"It is the day before Christmas, my friends."

"No! Madre de dios!" Roldan and Adan stood still. For a moment they felt
homesick. They saw the reproachful faces of their parents and brothers
and sisters, to say nothing of visions of unclaimed presents. But Rafael
gave them no time for regrets. He was the only child at home, and
delighted with his new companions.

"To-morrow many people will come," he said. "I have ten married sisters
and brothers. They all come from their ranchos, and many more. It will
be very gay, my friends."

"Good," said Roldan, dismissing regret. "We will enjoy."

"And after Christmas is gone I know of something else," said Rafael,
mysteriously. He glanced about. They stood in the midst of a great
vineyard, each engaged upon a large purple bunch. "Come," said Rafael,
with an air of mystery. "Not here. Some one may hide beneath the vines."

It was extremely unlikely, but the adventurers liked the suggestion and
followed their host breathlessly into the open field. "One day in the
summer," whispered Rafael, his eyes rolling about, "I went with four
vaqueros with a present of venison to Father Osuna. He was not at the
Mission, and a brother told us that he walked among the hills. I thought
I would go to meet him and receive his blessing. For a time I saw no
one, and I thought, 'Caramba! but the padre has long legs this hot
weather!' Just then he stood before me. He had walked out of the side of
the hill through a hole no wider than himself. He sweated like a bull
after coliar, and his cassock was gathered in his two hands, leaving his