The children's attention to the story had been interrupted by the visitation of several mosquitoes.
"These are bad enough," exclaimed Antonio. "What must such a big mosquito have been like!"
"But, Klayukat, there is no water here. So why are there mosquitoes here?" asked Juanita.
"Here at your Señor Padre's house there is no water, but over the hill is there not the lagunita? There the mosquitoes breed, and from there they come over the hill to bother us sinful mortals. Ugh! They are sent by the devil to try our souls"; and Klayukat slapped his head with his two hands.
"Are they all afraid of smoke, Klayukat?" inquired Juanita.
"Every one of them will flee before smoke. They are all afraid of it," answered the old man.
"Then why don't we have a big fire and lots of smoke, and keep them away all the time?" asked Antonio.
"That, young Antonio, is for you to ask your Señor Padre."
"Let 's go to him now," cried Juanita. "Hurry, I hear these mosquitoes singing, 'I 'll suck your blood, suck, suck!' Don't you hear them, Tonio? Oh, Tonio, let 's run"; and she led the race.
