that much closer, and so they heaved great
sighs of relaxation and began craning and looking for the two to enter
who would fight to the death with riatas.

Instead, entered the gringo whom Don Andres had foolishly chosen for
majordomo, and stood in the middle of the corral, quietly waiting while
the vaqueros with their horses and riatas dragged away the carcasses of
the bull and the bear.

When the main gate slammed shut behind them Dade lifted his eyes to that
side of the corral where the Californians were massed clannishly
together, and raised his hands for silence; got it by degrees, as a
clamoring breaker subsides and dwindles to little, whispering ripple
sounds; and straightway began in the sonorous melody of the Castilian
tongue which had been brought, pure and undefiled, from Spain and had
not yet been greatly corrupted into the dialect spoken to-day among the
descendants and called Spanish.

"Senors, and Senoras" (so he began), "the hour is now midday, and there
are many who have come far and are wearied. In the orchard you will find
refreshment for all; and your host, Don Andres Picardo, desires me to
say for him that he will be greatly honored if you will consider that
all things are yours to be used for your comfort and pleasure.

"In two hours, further sports will take place, in the open beyond this
corral, so that the seats which you now occupy will serve also to give a
fair view of the field. There will be riding contests, free for all
caballeros to enter who so desire, and the prize will be a beautiful
silver-trimmed bridle that may be seen at the saddle house. After the
riding, there will be a contest in the lassoing and tying down of wild
steers, for which a prize of a silver hatband and spurs will be given by
Don Andres Picardo, your host. Also there will be the riding of bulls;
and the prize for the most skillful rider will be a silver-mounted
quirto of beautiful design.

"Immediately after these various contests"--Dade could see the tensing
of interest among his listeners then--"there will be a contest with
riatas between Don Jose Pacheco and Senor Jack Allen, an Americano
vaquero from Texas. As the prize for this contest, Don Andres offers
Solano, a gelding, four years of age and unbroken. But Don Andres makes
this condition: that the winner shall lasso his prize in this corral,
and ride him before you all. If he should chance to be thrown, then the
prize shall be forfeited to the other contes