“We do not treat our guests thus, in Mexico,” he said, “and you, of course, know that the hospitality of the old dons of Spain was proverbial.”
The Americans made a fine-looking cavalcade as they rode at an easy trot down to the field where the contests were to be held. All wore sombreros, held under the chin by a strap of rawhide. Riding trousers of the loose, Mexican style, red sashes and short jackets completed their attire. It was in fact only by their clear, cleanlooking skins and erect bearing that you could have told they were not of the Spanish race.
A large crowd had already gathered when they reached the “lists,” as the scene of the contests might be called. People came in costly carriages with great C-shaped springs, in humbler vehicles, and in back-country burro carts. From the town a great procession streamed out on foot, and everywhere there were Caballeros dashing about on fiery horses, riding with the reckless abandon of the Mexican horseman.
“We’re up against a likely looking lot of horsemen,” said Ralph, as they came in full view of the gay scene.
“We’ll have to do our best,” said Jack simply, “the more skilled our opponents are, the more credit it will be to us to defeat them if we can.”
In a corral some distance off were the cattle that were to be used in the lassoing contests. A curious crowd was gathered about them expatiating on their good points. All at once a band broke out into the Mexican national hymn as the Don and his daughter, accompanied by a party of guests, rode up to their seats in a small stand, protected by a striped awning, placed immediately opposite the tilting ring apparatus.
“Gee whillakers, it’s hard to believe that we’re in the twentieth century, ain’t it?” asked Coyote Pete, as he gazed about him.
“It’s like Don Quixote,” cried Ralph, quite carried away by the shifting pictures of color and life on the greensward about them.
“Donkey who?” inquired Coyote Pete, whose reading in the classics had not been extensive.
“Oh, a certain old gentleman in Spain whose specialty was going about rescuing beautiful maidens and getting into trouble.”