must give the road to a gringo lower than the peons whom I flog for
less impertinence, it is time we ceased taking them by the hand as
though they were our equals!" His eyes went accusingly to the face of
the girl.

She flung up her head and met the challenge in her own way, which was
with the knife-thrust of her light laughter. "Ah, the poor Americanos!
Not the prayers of all the padres can save them from the blackness of
their fate, since Don Jose Pacheco frowns and will not take their
hand in friendship! How they will gnash the teeth when they hear the
terrible tidings--Jose Pacheco, don and son of a don, will have none
of them, nor will he give way to their poor burros on the highway!"
She shook her head as she had done over the tragedy of the little
cakes. "Pobre gringos! Pobre gringos!" she murmured mockingly.

"Children, have done!" The hand of the senora went chidingly to
the shoulder of her incorrigible daughter. "This is foolish and
unseemly--though all thy quarreling is that, the saints know well. Our
guests are Americanos; our guests, who are our friends," she stated
gently, looking at Jose. "Not all Spaniards are good, Jose; not all
gringos are bad. They are as we are, good and bad together. Speak not
like a child, amigo mio."

The guitar which Jose flung down upon a broad stool beside him hummed
resonant accompaniment to his footsteps as he left the veranda. "Thy
house, Senora, has been as my mother's house since I can remember.
Until thy gringo guests have made room for me, I leave it!"

"Senor Allen, would you like to see my birds?" invited Teresita
wickedly, her glance flicking scornfully the reproachful face of Jose,
as he turned it towards her, and dwelling with a smile upon Jack.

"Wicked one!" murmured the senora, in her heart more than half
approving the discipline.

Jose had humiliation as well as much bitterness to carry away with
him; for he saw the senor with the bright blue eyes follow gladly the
laughing Teresita to her rose garden, and as he went jingling across
the patio without waiting to summon a peon to bring him his horse, he
heard the voice of Don Andres making apology to Dade for the rudeness
of him, Jose.

CHAPTER VIII

DON ANDRES WANTS A MAJORDOMO

"Senor, those things which you desired that I should bring, I have
brought. All is of the best. Also have I brought a letter from the
Senor Weelson, and what remains of the gold the senor will find laid
carefully in th