The Coolidge examiner., 1938-03-24
CHAPTER Vf-COntinued
But nv LADY. allow me-"


s.
But my Lady, allow me-"
Keep your hands off me, Siri /
will not move"
But. Sonora. see, it is night We
must go on. We must progressi"
''Progressl have done nothing
but progress for weeks-monthsi
And arrive nowherei Now / will
20 no farther"
The Captain gripped his hands.
But we have no water here. no
food-no provisions for the night
We can not stay here. Up. Sonora,
come, comet This is serious"
Eulalia settled herself firmly on
the ground.
Serious! I should say 1t was Sc
rious. No water-no foodl Is that
my fault? Is it my duty to see the
skins and casks are filled? Did l
send the provisions ahead so that
we should be without food?"
She tossed her hair out Of her eyes
and glared at him.
Look at mel Look at mel Di-
sheveled, dirty. hungry. thirsty,
weary. and no place to lay my
head! And it is your FAULT All, wait
until / tell his Excellency the Gov
,jsrnor how you have treated me!
Leading me into this. and offering
40 relief except riding more and
more miles to some spring which
no doubt will turn out to be dry
onel You are responsible"
Canete's dignity was touched.
Sonora. it was certainly not
that suggested this trip. 1t is no
pleasure jaunt to me, assure you.
It was only at the earnest solicita-
tons Of the Viceroy himself, in be-
half OF my friendship with your hus-
band the Governor. that undertook
st."
Nevertheless. you are RESPONSE
bic; you and the Viceroy-and the
King HIMSELF"
She clenched her hands and beat
them ON her breast.
81 wish his Exce1lency the Vice
roy Mayorga, and his Majesty the
King of Spain could be here. in
my place. II they're SO anxious to
make California colony, why don't
they come here themselves? Let
them have the dirt and heat and
thirst and cactus and rattlesnakes!
Would they want it then? Would
they call California the brightest
jewel in the diadem of Spain?"
She stamped her feet.
mo! No! They would say, as l
do, My God. is this California? Let
the Indians have it, or England, or
whoever wants it'll That's what they
would sayl And yet they let me. a
poor, defenseless woman sacrifice
herself to make California a crown
jewell"
Her voice reached a hysterical
pitch.
California. Spain's brightest Jew
eli Her choicest posseSsionl" she
nimicked ironically. Then her voice
broke.
SPANS rotten egg!" she
screamed. and leaned sobbing
against her saddle.
By this time the whole cavalcade
was milling around the spot.
Angustias stepped into the breach.
She smoothed her mistress hair, ar
ranged a scarf over it, patted the
heaving shoulders and whispered
meaningless, affectionate. comfort
ing words. Then she turned to Ca
nete.
II think you can help my lady to
mount now" she said.
AS the Captain stopped to take the
iady's foot in his hand he noticed
the moonlight play a strange trick
with Angustias' face. 1t almost
seemed that she winked.
To make sure he gave the duena a
tiff into her own saddle.
Thank yeu, SIR" she said grim
ly. Then, "You are a gentleman,
sir, but you need firmer hand"
Some time later they rode into
the camp at Santa Martha. and
found it in a great state of excite
ment Far. far below them a pillar
Of fire blazed against the dark night,
olazed, and faltered and hlazed
again.
Young Pedro riding before Ca
aete, as the burro had not been
found, shivered.
''Indians?" he asked. bad Indi-
ans?"
Then they heard running fset