were right here on the spot," said Bet. "We were
trying to get acquainted with the children when it happened."

After the accident, it was an easy matter. The children followed them
about the settlement and the women offered them all that their small
stores contained. They insisted that the girls must eat tamales,
enchilades, tortillas and all the other Mexican dishes that they
cooked, with corn meal and peppers.

And when the train left late that night, the whole settlement turned
out to bid them good-bye.

"What a miserable time we would have had," exclaimed Joy as she waved
her hand back toward the station, "if it hadn't been for those
Mexicans."

Much to the disgust of Sam, a package had been sent aboard by the
grateful mother of Pedro Alvarez. It contained more of the Mexican
cooking that the girls had praised.

But only Joy really cared for it. "Of course it burns, but can't you
get that wonderful flavor?" she exclaimed as Shirley and Bet turned up
their noses at the food.

"You like anything that can be eaten!" said Bet with a laugh.

Shirley had brought away many picturesque bits of western life from the
little settlement. "If they just come out as lovely as they were in
the finder, I'll have some beauties to send back to Colonel Baxter."

The girls were too excited to drop to sleep quickly that night. Early
the next day they would reach Benito.

"Dad says that Tommy Sharpe will be there to meet us," said Enid. "I
wonder if he has grown?" Enid had found this boy on Campers' Trail.
He was half starved and ill. And when her parents had found her, Enid
insisted that the child who had helped her, should be looked after.
Judge Breckenridge, on the advice of the doctor, had sent the boy to
his ranch in Arizona, hoping that he would grow strong.

"Oh, I almost forgot about Tommy," said Bet. "Won't we be glad to see
him!"

"I do wish Dad and Mum would come to meet me. I don't suppose they
will, but I don't see how I can wait until I get to the hills."

"I think they'll come," said Enid.

At the first peep of dawn Kit was awake. She dressed quickly and went
to the window in the drawing room to watch the sun rise on the desert.

Out of the violet-grey mist, streaks of rose shot out like long
fingers, reaching far up into the sky. Kit stood it as long as she
could alone, then ran and wakened the girls.

"Do come, girls, you don't know what you're missing."

Slipping into robes, they quickl