Breakfast was served presently, in high state, on the table reserved for honored guests. Savory venison, chili, fish, eggs, _tortillas_, _etole_, _enchiladas_, cream and steaming coffee--such was the fare. Don Francisco sat gravely by to bear him company, while a silently hovering damsel anticipated every need. Thence, when his host could urge no more upon him, to the deep shading cottonwoods. Wine was brought and the "makings" of XXXX cigarettes--corn-husks, handcut; a great jar of tobacco; and a brazier of mesquite embers. At a little distance women washed, wove or sewed; the young men made buckskin, fashioned quirts, whips, ropes, bridle-reins, tie-straps, hobbles, pack-sacks and _chaparejos_ of raw-hide; made cinches of horse-hair; wrought ox-yokes, plow-beams and other things needful for their simple husbandry. Meanwhile, Don Francisco entertained his guest with grave and leisurely recital of the year's annals. Mateo, son of Sebastian, had slain a great bear in the Pass of All the Winds; Alicia, daughter of their eldest, was wed with young Roman de la O, of Canada Nogales, to the much healing of feud and ancient hatred; Diego, son of Eusebio, was proving a bold and fearless rider of wild horses, with reason, as behooved his father's son; he had carried away the _gallo_ at the _Fiesta de San Juan_, with the fleet dun colt "creased" from the wild bunch at Quemado; the herds had grown, the crops prospered, all sorrow passed them by, through the intercession of the blessed saints. The year's trophies were brought. He fingered with simple pride the great pelt of the silver-tip. Antlers there were and lion-skins, gleaming prisms of quartz, flint arrowheads and agates brought in by the shepherds, the costly Navajo blanket won by the fleet-limbed dun at Canada races. Hither came presently another visitor--Florentino, breaker of wild horses, despite his fifty years; wizened and withered and small, merry and cheerful, singer of forgotten folk-songs; chanting, even as he came, the song of Macario Romero--Macario, riding joyous and light-hearted, spite of warning, omen and sign, love-lured to doom and death. "'Concedame una licencia Voy a ir a ver a me Chata.' "Dice Macario Romero, Parando en los estribos: 'Madre, pues, esto voy a ver, Si todos son mis amigos!'" And so, listening, weary and outworn, Jeff fell asleep. * * * * *