The Pride of PalomarKyne, Peter B. (Peter Bernard)
General
The Pride of Palomar
Kyne, Peter B. (Peter Bernard)
Asian Americans -- Fiction; California -- Fiction; Ranch life -- Fiction; Western stories
His cry brought an answering hail from Pablo, over at the barn, and
presently the old majordomo entered the compound. Farrel spoke sternly
to him in Spanish, and, with a shrug of indifference, Pablo unlocked
the door of the settlement-room and the Japanese cook bounded out. He
was inarticulate with frenzy, and disappeared through the gate of the
compound with an alacrity comparable only to that of a tin-canned dog.
"I knew he had been placed here temporarily," Don Miguel confessed,
"but I did think Pablo would have sense enough to let him out when
breakfast was over. I'm sorry."
"I'm not. I think that incident is the funniest I have ever seen," the
girl laughed. "Poor outraged fellow!"
"Well, if you think it's funny, so do I. Any sorrow I felt at your
cook's incarceration was due to my apprehension as to your feelings,
not his."
"What a fearful rage he is in, Don Mike!"
"Oh, well, he can help himself to the fruit of our famous lime-tree and
get sweet again. Pablo, you russet scoundrel, no more rough stuff if
you know what's good for you. Where is Panchito?"
"I leave those horse loose in the pasture," Pablo replied, a whit
abashed. "I like for see if those horse he got some brains like before
you go ride heem. For long time Panchito don' hear hees boss call
heem. Mebbeso he forget--no?"
"We shall see, Pablo."
XII
They walked out to the barn. In a little green field in the
oak-studded valley below, a dozen horses were feeding. Farrel whistled
shrilly. Instantly, one of the horses raised his head and listened.
Again Farrel whistled, and a neigh answered him as Panchito broke from
the herd and came galloping up the slope. When his master whistled
again, the gallop developed into a furious burst of speed; whereat
Farrel slipped inside the barn and shut the door, while round and round
the barn Panchito galloped, seeking the lost master.
Suddenly Don Miguel emerged and, with little affectionate nickerings,
the beautiful animal trotted up to him, ran his head over the master's
shoulder, and rubbed his sleek cheek against the man's. Farrel nuzzled
him and rubbed him lovingly between the ears before producing a lump of
sugar. Upon command, Panchito squatted on his hind quarters like a dog
and held his head out stiffly. Upon his nose Farrel balanced the lump
of sugar, backed away, and stood in front of him. The horse did not
move. Suddenly Farrel snapped his fingers. With a gentle toss of his
head, Panchito threw the lump of sugar in the air and made a futile
snap at it as it came down. Then he rose, picked the lump up
carefully, and, holding it between his lips, advanced and proffered his
master a bite.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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