Chapter III

A Surprise

Next morning, having returned from the timber-slopes,
Felipe, fresh and radiant, appeared
outside the corral in holiday attire. Part of this
attire was a pair of brand-new overalls. Indeed,
the overalls were so new that they crackled; and
Felipe appeared quite conscious of their newness,
for he let down the bars with great care, and with
even greater care stepped into the inclosure.
Then it was seen, since he was a Mexican who ran
true to form, there was a flaw in all this splendor.
For he had drawn on the new overalls over the
older pair -- worse, had drawn them on over _two_
older pairs, as revealed at the bottoms, where
peered plaintively two shades of blue -- lighter blue
of the older pair, very light blue of the oldest pair -- the
effect of exposure to desert suns. So Felipe
had on three pairs of overalls. Yet this was not
all of distinction. Around his brown throat was a
bright red neckerchief, while between the unbuttoned
edges of his vest was an expanse of bright
green -- the coloring of a tight-fitting sweater.

There was reason for all this. Felipe was going
to town, and he was taking the mare along with

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