He killed more time than he had counted upon. As the sun began to lower, and he and Don Enrico turned their horses for the ranch-house, the dogs started a coyote, and with one accord the Don, his guest, and his vaqueros, took up the trail, following the howls with hue and cry over mesa and along creeks, and by the time the dark had fallen, they were far toward Trabuco. They rode back laughing and singing, and making little dashes at racing, under the early stars. But their laughter was changed when they rode into the corral. News had come from the south, and a bad thing had happened there. The sheriff from Los Angeles had been ambushed by the Flores men at Niguel Rancho, and nine men were lying dead there. Carts were on the way to take them to San Juan for Christian burial, and Bryton had sent a messenger to Los Angeles with the word; the man had only checked his horse at San Joaquin ranch to shout out the news; that was hours ago. The Indian who had searched the ranges for Don Enrico had come back and said he was not to be found. Dona Refugia had thought it possible that they had heard the word on the ranges and ridden direct to San Juan, and thanked God they had not done so. She went on to recount to Rafael her terror of the night before, and the awful scene from which she had by no means recovered, and now for this horror to follow so close, and the dread that they might be left alone on the ranch--well, she was having chills at the thought. Ana was the only one not afraid, but with Ana gone to San Juan Capistrano-- Rafael grasped her arm so tightly that she gasped. "To San Juan?" he demanded. "Alone?" But he was certain of the answer before she spoke. "Holy Maria! What a grip you have! No. Did I not tell you? Well, we are crazy over it all; we forget. No; she went with your wife, and wild horses could not have held either one of them." "A malediction on the pair of them!" burst out Rafael. "God curse the horses they ride, that they break their necks on the way!" "Rafael, for Jesus' sake, not so loud!" and Dona Refugia tried to put her hand over his mouth, but he dashed it aside in fury. "Loud! Holy God! What do I care?" he demanded, wrathfully. "Do you know why they go like that? It is all a lie, that ambush story. That devil Ana Mendez has schemed to have some one ride past and call that out to you, so that they could pretend an excuse to ride anywhere away from here; and do you know why?" Dona Refugia was past speech, and could only shake her head dumbly. "Well, I will tell you. It is because Raquel Estevan did not mean to meet the friends you said you would be pleased to entertain on their arrival from Los Angeles. Dona Maria she will speak to, but Dona Angela is one of the heretics she vows her doors will not open to. That is the reason." "But, Rafael--" "Now listen to me," and he turned his fierce stride across the hall, "and God curse me if I do not keep my word!"