"Do not assume that stern air for a harmless act of folly, father, or I shall fancy that you are angry with me." Then she added, with a laugh, "I remember that our family descends in a straight line from the Mexican king, Chimalpopocatzin, who, as his name indicates, had for his emblem a buckler from which smoke is issuing. You see, father, our character has not degenerated since that valorous king, and we have ever remained as firm as he was himself."
"Come, come," the colonel said good-humouredly, "I shall give up scolding you in future, for I see that it is labour wasted."
The girl smiled maliciously, and was about to reply, when a flash of light was seen in front of the party.
"What is that?" the colonel asked, raising his voice. "Is there anyone on the road?"
"I think so, colonel," one of the domestics answered at once, "for that flash seems to me produced by the flint of a mechero.
"That is my opinion too," the colonel said. "Let us hasten on, in order to see this delayed smoker."
The little band, which had hitherto proceeded at a slow pace, broke into an amble. At the expiration of an hour, at the same time as the sound of a horse's hoofs reached the travellers, they also heard the shrill and discordant sounds of a jarana (guitar), and the refrain of the following song, so familiar in Mexico, was borne on the breeze:—
"Sin pena vivamos
En calma feliz:
Gozar es mi estrella,
Cantar y reir."[1]
"Bravo!" the colonel shouted, who reached the singer at this moment. "Bravely and joyously said, comrade!"
The latter, with a husk cigarette in his mouth, bowed his head in affirmation, and defiantly twanged an air on his jarana; then, throwing it across his shoulder, where it was held by a species of brace, he turned to his addresser, and ceremoniously doffed his vicuna-skin hat.