Stiffly the two girls scrambled down the pole and began kicking and stretching in an effort to relax their cramped muscles.
Juan began jabbering rapidly in Spanish, and Jo Ann stopped a moment to listen. “The bear no have hambre tonight,” he told her.
She gazed at him questioningly. “Hombre? Man?” she repeated. “No sabe [I do not understand].”
Juan shook his head and began rubbing his hand over his stomach. “No—no hombre, h-ambre.”
Jo Ann’s face broke into a smile, “Ah, sí,” she replied, then turning to Peggy she explained: “He’s trying to tell us that the bear isn’t hungry tonight.”
“I guess he’s right,” agreed Peggy. “Anyway, I’ve had enough. I’m going to the house.”
She started off but had only gone a few steps when she realized Jo Ann was not following. “Aren’t you coming, Jo?” she called to her.
“Yes, in a minute. I want to ask Juan about that light.” Pointing to the light, she asked, “What is it, Juan?”
“Ah, that. It is the light of a carbonero.”
“But what is a carbonero?” she asked again.