The Valiant Runaways [61]
to the ridiculous, yet they feared that this
was a diseased and possibly fatal variety.
But in a moment Hill sat up. He wiped his eyes, and with some difficulty
controlled his voice.
"No, I ain't ill, young 'uns," he said. "But them Indians 'ud be pretty
sick if they knowed what they run from. That there object cavortin'
round that there bonfire is old Sanchez, and he's drunk. Oh, Lord!" And
once more Hill gave way to mirth.
"He did more good than harm to get drunk this time," said Roldan,
smiling sympathetically.
"You're right, Rolly. You've got a long head. If old Sanchez had set
down to supper sober to-night, there'd be a war-dance round another
bonfire this minute, and his scalp 'ud be bobbin' bravely. I don't
approve of liquor," he added cautiously, remembering the young ideas
shooting before him. "I only said that there be exceptions to all rules,
and this is one of them."
"I understand," said Roldan, drily. "I am not thinking of following the
Senor Sanchez' example. But do you suppose that was really what
frightened the Indians?"
"Just. Well, I guess! They've probably got some idee of the devil, and
they thought that was him, sure 's fate."
He sprang to his feet, ran forward, caught the bacchanalian about the
shoulders, and rushed him in the direction of the dimly-looming house,
throwing one of his own long legs into the air every now and again. The
boys ran after. When they reached the house its master was extended on a
settee in the living-room, and Hill was telling the tale of their narrow
escape to the frightened household.
"I don't think they'll come back," he said in conclusion. "But it's jest
as well to have your guns ready, and for one or two of ye to set up all
night. We three'd like grub and beds as quick as you kin git 'em ready."
Never had beds felt so sweet as they did that night. The boys awoke
refreshed, themselves again; and no Indians had returned to disturb
their slumbers.
XXIV
Hill met them as they entered the living-room. His eyes were full of
news.
"Well, boys," he said, "I don't know that you're in fur another
adventure, but ye kin call it by that name when you git home if you
like; leastways there ain't no doubt about it's bein' an experience."
The boys forgot the waiting breakfast. "What is it?" they demanded
simultaneously. "Quick! quick!"
"It's this. I don't suppose you know more about the history of your
country 'n most kids do. Well, Alvarado and General Castro are your two
big men--"
"We know that," interrupted Roldan, scornfully.
"Oh, you do? Then mebbe you know who'se* govenor* at the present
moment."
"Micheltorena. He was sent from Mexico. People don't like him, and they
despise the men he brought with him, still more."
"So. Well, I allus did say you was a remarkable kid, Rolly. However,
this is the way the case stands now. Alvarado's mad as hops to be ousted
for a furriner, so to speak, and Castro's been bilin' fur some time,
because General Vallejo's been promoted ahead of him. So the two on 'em
determined on a revolution. They had a skirmish on Salinas plains that
didn't decide much, and then Alvarado and Castro marched south, from
ranch to ranch,--you just levanted in time,--persuadin' the rancheros to
uphold their cause and give 'em their sons. As they have a way with 'em,
of course they got all the recruits they wanted, to say nothin' of the
finest horses in stock--caponara after caponara. They say the sight when
they marched into Los Angeles was somethin' to go hungry for. Of course
all Los Angeles went over to such triumphant lookin' rebels, and to-day
or to-morrow there's goin' to be a big battle. I only heard this
mornin'. Old Sanchez' brother come post haste about two hours ago fur
his gun and as many men and horses as he could drum up. Of course
Alvarado marched down the coast valleys, so old Carillo and his
neighbours are eatin' their breakfast in blissful ignorance."
"And shall we really see a great battle?" demanded Roldan, faintly. He
was pale, his nostrils
was a diseased and possibly fatal variety.
But in a moment Hill sat up. He wiped his eyes, and with some difficulty
controlled his voice.
"No, I ain't ill, young 'uns," he said. "But them Indians 'ud be pretty
sick if they knowed what they run from. That there object cavortin'
round that there bonfire is old Sanchez, and he's drunk. Oh, Lord!" And
once more Hill gave way to mirth.
"He did more good than harm to get drunk this time," said Roldan,
smiling sympathetically.
"You're right, Rolly. You've got a long head. If old Sanchez had set
down to supper sober to-night, there'd be a war-dance round another
bonfire this minute, and his scalp 'ud be bobbin' bravely. I don't
approve of liquor," he added cautiously, remembering the young ideas
shooting before him. "I only said that there be exceptions to all rules,
and this is one of them."
"I understand," said Roldan, drily. "I am not thinking of following the
Senor Sanchez' example. But do you suppose that was really what
frightened the Indians?"
"Just. Well, I guess! They've probably got some idee of the devil, and
they thought that was him, sure 's fate."
He sprang to his feet, ran forward, caught the bacchanalian about the
shoulders, and rushed him in the direction of the dimly-looming house,
throwing one of his own long legs into the air every now and again. The
boys ran after. When they reached the house its master was extended on a
settee in the living-room, and Hill was telling the tale of their narrow
escape to the frightened household.
"I don't think they'll come back," he said in conclusion. "But it's jest
as well to have your guns ready, and for one or two of ye to set up all
night. We three'd like grub and beds as quick as you kin git 'em ready."
Never had beds felt so sweet as they did that night. The boys awoke
refreshed, themselves again; and no Indians had returned to disturb
their slumbers.
XXIV
Hill met them as they entered the living-room. His eyes were full of
news.
"Well, boys," he said, "I don't know that you're in fur another
adventure, but ye kin call it by that name when you git home if you
like; leastways there ain't no doubt about it's bein' an experience."
The boys forgot the waiting breakfast. "What is it?" they demanded
simultaneously. "Quick! quick!"
"It's this. I don't suppose you know more about the history of your
country 'n most kids do. Well, Alvarado and General Castro are your two
big men--"
"We know that," interrupted Roldan, scornfully.
"Oh, you do? Then mebbe you know who'se* govenor* at the present
moment."
"Micheltorena. He was sent from Mexico. People don't like him, and they
despise the men he brought with him, still more."
"So. Well, I allus did say you was a remarkable kid, Rolly. However,
this is the way the case stands now. Alvarado's mad as hops to be ousted
for a furriner, so to speak, and Castro's been bilin' fur some time,
because General Vallejo's been promoted ahead of him. So the two on 'em
determined on a revolution. They had a skirmish on Salinas plains that
didn't decide much, and then Alvarado and Castro marched south, from
ranch to ranch,--you just levanted in time,--persuadin' the rancheros to
uphold their cause and give 'em their sons. As they have a way with 'em,
of course they got all the recruits they wanted, to say nothin' of the
finest horses in stock--caponara after caponara. They say the sight when
they marched into Los Angeles was somethin' to go hungry for. Of course
all Los Angeles went over to such triumphant lookin' rebels, and to-day
or to-morrow there's goin' to be a big battle. I only heard this
mornin'. Old Sanchez' brother come post haste about two hours ago fur
his gun and as many men and horses as he could drum up. Of course
Alvarado marched down the coast valleys, so old Carillo and his
neighbours are eatin' their breakfast in blissful ignorance."
"And shall we really see a great battle?" demanded Roldan, faintly. He
was pale, his nostrils