"Ay!"
"Life is always the same with thee, I suppose,—smoking, riding, swinging in the hammock?"
"Ay!"
"Thou wouldst not exchange thy life for another? Thou dost not wish to travel?"
"No,—sure."
She wheeled suddenly and galloped over to her father and Alvarado, her caballeros staring helplessly after her.
When we arrived at the rancho the bullocks were already swinging in the pits, the smell of roast meat was in the air. We dismounted, throwing our bridles to the vaqueros in waiting; and while Indian servants spread the table, the girls joined hands and danced about the pit, throwing flowers upon the bullocks, singing and laughing. The men watched them, or amused themselves in various ways,—some with cockfights and impromptu races; others began at once to gamble on a large flat stone; a group stood about a greased pole and jeered at two rival vaqueros endeavoring to mount it for the sake of the gold piece on the top. One buried a rooster in the ground, leaving its head alone exposed; others, mounting their horses, dashed by at full speed, snatching at the head as they passed. Reinaldo distinguished himself by twisting it off with facile wrist while urging his horse to the swiftness of the east wind.
"I am going to dare more than Californian has ever dared before," said Estenega to me, as we gathered at length about the table-cloth. "I am going to get Doña Chonita off by herself in that little canon and have a talk with her. Now, do you stand guard."
"I shall not!" I exclaimed. "It is understood that when Doña Trinidad stays at home Chonita is in my charge. I will not permit such a thing."
"Thou wilt, my Eustaquia. Doña Chonita is no pudding-brained girl. She needs no dueña."