The Valiant Runaways | Page 9

us to death--that is, if he
gets us--which he won't. Adan!" he cried, "lower the ladder."
Benito began to cry, his terror enhanced by the babel of voices on the
wall, each of which was suggesting a different measure. On the
opposite wall and in the branches of a neighbouring tree were the
Indian servants and the vaqueros. They stared stupidly, with shaking
lips.
Adan had recovered his presence of mind. With a firm hand, he
lowered the ladder. But his wit was not quick. He should have carried it
along the wall and placed it behind the boys. Instead, it descended
several yards away. The bear, who appeared to be no fool, lowered his
forepaws and trotted slowly toward the boys.
"Juan!" shouted Roldan to a vaquero. "Lasso the bull and drag him to
the west side--far from the gate."
The vaquero, alert enough under orders, swung the lasso with supple
wrist--and missed. The boys dodged the bear, who seemed in no haste,
but stalked them methodically, nevertheless. The vaquero swung again.
This time the rope caught the horns, was tightened by a quick turn, and
the carcass went thudding across the yard. The bear gave a furious howl
and plunged after. The boys scampered up the ladder. Don Jose took
each by the collar and shook them soundly. When they were released
they embraced each other.
"Ay! but I was inhospitable to fight my guest," sobbed Benito.
"Ay, my friend," said Roldan, with dignity, winking back the tears
started by various emotions. "It is I who should have had my ears
boxed by the bear for insulting my host, and bringing anguish to the
house of Perez." Then he embraced Adan, but this time mutely.
Dona Theresa had been carried to her room, where she lay prostrated

with a nervous headache; but her family and guests did ample justice to
the chickens stewed in tomatoes, the red peppers and onions, the fried
rice, tamales, and dulces which her cook had prepared in honour of the
event. Excitement and good will reigned; even Don Jose had forgiven
the young offenders, and they all talked at once, at the top of their
voices, as fast as they could rattle and with no falling inflection. Roldan
and Adan were pressed to remain at the Hacienda Perez until the search
was over, and although the former had a secret yearning for adventure
he was more than half inclined to consent.
After a brief siesta the entire male population of the hacienda retired to
the wall of the corral to pot the bear. It was agreed that each should fire
at once, and that he who missed should have no dulces for a week.
The bear was sitting near the middle of the corral, surly but replete, for
he had eaten of the bull. Don Jose gave the signal. Twenty-two shots
were fired. The bear gave a roar which awoke the echoes of the forest,
lunged frantically on shattered legs, then fell, an ugly heap of dusty
grey hair.
As the smoke cleared and Don Jose was announcing that only two
Indian servants had missed, Benito clutched Roldan's arm suddenly.
"Look up," he said. "Do you see anything? Are not those men;
soldiers?"
Roldan looked up to a ledge of the high mountain before the house. A
bend of the trail traversed a clearing. In this open were three men on
horseback, motionless for the moment.
"Adan!" shouted Roldan. He ran down the ladder.
"I cannot be sure that those are the soldiers," he called up to Don Jose.
"But I take no risks. We must go."
The others descended hastily. "My sons will have to hide too," said
Don Jose. "There is plenty of time. In a moment those men will be in
the forest again and can see nothing more for half an hour. We must do
nothing while they watch--there! they have gone."
He shouted to the vaqueros to saddle six fresh horses, and ordered the
house servants to pack the bags with food.
"There is a cave in the mountain on the other side which I defy anyone
to find," said Don Jose. "If there were a war my sons should fight, but I
need them now."
While the horses were saddling, Roldan and Adan consulted together.

At the end of a few moments the former went up to Don Jose.
"I think it would be wiser to separate," he said. "Adan and I will go one
way, your sons another. That will put them off the track; and the cave,
Carlos says, is not very large."
"As you like," said Don Jose, who was perturbed and busy. "A vaquero
will go with you for a distance and advise you."
The truth was, Roldan fancied lying inert in a cave for