know. I'll get an early start at cleaning tomorrow morning, so I can go
with you."

An amused expression slipped into each girl's face at the familiar words
"an early start."

So it was that, immediately after the siesta hour, the girls and Miss
Prudence set out on horseback on a general inspection trip of the mining
camp.

"We won't have time to go down into the mine this time," Miss Prudence
said as they rode off. "Ed says that he wants us to go all through it
soon, though."

"We're very anxious to go down into the mine, aren't we, girls?" said Jo
Ann.

"We surely are," both replied.

With the greatest satisfaction Jo Ann and Peggy pointed out the rows of
neat, substantial limestone houses, each one very homelike with flowers
and vines.

"The Mexicans love beauty," Florence remarked to Miss Prudence as they
passed a house one side of which was covered with a bougainvillea vine
aflame with pinkish purple flowers. The tiny yard was a riot of color,
too.

"Yes, I've noticed that they are very fond of flowers," Miss Prudence
agreed. "Carlitos told me today that Maria had asked him if I'd brought
some flower seed with me--that she wanted to see if she could grow some
new kinds of flowers."

Jo Ann, who had been listening to their conversation, now called out,
"That reminds me, let's dig up some ferns and cactus--that kind that has
bright red blossoms--this afternoon and plant them in our pottery jars.
And let's make a rock garden in the patio, too, and plant all the
different kinds of cacti we can find."

"A grand idea," the girls agreed, and Miss Prudence nodded approvingly.

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