"Oh, yes; but what is that? All are cousins here. His wife is not a good woman; she is drunk many times, though he is well enough himself. He thinks if she had the child, his wife would be better, but I do not believe it."
Margarita had been listening attentively. She went up to her brother, put her hand in his and said in Spanish:
"Hernando told me he would give me pretty clothes if I would go home with him, and I said the lady had given me some. He said I could every day have candy, but I told him we had plenty here. I do not want to go with Hernando."
"And you shall not go, Margarita," promised her brother. "You shall not go."
All that day the pedlar's bell could be heard through the valley; the children met him in their rambles several times, but he did not come to their camp again.
The following morning, as they were preparing to go with Francisco for water, he passed them.
"Are you going away for good now?" inquired Walter.
"Yes, until fall at least," said the pedlar. "I have sold nearly all my things. I am off to San Jacinto for more."
His horses trotted off briskly, and the team was soon out of sight. According to their usual custom the children remained some time at the cold spring. Nellie and 'Rita strolled from place to place, looking for "sour-grass"; the boys lay in the shade of one of the large trees.
"Ay! ay!" shouted Francisco, after they had been there quite a while. "It is time."