After breakfast the two boys walked up and down the middle of the
square, and Roldan related his experience of the night. Adan listened
with open mouth and shortened breath.
"Caramba!" he ejaculated. "Is there to be a fight?"
"I am sure of it. Are you frightened?"
"Not I. I'd rather fight Indians than ford a river. But do you think we
can hold out?"
"We can try. And if they don't make the attack to-night, we shall have
the better chance, because the reinforcement will arrive to-morrow. But
that Anastacio suspects me, and doubtless he has discovered in some way
that the messenger has gone. I am sure there will be trouble to-night,
and I am going now to get a good sleep. Do you sleep, too; and see that
you eat no dulces for supper, lest they make you heavy."
He awoke about four in the afternoon. There was a babel of voices in the
plaza, and he sprang out of bed, excited with the thought that war had
begun. But he saw only a typical Mission Sabbath afternoon. Several
hundred Indians were seated on the ground in groups of two or three,
gambling furiously. Through the open gates opposite, Roldan could see a
spirited horse-race, a crowd of Indians betting at the top of their
voices.
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