"Have you had enough?" asked Ned as the last piece of scorched bacon
disappeared.
"Enough?" answered Alan. "A regular banquet!"
Just then there was a loud thump on the closed door of the barn.
"The hands are arriving," explained Ned, and he hastened to open the
door.
A few of the workmen were there, but the knocking had been done by a
pleasant faced woman--apparently a Mexican. A black shawl covered
her head and one arm. It was Mrs. Bourke, Buck's wife.
"I thought," she said smiling, "hungry."
Without further words she threw back the shawl and revealed a small
tin pail. The appetizing odor made Ned's mouth water. In the
bottom of the bucket were frijoles, or boiled and fried Mexican
black beans cooked in pepper, and on top of these were a half dozen
smoking hot tortillas or corn cakes.
"Mrs. Buck," exclaimed Alan, "you have saved our lives!"
All recollection of his recent banquet seemed to have disappeared,
and so did Mrs. Bourke's bucket of beans and cakes, in double-quick
order. The reward was a bright silver dollar for the thoughtful
woman and a contract that she should come three times a day and
prepare the boys' meals.
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