“He went toward the north. He said he was going there. That was where his business led him. Our business is to follow and find him. He is ours. He belongs. We always do go to him in trouble, and aren’t ‘enemies’ trouble?”
“I don’t know. Out here I feel braver, and not a bit afraid of those men. The old one, that jiggled his teeth up and down when he talked—that was the curiousest thing! like he’d borrowed somebody else’s—he was real old and wizzly-up. That one—he couldn’t hurt a gopher! The Mr. Rupert was so pleasant and—Carlota, I believe we’ve made a mistake. They mayn’t be ‘enemies’ at all. How could anybody take us away from our father if he wouldn’t let us go and there was everybody to fight for us? I believe that old Miguel—”
“Carlos, I—am—going—to—my—father.”
That settled it. Whenever small Carlota made a decision it was final; and uncertainty ended, the spirits of both rose. She now joyously exclaimed:
“How jolly he’ll be over us! I’ll take my little notebook, so I can put down all about the flowers and things we find. Father always teases me because I can so much easier forget than remember.”
“You might better take your grammar, I think!” gibed the boy, but she was not offended.
Gently patting Benoni she called:
“See him, brother! How queer he acts? As if he couldn’t bear to go away from us. Never mind, you darling. You aren’t going from, but with us, and that’s quite different. You didn’t think we’d leave you behind, did you, Noni sweet?”
“Silly Carlota! Kissing a horse’s nose. But he does act queer, though, and I know why. It’s the wind. He hates it, and so do I. It—scares me.”
“Now, who’s silly? I’m only a girl, but no wind scares me. I love it. Let’s mount now and ride, ride, ride! Fast and faster and fastest! Come. You’ve all you want and so have I.”