Page:The Road to Monterey (1925).pdf/382

 vanza," she said, coming straight to the patron. "Count them—see that every one is there. I will watch them no more! The Americans are coming—I am free!"

Don Abrahan did not give the slightest heed to Liseta's defiant proclamation, although the others heard her eagerly. He was looking along the lane after the fleeing cavalrymen.

"What hope is there for a nation whose soldiers run from a flock of goats!" said Don Abrahan, contemptuous bitterness in his voice.

"Goats!" Liseta mocked him. "If you had seen the Americans, Don Abrahan, you would have run after the soldiers!"

"Where are they, Liseta?" Henderson inquired, doubting the girl's excited report.

"There, a little way behind me. I saw them coming through the pass. I had watched for them many days, since you told us, Don Gabriel, they would come. I gathered the goats"

"How many, Liseta? Where are they? There is nobody in the road."

"The road is full of them, I tell you, Don Gabriel. There are as many horses as Don Abrahan has goats."

All had turned to gaze through the falling dust-cloud raised by the goats. Helena ran to the defenses, mounted the cannon, and stood looking up the Monterey road.

"They are coming!" she announced, almost shrieking in the mounting of her sublime joy. She