Page:Caroline Lockhart--The full of the Moon.djvu/210

 gesticulation. They were making ready for a race, Nan thought, or for some feat of Mexican prowess, so she pulled her horse far to one side and rode at a leisurely gait into the plaza.

Instantly she more than divided attention with the horsemen at the other end, though she was a familiar sight on horseback to them all.

There was no friendliness in the rows of black eyes turned intently upon her; derision, mockery, scorn of the gringo, but no longer fear or respect. Had not the Spain lick the America? and had they not Juan Ospino's word for it? Nan heard their scoffing tones, then a jeer, a hoot as she passed, and her blood tingled. But there was only one thing for her to do, and that was to ride on with her head high and ignore the insults.

At a shrill command the horses grouped at the end of the plaza leaped forward. With a thunder of hoofs and their riders shrieking like madmen, they came headlong. In the center of the square the foremost swung downward from his saddle and made a frantic swoop with his outstretched hand at the