“Oranges, aren’t they, Lew?” Moses exclaimed.
“Guess so,” said Lewis, doubtfully. “Must be. Wonder if they are wild, or do they belong to somebody?”
They had heard oranges described, but had never tasted one. A few steps away there was what appeared to be a green hedge, having numerous gaps in it; beyond were more of the thick, dark-green trees with the scattered yellow fruit.
The two boys now advanced to one of the gaps in the hedge, but had scarcely peeped through when a little bareheaded lad and a tall, black-eyed girl stepped out from a covert.
The girl said something to them, laughing heartily; something in a rapid, tripping tongue, which they did not in the least understand. Moses afterward said that it sounded like, “Bonesure-messr-may-voo-venny-arboner!”—which may have been, “Good morning! You have called early!”
Like most boys in pioneer days, Lewis and Moses were not very bashful. Seeing that the girl was laughing, they laughed in turn, and pointed to the small yellow globes in the trees. Thereupon the little lad picked up several oranges, and gave them each one, with a bow and flourish of his hand. Moses thumbed his as if it had been an apple, then essayed to take a big bite from it, with the result that the juice flew, some of it into his own eyes!
Noting this, the girl laughed heartily. Moses, winking hard, was inclined to make angry remarks; but the boy, approaching with grave politeness, showed the newcomer how to pull off the peel. He also peeled an orange for Lewis, and invited them to be seated on a bench near by. There was a house not far off, half-hidden by trees.
A stout, dark-haired man appeared, with a huge yellow and white dog, that sniffed the strangers and then wagged his tail. The man drew near and said, “Buenas días!” and asked what appeared to be an abrupt question.
Moses nodded at a venture, although he did not understand a word, but Lewis shook his head. The dark man looked perplexed and angry; but the girl said something about “Norah,” to which the man replied—still to quote from Moses—“Ah—see—Norah.”
The girl ran away again, but soon returned with a tall, austere woman, whose auburn hair was turning gray. The woman glanced hard at the boys, and with a strong Irish accent said: