brain and body were sick for want of
food. But by degrees the wood grew thinner and thinner; and when the
sun was half way between the zenith and the western horizon, they left
behind the last straggling outpost and found themselves on the edge of
a creek, the same doubtless that they had crossed three nights before.
They gave each other a feeble simultaneous slap on the back, gathered
their energies, ran down the bank, and took a long draught of the
running water.

"I feel better," said Roldan, finally, "but hungrier than ever. There
are quail in that chaparral over there. I'll go after them, and do you
hunt for flint and build a fire."

He crossed the creek and entered the brush beyond. Almost
simultaneously there was a loud whirr of wings, and a large flock of
quail rose from the chaparral a few feet ahead of him. He had only his
pistols, but he was a good shot, and he decapitated two of the birds in
rapid succession. Then he reloaded and killed a squirrel. When he
returned, Adan was on his knees, with his large cheeks distended,
coaxing a handful of dried leaves and twigs into flame. It was a half
hour before the pyre was large enough for the sacrifice, but after that
the birds and squirrel, which meanwhile had been skinned and washed in
the creek, were but a short time singeing. It was an ill-cooked meal,
but when it was over Roldan said solemnly,--

"I have eaten of all the delicious dishes of the Californias, including
many dulces, but nothing ever tasted as good as this; no, not even the
first breakfast at Casa Encarnacion."

"Nor to me," said Adan, emphatically, and he crossed himself.

XXIII

"Hallo!" shouted a peremptory voice. "Hallo! Hallo!"

"It's the Senor Jim," gasped Adan.

Roldan sprang to his feet. "Hallo!" he cried.

There was a heavy trampling in the chaparral, and a moment later Hill
rode into view. He took off his sombrero and waved it at the boys, but
did not speak until he had crossed the creek and dismounted. Then he
turned and regarded them with his keen hard eyes.

"Well!" he exclaimed, "I never calkilated to see you alive agin, and
that's a fact. Hed some more adventures, I presume. Look as if ye'd hed
more adventures than grub."

"Indeed we have, Don Jim," said Roldan, solemnly. "Should you like to
hear them?"

"Should I? Well, I guess. You and your adventures have kinder made me
feel young once more."

Roldan told the painful story.

"Holy smoke!" exclaimed Hill, in