midday
Groups of peons , muffled to the eyes with their serapes , were sitting with their backs to the adobe walls , apparently fast asleep ; but Frank noted that glittering , black eyes peered out from between the serapes and the huts , and he had no doubt but that many of the fellows would willingly cut a throat for a ridiculously small sum of money . Within the town it was different . All day the window shutters had been closely barred , but now they were flung wide , and the flash of dark eyes or the low , musical laugh of a señorita told that the maidens who had lolled all the hot day were now astir . Doors were flung wide , and houses which at midday had seemed uninhabited were astir with life . In the patios beautiful gardens were blooming , and through iron gates easy-chairs and hammocks could be seen . Many of the señoritas had come forth , and were strolling in groups of threes or fours , dressed in pink and white lawn , with Spanish veils and fans . The most of them wore white stockings and red-heeled slippers .