He could see clearly the face of Don Antonio, the major-domo, and instinctively his right hand reached for his gun. Then he shrugged his shoulders at his own folly, and bent his head to listen. Don Antonio was speaking Americano to a man riding beside him, and the man behind the cactus frowned impatiently,--the villanous tongue was an added grievance. A few rebellious animals had made a dash for the cliff, and Don Antonio waved his sombrero and ranged his horse across the road. His companion did the same, and to give the vaqueros time to cross the river after them, the two stood guard in the shadow of the cactus, and rolled cigarros and smoked leisurely, while the horsemen, in jingling spurs and all the bravery of the Mexican riders' outfit, circled and lassoed the pick of the herd for the Apache work of the government in the desert lands. "It is quicker done than it was a year ago," the American remarked approvingly, "and the horses are in better condition. If you can let us have the five hundred from the La Paz ranges, there should be no trouble about making up the other five hundred from the San Mateo." "Not any, senor," agreed Don Antonio, "I send a man down to have them round-up for next week. You no want that they begin sooner than that?" "To-morrow," returned the other with smiling decision. "To-morrow! Holy Maria and Jose! You will cut out the fiesta and the barbecue always given for the army men? Senor Bryton, the Don Miguel and Don Rafael Arteaga will feel offend if you refuse their hospitality except for the little--little while, the horse herd is arranged for." "Sorry to offend the young men," observed the other. "But since Don Miguel is ranging in some other part of California, and your Don Rafael is in Mexico getting married or making love,--which is it?--I reckon they will not miss us much." "No, senor, it is not to marry down there, only to make it all arrange. His mother, the Dona Luisa, is there in Mexico since San Pascual; but Dona Luisa will be more old and crippled than she is now, before she lets Don Rafael be marry outside her own Mission." "So they come back here for the ceremony?" "Sure! Dona Luisa she marry Don Vicente, here in San Juan Capistrano. It is here he have the big trouble with the padre, and the padre put the curse on him that long time ago. It is here that he is brought back dead from San Pascual. And now when the sons have make much trouble, all are dead but two, and when Dona Luisa, who was so proud, has only Indian grandchildren, she wants to marry Rafael to a senorita who is half a nun, that the curse may be lifted. She think that girl do more to keep him from walking in Miguel's shoes than prayers to the saints can do; and it may be,--who knows? I hear you talking of the padre's curse to the Alcalde, so I know you hearing the story." "Um--something of church property south of here, wasn't it?" remarked the American. "Yes, I remember. There goes a mare that is a beauty for a mustang."