"
Roldan thanked him profusely, then said: "I have reasons for not wishing
ANY ONE to know that I have not returned to my father's house. I beg
that you will tell no one, not even a priest, that we have been here,
for three days at least."
"The senor's wishes shall be obeyed. The Senor Don returns not for a
week. No one shall know until then of the honour that has been done to
his house."
The boys rode rapidly through the wood over a broad road that had
evidently been traversed many times. The sky was leaden, but no rain
fell. Nor was there any wind. The lake could not have been smoother were
it frozen, although it reflected the grey above. Wild ducks and snipe
broke its monotony at times, now and again a jungle of tules. In less
than an hour the travellers were ascending the mountain by easy grades,
a black forest of pines about them. It was darker here, but the road was
clearly defined, and they talked gaily of adventures past and to come.
In Los Angeles they had many relatives, and they knew that a royal
welcome would be given them. They would see the gay life of which they
had heard so much from their brothers; and they magnanimously resolved
that after a week of it they would return to their anxious parents.
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