Valerio drew his last breath as it parted
asunder, and they bore his dead body home in triumph to the Mission.
'But he is not forgotten. Stories are still told of his wonderful
deeds, and people still go in search of money that he is supposed to
have hidden in his cave. The Mexican women who tell suertes, or
fortunes, describe the location of the money; but, as soon as any one
reaches the cave, he is warned away by a little old man who stands in
the door and protects the buried treasure. An Indian lad, who was
riding over the hills one day with his horse and his dogs, dismounted
to search for his moccasin, when he suddenly noticed that the dogs
had chased something into a cave in the rocks. He followed, and,
peering into the darkness, saw two gleaming eyes. He thrust his
knife between them, but struck the air; and, though he had been
standing directly in front of the opening, so that nothing could have
passed him, yet he heard the clatter of hoofs and the tinkle of
spurs, and, turning, saw a mysterious horseman, whose pale face and
streaming hair melted into the mountain mist, as it floated down from
the purple Santa Ynez peaks into the lap of the vine-covered foot-
hills below.'
CHAPTER X: MORE CAMP-FIRE STORIES
'And still they watched the flickering of the blaze,
And talked together of the good old days.'
'Brava!' 'Bravissima!' 'Splendid, Polly!' exclaimed the boys.
'Bell, you're a great author!'
'Couldn't have done better myself--give you my word!' cried Jack,
bowing profoundly to Bell and Polly in turn, and presenting them with
bouquets of faded leaves hastily gathered from the ground.
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