Froila,  after  many  stormy  words,

Claimed  the  boy's  pony.     Gaspar  only  laughed.
Then  the  ventero  said,  that  he,  as  judge —

(Since  in  his  pueblo,  that  is,  in  his  venta,

There  was  no  higher  officer  than  he)

He  would  decide  this  cause,  but  needed  time

To  weigh  it  with  punctilious  precision.
So  he  sat  down  and  smoked.     The  day  wore  on,

And  still  he  smoked,  Gaspar  supplying  him,

And  smoking  with  him.     Late  that  afternoon,

He  said  he  would  decide  our  cause  for  us.
He  had  a  colt,  that  we  should  buy  of  him ;

And  if  we  could  not  wait  to  have  him  caught,

Or  if  we  could  not  ride  him,  then  the  boy


94  MARIQUITA.
Must  let  us  have  the  pony  for  our  journey,
And  ride  the  colt.     Four  ounces  was  his  price.
Froila  fetched  the  saddles,  and  desired
That  I  should  pay  the  price.     Without  a  word,
Gaspar  led  out  the  pony,  and  she  placed
Her  saddle  on  his  back,  and  then  prepared
To  mount.     The  pony  reared,  and  struck  at  her
With  his  forefeet.     At  every  fresh  attempt,
She  risked  a  broken  arm.     Gaspar  looked  grave.
And  said  it  would  not  do ;  he  never  knew
The  pony  play  such  pranks.     The  Senorita,
Perhaps,  would  ride  the  pony ;  and  he  whispered,
"  The  Jaca  knows  you,  and  will  carry  you
Without  a  fault."     And  so  it  proved.     The  boy
Had  trained  it  to  be  quiet  when  he  pleased,
As  well  as  to  play  antics  when  he  pleased.
I  mounted  it  with  ease,  and  we  set  out —
Froila  riding  on  the  mule,  and  I
Upon  the  tricky  pony.
