, Emilio, Jorge, Benito,
and Carlos. What shall we call you, my sons?"

"My name is Roldan Castanada of the Rancho Los Palos Verdes, and this
is my friend Adan Pardo of the Rancho Buena Vista."

"Ay! we have distinguished visitors. But you were just as welcome
before. Sit down while I go and see if the big stew I ordered is done.
Caramba! but you must be hungry."

The four lads quickly fraternised, and Roldan began at once to relate
their adventures, continuing them over the steaming dish of stew. When
he reached the point which dealt with the outwitting of the bear, Don
Emilio sprang from his hammock.

"A bear trapped?" he cried. "A grizzly? We will have a fight with a
bull. You are rested, no? As soon as you have eaten, come and show us
the way."

The boys, always ready for sport, and believing that they were beyond
the grasp of the law for the present, eagerly consented. An hour later
Don Emilio, Don Jorge, the four lads, and three vaqueros all sallied
forth to capture one poor bear. The vaqueros dragged a sled, and much
stout rope.

When they reached the trap darkness had come, but the four boys held
lighted torches over the hole--this was their part. The bear,
disheartened with his long and futile effort to escape, lay on the
uneven surface below, alternately growling and roaring. As the torches
flared above him he sprang to his feet with a vast roar, his eyes as
green and glittering as marsh lights. In a moment a lasso had flown
over his head and he was on his back. But his formidable legs were not
to be encountered rashly. Each was lassoed in turn, also his back; then
his huge lunging body was dragged up the side of the excavation and
onto the sled. There he was bound securely; then the rope about his
neck was loosened and he was fed on a hind quarter of sheep. But it
placated him little. His anger was terrific. He roared until the echoes
awoke, and strained at the rope until it seemed as if his great muscles
must conquer.

But he was powerless, and the procession started: first Roldan and
Benito with their torches; then two vaqueros dragging the sled, the
third holding the rope which encircled the bear's neck, ready to
tighten it on a second's notice. Following were Don Jorge and Don
Emilio, then the two other young torch bearers. Thus was poor Bruin
carried ignominiously out of the forest where he had been lord, to
perform for the benefit of the kind he despised. That night he rested
alone in a high w