So they curled down in the corner of the cave, and, being very tired,
soon fell asleep.

[Illustration]

[17] [=O]-k[=o]'teh.

[18] Mah-gay'[=e].

[19] Ray-b[=o]'s[=o].

[Illustration]

VII

WHILE THEY WERE GONE

[Illustration]

VII

WHILE THEY WERE GONE

I

Meanwhile what do you suppose had been happening at home? When she had
finished her washing and had dried the clothes on the bushes, Dona
Teresa folded them and carried them back to the house, and began her
ironing.

She didn't think much about the time because she was so busy with her
work, but at last she felt hungry and glanced out at the shadow of the
fig tree to see what time it was.

She was surprised to see the shadow already quite long and pointing
toward the east.

"Well," thought she to herself, "I'll get myself something to eat, and
by that time the children will be home and as hungry as two bears. I
think I'll get something especially good for their supper."

She hummed a little tune as she worked, and every little while she
glanced out the open door to see if they were not coming. By and by she
noticed that the sky was overcast and then she heard a clap of thunder.
It was the very same clap of thunder that had frightened the Twins in
the cactus grove.

"The holy saints above us!" cried Dona Teresa aloud. "The children
should have been home long ago. Where can they be!" She ran to the door
just in time to see Tonto come ambling slowly into the yard alone and go
to his own place in the shed.

Dona Teresa's eyes almost popped out of her head with surprise and
fright. She threw on her rebozo and ran over to Pedro's hut. Pedro's
wife was just examining Pablo's ears to see if he had really washed
himself in the river, when Dona Teresa arrived, quite breathless, at the
door.

"Whatever can be the reason that my children are not home?" she gasped.
"You remember it was morning when I sent them after wood. They have not
been seen since, and Tonto walked into the yard just now all alone, and
of course there's nothing to be got out of him! What can have happened
to them?"

"Now, never you mind, like a sensible woman," said Pablo's mother
soothingly. "They're playing along the way as likely as not and will be
at your door before you are. Who should know better than myself the way
children will forget the thing they're set to do."

She looked severely at Pablo as she said this, so I judge the
examination