It was quite one o'clock before José could persuade them to leave it and be taken home; and it was many days before they ceased to talk of their wonderful experience.
But school would open immediately after Carnival and Francisco was anxious to reenter, as he was fond of books and made good progress in his studies.
His Aunt Sarita with her six daughters had returned from their summer outing and Uncle Juan was preparing for a trip abroad immediately after Guillerma's wedding should take place. Francisco saw him often, for they had grown very fond of each other during their summer together, and even Aunt Sarita began to love him more as she saw him oftener.
The first day of school had arrived, and Francisco, in his clean linen duster, had proudly led Elena to the school, for this was to be her first year. He was very proud of his pretty sister, who was shy, and held on tightly to her protector's sunburned hand.
He introduced her to her teacher, kissed her, and then hurried out into the large patio to greet his old school friends.
They were all there, like a flock of tan coloured butterflies in their linen coats, their hair brushed sleekly into place and their faces and hands smelling of recent cleansing with perfumed soaps.
Francisco was a favourite. Soon he was in the middle of a group of interested listeners, recounting to them his experiences on the estancia.
He was only human, and you must forgive him if he told of his adventure with the horsetail thieves. Even the little English boy grew excited and plied him with questions that seriously retarded Francisco in his account of their capture. The bell rang just as he finished, and they all fell into line in the patio, where the beautiful Argentine national hymn was sung, and the Argentine flag of blue and white was saluted by each pupil as they passed it on their way into the school-rooms.
THE END.