The Coolidge examiner., 1938-06-23
CHAPTER XXH-COutinued

is
And while she was toying nervous
iy with her quill, her husband and
young Pedro were sitting astride
their horses in Don Pedro's beloved
orchard.
The trees were full Of Indians,
gathering the luscious fruit that
hung in rich clusters. bright in the
autumn sunshine; early pears and
apples, late peaches and pomegran-
ates. Little naked boys. pajareros,
ran through the orchard with rattles
and miniature bows and arrows,
frightening away the clouds of birds
that had assembled to steal the ripe
fruit.
As fast as the fruit was picked, it
was loaded into panniers on mules,
and carried to the shore, where
boats were piled high and Dared to
the Astrolabe and the Boussole, a
princely offering from the Spanish
Governor to the expedition Of the
Count de La Perouse.
The Governor and his son watched
the scene with pleasure. The move
ment and life. the color. and the
clamor of many voices was pleasant
TO them. They looked at each other
and smiled, completely at harmony
together.
An Indian passed them carrying
hacLya4 e4r 80 ~
supported from his brow with
thongs. 1t was filed to the rim
with purple grapes. The Governor
stopped him, and made a note on a
list he carried in his hand.
Twenty baskets of grapes" he
said Hum" to the Indian. that
will be enough grapes. No more to-
day. Vayase." The Indian plodded
on.
Yes" continued the Governor,
following the basket Of grapes with
his eyes, that will have to be
enough. We must have enough left
for the vintage But have already
sent them barrels of wine. so / do
not think l am selfish. Do you?"
''Pues, moi" cried the boy. And
too. we would not have any grapes
for the fiesta, the vendimia And
we must have, mustn't we? And
won't it be soon?"
Yes, / think it will be soon. Yes,
we must have a great fiesta this
year just for ourselves. 1t
has been nice to have the Franceses
here, but il will be nice to have a
party just for ourselves. / think
there is little bull that is ready
to meet a torero, and there is an
other that will make a barbecue.
And we will have some horse-races,
and some cock-fghts. and some of
the Indian boys will wrestle. and
there will be music and dancing.
All de mi, what a vendimia it will
bel"
And Mother will sit on throne
with grapes and leaves on her head
for a crown. and be queen Of the
fiesta!''
Yes, yes, and again yes! Look,
they hurry down to the beach to see
who .comes?"
It was an Indian messenger from
the camp of La Perouse. asking that
something.
AS they reached the beach. they
could see a cloud of smoke. and
strange activity going on. On COM
ing closer they discovered La Cob
ernadora with Angustias. and al
most all of the people of the presid-
10. who had evidently been sum-
moned hastily by messenger from
La Perouse.
The Frenchman came hurrying to
Pedro FACES.
II had a thought at the last min
ute." he said hurriedly. You have
been so wonderful to me. all of
your people have, that wanted to
give an occasion special for you We
are to have a balloon ascension!"
Balloon ascension!' exclaimed
the Governor II have heard Of bal
looms but never seen one"
Regard, then" said La Perouse
dramatically. there is balloon
which was given us to take on our
voyage around the world. Why, l
do not know, unless it was to i'm
press people around the globe that
Frenchmen now make balloons!
What good they can ever be. can
not see, but they say some day they
will be made strong enough 70 carry
men"
There will never be one strong
enough to carry met" laughed
FACES. He and young Pedro dis
mounted and hurried on foot after
La Perouse to where the great mus
lin bag was slowly filing with
smoke, its rounding sides showing
strange designs and pictures.
I'VE have had it up once before
on this trip" explained La Perouse.
'That was in Lima. hope it will
ascend nowl" he said anxiously.
And at lsst it did. Slowly it stag
gered into the air.
Everyone regarded it with amaze
rent. Some of the Indians NUT
tered, and several old women pros
trated themselves on the ground.
Accompanied with a chorus of in