Tonio and Tita had their hands full, but they kept their eyes
open, and their mouths too. They seemed to feel they could see more that
way.

IV

It was not very long before they came to the public square or plaza of
the town, and there on one side was the church whose spire they had seen
from the boat.

On the other side was the market-place, and in the center of the square
there was a fountain. In another place there was a gayly painted
band-stand with the red, white, and green flag of Mexico flying over it.

There were beds of gay geraniums at each corner of the square, and large
trees made a pleasant shade where people could sit and watch the crowds,
or listen to music, if the band were playing.

Pedro and Pancho went straight across the street to the market side.
There were rows of small booths there, and already many of them were
occupied by people who had things to sell. There were peanut-venders,
and pottery-sellers; there were women with lace and drawn work; there
were foods of all kinds, and flowers, and birds in cages, and chickens
in coops or tied up by the legs, and geese and ducks,--in fact, I
can't begin to tell you all the things there were for sale in that
market.

Pedro found a stall with an awning over it and took possession at once.
He and Pancho put down the bundles of reeds in a pile, and his wife sat
on them. Pedro placed the brasero on the ground in front of her, and the
sweet potatoes by her side. Pablo put down the wood, and Dona Teresa put
the baby into her arms. Tita gave her the cooking-dishes, and Tonio was
just going to hand her the jug, when bang-bang-bang!--three
fire-crackers went off one right after the other almost in his ear!
Tonio jumped at least a foot high, and oh--the jug! It accidentally
tipped over sideways, and poured a puddle of molasses right on top of
the baby's head!

It ran down his cheek, but the baby had the presence of mind to stick
his tongue out sideways and lick up some of it, so it wasn't all
wasted.

[Illustration]

Dona Teresa said several things to Tonio while the baby was being mopped
up. Tonio couldn't see why they should mind it if the baby didn't.

At last Dona Teresa finished by saying to the Twins and Pablo, "Now you
run round the square and have a good time by yourselves, only see that
you don't get into any more mischief; and come back when you're
hungry."

Pedro and Pancho had already gone off by themselves, and as they didn't
say wher