Suddenly Benoni stopped, as if he had come to the end of his strength. Surprised and frightened, the children leaped down and examined the jaded beast, while Carlota sobbed:
“We shouldn’t ought to have made him ‘carry double’ in this heat. We’re so terr’ble big now-a-days, Carlos.”
“Yes. I’m afraid we’ve been pretty selfish. After he saved us, too!” admitted the lad.
“His head’s the hot place. Wait. I know what Miguel does sometimes, when he’s afraid Amador has overheated himself.”
With that she began to break and bruise the leaves of an herb growing near, saying:
“I don’t know if they’re the right sort, but they will be wet and cool. If his head aches, like ours, they may ease it.”
“How will you keep them on? Miguel takes a big handkerchief or a strap.”
“Why your sash is just the thing. You can put your hammer and knife in my box till we get the water. There. I’ll do it. I’m a girl. I know how to make it stick.”
But she had to remount in order to reach the animal’s head and when she had finished she thought that Benoni looked very funny, indeed. She laughed:
“He makes me think of an old woman in a cap!”