Don Pedro Zelaya climbed out on a projecting tree-branch and dropped on the animal's back, in the midst of one of its mad careenings. It stood stock still for a moment in bewilderment. Zelaya's sharp spurs soon stirred it into action. It ran, leaped, even bucked like a broncho, in trying to rid its back of the burden, but in vain. "Brava! Brava! Señor Zelaya. Soon will you have another gentle pony." "Let him chase thee around the race course," yelled a youth. "One hundred pesos to fifty he catches thee!" Zelaya found time to wave his acknowledgment of the persiflage. The steer suddenly tried rolling over and over to free itself. The man sprang to the ground each time it dashed itself down; then, with the litheness of a cat, leaped to its back as it arose. The animal finally gave up all efforts to throw the rider, and ran at full speed around the racing track, amidst the loud plaudits of the assembly. Señor Zelaya drew himself back into the branches of the tree, after a little, and his mount escaped to the forest. The men exhibited all manner of fancy riding. Some rode at the flank of a horse at gallop, or under the belly, or astride the neck. Others leaned from their saddles in flying sweep and picked up coins from the ground; or drew from the sand chickens buried to the head, yet so gentle the rider's hand that the fowl was not in the least injured. The shadows come early in the deep cañons. The queen sent her messengers to call the people around her throne while the winners received their prizes. Abelardo Peralta announced, in her name, that after the distribution luncheon would again be served in the pavilion. "Our queen makes Don Abelardo her chief courtier," remarked Lolita Hernandez in the hearing of a number. "They have been friends since childhood, Señorita Lolita," returned this young lady's dueña. Lolita laughed mirthlessly. "I fancy the captain from Madrid has offended. Perhaps her majesty saw him kissing Señora Valentino's hand this afternoon." "Fie! Fie!" from another dueña. "He touched only the tip of that lady's fingers with his own. I saw it myself." "Diffident soldier!" from a grave señor. "In my youth I would not have been content with so slight a token." "Manuel! Manuel!" from his wife. "Señora Moraga, thy husband thinks on his courtship of thee," spoke yet another dueña, laughing. "I'm sure it looked as if the Captain kissed the stranger lady's hand," Lolita reiterated. "I'm sure too Carmelita saw it, for we were dancing in the same set when it happened." "'Twas but a lady's favor and a man's privilege, little one," said Moraga. "Manuel! Manuel!" again from his wife. "And before such a child as Lolita!" "I know Carmelita favored Captain Morando above Don Abelardo the day of the dinner at her father's house. I saw it, and so did all the girls. I know she changed toward him to-day after what I--saw. I know she did." Señora Valentino approached the group.