fountain, they ate a hearty meal, Bob demonstrating in his usual
fashion that he was quite hungry.

The girls took turns in explaining their experiences since coming to
California. The bungalow, which they rented, was on the outskirts of
the village of San Felicity, which was part of what had once been an
old Mexican town. It was located on the shores of a secluded bay, and
the bungalow was about ten minutes' walk from the water.

"Do you think there are any horned toads around here?" asked the
professor, when the meal was finished, and they had gone out on the
veranda.

"I don't know, I'm sure," replied Mr. Seabury. "I'll ask Ponto, he
knows everything there is to be known about this place. Ponto! I say,
Ponto!"

"Yais, sah, I'se comin' sah!" and from somewhere in the depths of the
garden the voice sounded. A moment later the colored man appeared,
trying to hide a broad yawn.

"Ponto, do you know-- well, I declare, if you haven't been asleep
again!"

"I-- I-- er-- I jest was weedin' de garden, Massa Seabury, an' I done
felt so warm dat I jest closed mah eyes, jest fo' a second, not a
minute longer, no sah, not a minute. Guess I knows better dan t' go t'
sleep when yo' got company sah!" and Ponto looked very much hurt at
the accusation.