y nothing ever happens, nothing thrilling, I mean."

"That's what we've decided that we want this year. We'll learn to ride
horseback well and we'll learn to use the rope, that is if we ever can,
which I doubt," laughed Bet. "And we can read and lazy around. I call
that an ideal summer."

After lunch at the hotel, the girls started out to explore the
settlement. "I love those adobe houses of the Mexicans," said Enid.
"Let's go over and get acquainted with some of the women."

But the women were shy. Most of them disappeared into the huts as they
saw the girls approaching. Only the children remained and stopped in
their play to stare at the newcomers.

"Aren't they pretty when they're little! Look at those dreamy black
eyes!" whispered Enid to Bet, who was trying to coax one small girl to
come and get a piece of candy.

Suddenly there was a scream and from the house at the end of the street
a small boy dashed out of the door, his clothes a mass of flame.

"It's Pedro Alvarez!" cried a Mexican woman nearby. But she made no
attempt to do anything. And the other women were screaming but seemed
helpless to rescue the child.

Bet did not wait to ask for a quilt or rug, there was no time for that.
She quickly slipped out of her dress, and catching the little fellow
wrapped him tight in the gown, smothering out the flames.

One look at the burns and she cried, "Oh the poor boy! Get the doctor
quickly, Kit."

While Bet held the child, Enid tore the half burned clothes from his
body.

"Bring oil!" Bet shouted, but the women seemed dazed and did not
understand. Bet looked about her desperately. "Run to the hotel,
Enid, and get oil, lots of it. Will that doctor never come!"

Kit at that moment came running back with the word that the doctor was
away and would not be back until noon.

The child's mother stood helplessly by, wringing her hands in despair.
She watched as Enid returned and poured the oil upon the burns.

"I wonder what they would have done if we had not been here," whispered
Shirley as the screams quieted down in the settlement. "They don't act
as if they knew anything about such things."

Bet held the little fellow in her arms until his cries ceased, then
getting clean sheets and pillows from the hotel they fixed up a bed for
him.

Later on, when the doctor arrived and examined the boy, he declared he
could not have given any better treatment than the girls had done.

"I'm so glad we