　it　will。　　I　shall　be　the　Buffalo　Bill　of　Harvard；　and　I
shall　give　charming　little　entertainments　in　my　rooms；　or　in　some
little　garden…plot　suitable　to　the　purpose。'

'Shall　you　make　a　point　of　keeping　up　with　your　class？'　asked　Mrs。
Winship。

'Oh　yes；　unless　they　go　too　fast。　　My　sports　won't　take　any　more　time
than　rowing　or　baseball。　　They'll　be　a　little　more　expensive；　because
I'll　have　to　keep　some　wild　cattle　constantly　on　hand；　and　perhaps　a
vaquero　or　two；　but　a　vaquero　won't　cost　any　more　than　a　valet。'

'I　didn't　intend　furnishing　you　with　a　valet；'　remarked　his　mother。

'But　I　shall　be　self…supporting；　mother　dear。　　I　shall　give
exhibitions　on　the　campus；　and　the　gate…money　will　keep　me　in
luxury。'

'This　is　all　very　interesting；'　said　Polly；　cuttingly；　'but　what　has
it　to　do　with　California；　I'd　like　to　know？'

'Poor　dear！　　Your　brain　is　so　weak。　　Can't　you　see　that　when　I　am　the
fashion　in　Cambridge；　it　will　be　noised　about　that　I　gained　my
marvellous　skill　in　California？　　This　will　increase　emigration。　　I
don't　pretend　to　say　it　will　swell　the　population　like　the　discovery
of　gold　in　'48；　but　it　will　have　a　perceptible　effect。'

'You　are　more　modest　than　a　whole　mossy　bank　of　violets；'　laughed　Dr。
Paul。　　'Now；　Margery；　will　you　give　us　your　legend？'

'Mine　is　the　story　of　Juan　de　Dios　（literally；　Juan　of　God）；　and　I'm
sorry　to　say　that　it　has　a　horse　in　it；　like　Polly's；　only　hers　was　a
snow…white　mare；　and　mine　is　a　coal…black　charger。　　But　they　wouldn't
tell　us　any　romantic　love…stories；　they　were　all　about　horses。'


STORY　OF　JUAN　DE　DIOS。

'In　early　days；　when　Americans　were　coming　in　to　Santa　Barbara；　there
were　many　cattle…buyers　among　them；　and　there　were　large　bands　of
robbers　all　over　the　country　who　were　ready　to　pounce　on　these
travellers　on　their　way　to　the　great　cattle　ranchos；　kill　them；　and
steal　their　money　and　clothes；　as　well　as　their　horses　and　trappings。
No　one　could　understand　how　the　robbers　got　such　accurate　information
of　the　movements　of　the　travellers；　unless　they　had　a　spy　somewhere
near　the　Mission；　where　they　often　stopped　for　rest　and　refreshment。

'Now；　there　was　a　certain　young　Indian　vaquero　in　the　employ　of　the
padres　at　La　Mission　de　la　Purisima。　　He　was　a　wonderful　horseman；
and　greatly　looked　up　to　by　his　brother　vaqueros；　because　he　was　so
strong；　alert；　and　handsome；　and　because　he　was　always　dressed
elegantly　in　rich　old　Spanish　embroideries　and　velvets；　given　to　him；
he　said；　by　men　for　whom　he　had　done　great　services。

'One　day　a　certain　traveller；　a　Spanish　official　of　high　degree；　came
from　Monterey　to　wed　his　sweetheart；　the　daughter　of　the　richest
cattle…owner　in　all　the　country　round。　　His　spurs　and　bit　and　bridle
were　of　solid　silver；　his　jaquima　（halter）　was　made　of　a　hair　rope
whose　strands　had　been　dyed　in　brilliant　colours；　his　tapaderos
（front　of　the　stirrups）；　mochilas　（large　leather　saddle　flaps）；　and
sudaderos　（thin　bits　of　leather　to　protect　the　legs　from　sweat）；　were
all　beautifully　stamped　in　the　fashion　used　by　the　Mexicans；　his
saddle　blankets　and　his　housings　were　all　superb；　and　he　wore　a　broad
sombrero　encircled　with　a　silver　snake　and　trimmed　with　silver　lace。

'The　traveller　stayed　at　La　Purisima　all　night；　and　set　out　early　in
the　morning　to　ride　the　last　forty　miles　that　separated　him　from　his
bride。　　But　Juan　and　two　other　robbers　were　lying　in　wait　for　him
behind　a　great　rock　that　stood　at　the　entrance　of　a　lonely　canyon。
They　appeared　on　horseback；　one　behind　the　unfortunate　man　and　two　in
front；　so　that　he　could　escape　neither　way。　　They　finally　succeeded
in　lassoing　the　horse　and　throwing　him　to　the　ground　with　his　rider；
who　defended　himself　bravely　with　his　knife；　but　was　finally　killed
and　robbed；　Juan　taking　his　clothes　and　trappings；　and　the　other　two
dividing　the　contents　of　his　purse。　　They　could　not　have　buried　their
victim　as　successfully　as　usual；　or　else　they　were　surprised；　and　had
to　escape；　for　the　body　was　found；　and　Juan；　whom　the　padres　had
begun　to　view　with　suspicion；　was　nowhere　to　be　found　about　the
Mission。　　Troops　were　sent　out　in　pursuit　of　him；　for　this　particular
traveller　was　a　high　official；　and　it　was　necessary　that　his　death
should　be　avenged。　　They　at　last　heard　that　Juan　had　been　seen　going
towards　Santa　Ynez　Mission；　and；　pursuing　him　thither；　they　came　upon
him　as　he　was　driving　a　band　of　horses　into　a　corral；　and　just　in　the
act　of　catching　his　own　horse；　a　noble　and　powerful　animal；　called
Azabache；　because　of　his　jet…black　colour。　　The　men　surrounded　the
corral；　and　ordered　him　to　surrender。　　He　begged　them　to　wait　until
he　had　saddled　Azabache；　and　then　they　might　shoot　them　both　down
together。　　He　asked　permission　to　call　three　times　（pegar　tres
gritos）；　and　after　the　third　call　they　were　to　shoot。　　His　last　wish
was　granted。　　He　saddled　and　mounted　his　splendid　horse；　called　once…
…twicethrice；but　when　the　last　shout　faded　in　the　air；　and　the
troops　raised　their　muskets　to　fire；　behold；　there　was　no　Juan　de
Dios　to　be　seen。　　They　had　been　surrounding　the　corral　so　that　no　one
could　have　ridden　out；　they　looked　among　the　horses；　but　Asabache　was
nowhere　to　be　found。

'Just　then　a　joyous　shout　was　heard；　so　ringing　and　triumphant　that
every　man　turned　in　the　direction　from　which　it　came。　　There；
galloping　up　the　hillside；　nearly　half　a　mile　distant；　was　Juan　de
Dios；　mounted　on　his　coal…black　Azabache！　　But　it　was　no　common
sunshine　that　deepened　the　gorgeous　colours　of　his　trappings　and
danced　upon　his　silver　spurs　till　they　glistened　like　two　great
stars！　　It　was　a　broad；　glittering　stream　of　light　such　as　no　mortal
had　ever　seen　before　and　which　almost　blinded　the　eyes；　and　over　this
radiant　path　of　golden　sunbeams　galloped　Juan　de　Dios；　until　he
disappeared　over　the　crest　of　the　mountain。　　Then　the　light　faded；
the　padres　crossed　themselves　in　silence　and　went　home　to　their
Mission！　and　Juan　de　Dios　never　was　heard　of　more。'

Modest　little　Margery　was　hailed　with　such　cheers　that　you　could　not
have　seen　her　cheeks　for　the　blushes；　and；　just　as　the　party　began　to
think　of　forsaking　the　fascinating　camp…fire　for　bed；　Bell　jumped　up
impetuously　and　cried；　'Here；　Philip；　give　me　the　castanets；　please。
Polly　and　Jack；　you　play　〃Las　Palomas〃　for　me；　and　I'll　sing　and　show
you　the　dance　of　that　pretty　Mexican　girl　whom　I　saw　at　the　ball
given　under　the　Big　Grape　Vine。　　Wait　till　I　take　off　my　hair　ribbon。
Lend　me　your　scarf；　mamma。　　Now　begin！'


LAS　PALOMAS。　｛2｝
（THE　DOVES。）
Cua…tro　pa…lo…mi…tas　blan…cas　que　vie…
nen　de　por　alla。　　U…nas　a　las　o…tras
di…cen　no　hay　a…mor　como　el　de　a…ca。


It　is　barely　possible；　but　not　likely；　that　anything　prettier　than
Bell's　Mexican　danza　was　to　be　seen　under　the　light　of　the　September
stars　that　night；　although　they　were　doubtless　shining　down　upon　a
thousand　lovely　things。　　With　all　the　brightness　of　her　loosened　hair
rising　and　falling　with　the　motion　of　her　swaying　figurewith　her
twinkling　feet；　her　crimson　cheeks　and　parted　lips；　she　looked　the
very　spirit　of　the　dance；　and　her　enrapturedaudience　only　allowed
her　to　stop　when　she　was　absolutely　breathless。

'Oh　what　a　beautiful　evening！'　exclaimed　Elsie；　when　the　celebration
was　finally　over。　　'Was　there　ever　such　a　dear；　dear　canyon　with　such
dear　people　in　it！　　If　it　only　wouldn't　rain　and　we　could　live　here
for　ever！'


'Rain；　rain；　stay　away！
Come　again　another　day；
Little　Elsie　wants　to　play；'


recited　Polly；　and　then　everybody　went　to　their　straw　beds。



CHAPTER　XI：　　BREAKING　CAMP



'The　thirsty　earth　soaks　up　the　rain；
And　drinks　and　gapes　for　drink　again；
The　plants　suck　in　the　earth　and　are；
With　constant　drinking；　fresh　and　fair。'


But　it　did　rain；　and　it　didn't　wait　until　they　were　out　of　the　canyon
either。　　It　began　long　before　the　proper　time；　and　it　by　no　means
confined　itself　to　a　shower；　but　opened　the　winter　season　fully　a
month　before　there　was　any　need　of　it；　and　behaved　altogether　in　a
most　heartless　and　inconsiderate　manner；　like　a　very　spoil…sport　of　a
rain。

It　began　after　dark；　so　as　to　be　just　as　disagreeable　as　possible；
and　under　the　too　slight　cover　of　their　tents　the　campers　could　hear
the　rush　and　the　roar　of　it　like　the　tramping　of　myriad　feet　on　the
leaves。　　Pancho　and　the　two　Chinamen　huddled　under　the　broad
sycamores　in　their　rubber　blankets；　and　were　dry　and　comfortable；　but
all　the　waterproof　tents　leaked；　save　Elsie's。

But　when　it　was　dawn；　the　Sun；　having　heard　nothing　apparently　of　any
projected　change　in　the　weather；　rose　at　the　usual　time　in　the　most
resplendent　fashionbrighter；　rosier；　and　more　gloriously；　if　you
will　believe　me；　than　he　had　risen　that　whole　long　sunshiny　summer！
And　he　really　must　have　felt　paid　for　getting　up　at　such　an　unearthly
hour　in　the　morning；　when；　after　he　had　clambered　over　the　grey
mountain　peaks；　he　looked　down　upon　Las　Flores　Canyon；　bathed　in　the
light　of　his　own　golden　beams。

If　he　knew　anything　about　Ancient　History　and　Biblical　Geographyand
if　he　didn't　I　don't　know　who　should；　inasmuch　as　he　had　been　present
from　the　beginning　of　timehe　must　have　thought　it　as　fair　as　the
Garden　of　Eden；　for　Nature's　face　simply　shone　with　cleanliness；　like
that　of　a　smiling　child　just　fresh　from　its　bath；　and　every　leaf　of
every　tree　glistened　as　he　beamed　upon　it；　and　shook　off　its　crystal
drops　that　he　might　turn　them　into　diamonds。

'It　was　only　a　shower；'　said　Dr。　Winship；　as　he　seated　himself　on　a
damp　board　and　partook　of　a　moist　breakfast；　'and　with　this　sun　the
tents　will　be　dry　before　night；　Elsie　has　caught　no　cold；　the　dust
will　be　laid；　and　we　can　stay　another