n, talking by the fire,
I gave an account of my detention by the Indians and of the loss of my
revolver, which I thought very serious.

"You seem to think little of it," I said, observing that he took it very
coolly. "Yet I know not how I shall defend myself in case of an attack."

"I have no fear of an attack," he answered. "It seems to me the same
thing whether you have a revolver or many revolvers and carbines and
swords, or no revolver--no weapon at all. And for a very simple reason.
While Rima is with us, so long as we are on her business, we are
protected from above. The angels, senor, will watch over us by day and
night. What need of weapons, then, except to procure food?"

"Why should not the angels provide us with food also?" said I.

"No, no, that is a different thing," he returned. "That is a small and
low thing, a necessity common to all creatures, which all know how to
meet. You would not expect an angel to drive away a cloud of mosquitoes,
or to remove a bush-tick from your person. No, sir, you may talk of
natural gifts, and try to make Rima believe that she is what she is, and
knows what she knows, because, like a humming-bird or some plants with
a peculiar fragrance, she has been made so. It is wrong, senor, and,
pardon me for saying it, it ill becomes you to put such fables into her
head."

I answered, with a smile: "She herself seems to doubt what you believe."

"But, senor, what can you expect from an ignorant girl like Rima? She
knows nothing, or very little, and will not listen to reason. If she
would only remain quietly indoors, with her hair braided, and pray and
read her Catechism, instead of running about after flowers and birds and
butterflies and such unsubstantial things, it would be better for both
of us."

"In what way, old man?"

"Why, it is plain that if she would cultivate the acquaintance of the
people that surround her--I mean those that come to her from her sainted
mother--and are ready to do her bidding in everything, she could make
it more safe for us in this place. For example, there is Runi and his
people; why should they remain living so near us as to be a constant
danger when a pestilence of small-pox or some other fever might easily
be sent to kill them off?"

"And have you ever suggested such a thing to your grandchild?"

He looked surprised and grieved at the question. "Yes, many times,
senor," he said. "I should have been a poor Christian had I not
mentioned it.