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Roldan glanced about. "I'd rather be invited," he said doubtfully. But Adan had gone straight for the pot. He lifted it off the fire, fetched three broken plates and battered knives and forks from a shelf, and helped his friends and himself. Then he piously crossed himself and fell to.
"I leave you now," said Anastacio, "but remember if you attempt to escape you carry poisoned arrows in your backs." "Ay, Roldan!" exclaimed Adan, when their formidable host was out of hearing. "But this was more than we bargained for. I don't know whether I like it or not." "I must say I don't like the idea of being in the power of savages Indians," said Roldan, contemptuously.
Only the bold skill of the riders saved them from pitching sidewise down the steep slope, despite the brush, for they were unshod and their knees had weakened. But the grizzly, alas! was still master of the situation. In less than a moment the boys saw him lumbering along above them. He evidently had possession of a trail, more or less level. "Dios de mi alma!" cried Adan.
He is a sportsman as soon as he can walk upon his feet without the aid of the supporting âdan; he is in love as a permanent arrangement, and will go to any length, and run any risk, in order to satisfy his desires; and, as he is exceedingly touchy, and quick to take offence, he frequently seems to be in the condition which is known as 'spoiling for a fight. He is apt to 'buck' about the brave deeds of himself and his countrymen, in an untamed way which would discredit the Colonel of a Regiment who is privileged to 'buck' because his officers cannot attempt to check him.
The boys shot deer with Anastacio, and wrestled in the plaza. Occasionally the taciturn Indian unbent when sitting by the great bonfire in the open at night, and told wild tales of savage life before the padres came. Roldan admired his splendid supple body and fearless manhood, but the Indian was too sinister to inspire affection. Adan was loudly bored. Roldan's ardent imagination sustained him.
Adan bin Kaushan was in appearance a strong wiry Bedouin, before obtaining from me a turban he wore his bushy hair dyed dun, about forty- five years old, at least six feet high, with decided features, a tricky smile, and an uncertain eye. In character he proved to be one of those cunning idiots so peculiarly difficult to deal with.
The next prelate, Don Adán, was one of the leaders of the army that conquered Cordoba in 1236, and, entering the celebrated mezquita, sanctified its use as a Christian church. The history of the cathedral church is no less interesting.
"That we will," said Adan, emphatically. "We've done that before." The boys were given a good supper of meat roasted over coals, and a slice of Mission cake, then were escorted by Anastacio to the largest of the huts. "Enter and sleep," he said. "It is my hut. I shall sleep beside you."
He came up to me and blessed me, and whispered: 'Tell no one, my son. If you do' and he gave me a look that made my hair crackle at the roots. And to this day I have told no one. Did I tell my parents the priest would know in six hours. No boy has stayed here that I like. But now " "We will go to the hill and see for ourselves," said Roldan, promptly, and Adan gasped with horror and delight.
Now and again bats whirred past, and once a startled wildcat scurried across the path and darted up a tree, crying with terror. "If we only don't meet a bear," thought Roldan, who dared not speak lest his voice should shake courage and terrors apart. It was midnight when Adan announced with what emphasis was left in him, "We are lost."
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