"I have the cakes ready to bake, señor, and I sha'n't be long before I get an olla ready for you."
"Well, José, what do you think of the place?" Harry asked.
"I should like it better if it were not so big," the lad said. "I shall want a broom, señor, to sweep out the dust."
"It is three inches deep," Maria said.
"I should not bother about that, Maria; it would be a tremendous job to sweep such a big room, and the dust is so fine that it would settle again and cover everything. Besides, it will be a good deal softer to lay our beds on than the stones would be, so I think you had better let it remain as it is, especially as you are fond of going about without your shoes. I think I will rig up a blanket against the doorway. It will make the place look a good deal more snug, and will keep the bats from returning."
"I am not afraid of the bats, now I know what they are; but I should be constantly expecting them to rush out again."
"I expect a good many went back last night," Harry said. "We won't put the blankets up till after dark. They are sure to come out again; then, as soon as they have gone, we will close it, and they won't be able to get in when they come back before daybreak."
Harry's expectations were fulfilled. At dusk a stream of bats rushed out again, but this time quite noiselessly. The rush lasted for three or four minutes. As soon as they had gone, the blankets were hung up, and fastened across the doorway.
"They will be puzzled when they come back."
"Yes, señor," Maria said; "but when they find that they can't get in here, they will come in through the openings above."