She walked on inside and quickly explained to José that her father, who was a doctor, had come down to see how Pepito was getting along.
José stepped forward and politely shook hands with Dr. Blackwell; then each member of his family timidly followed his example.
“I’m much interested in your son Pepito,” Dr. Blackwell told José in his fluent Spanish. “I’d like to see if there’s anything I can do to help him.”
José hesitated a moment, then began apologetically, “I no have money and——”
With a little gesture of his hand Dr. Blackwell dismissed this objection. “That’s all right. I don’t want money.”
On hearing this José turned and called Pepito to his side.
Knowing the nature of the Indian so well, Dr. Blackwell realized that he must win Pepito’s confidence first before he could make a complete examination.
While he was busy with Pepito, María called the three girls to the back of the cave. She gestured proudly to the baby lying in a rope hammock. “See, my Pepito fix this like you say.”
Jo Ann smiled approvingly. “That was clever of Pepito to use my idea of a charcoal bag for a hammock, wasn’t it, girls?”
“It was clever of him to fasten it to these stalactites, too,” added Peggy. “Aren’t they beautiful? They’re so white and sparkling back here where the smoke hasn’t reached them. Stalactites always remind me of big icicles hanging from the roof.”