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 sleepy lids of his eyes lifting, showing them keen and bright.

"You are the man from the ship who lived with Don Abrahan; I have heard of you," he said. He offered his hand, in the ease of perfect equality, with all the dignity of his years. "And you are the one who gave the young bear a green eye, and left him whining for the lady of his desire. It is a pleasure to grasp your hand, Don Gabriel."

Gabriel's embarrassment was little less than his surprise at hearing his exploits so widely known and so romantically embellished, but he gave old Pablo a warm return of his greeting, seeing that he was sincere.

"It is said the Americans are coming soon to take this country and add it to their own," Pablo said. "But I do not know. Have you heard of this, Don Gabriel?"

"They will come, Mr. Gonzales. How soon, I do not know."

"If they will leave me my house, and not break down the wall around my garden. I shall need them only a little while longer now, if they will leave them to me, Don Gabriel."

"No honest man will be poorer for their coming, your house and your garden will be secure, Mr. Gonzales. It is only the rascals and oppressors of the poor who will feel the difference."

"Some say they will set the peones free from the hands of such men as Don Abrahan, the magistrate. If so, I pray God to hasten the day."