Brown looked dubiously at the other. The señor's suave dignity forbade the thought that he was joking. "I declare, I never had so much property before in my life. Does the deed go with it?" Mendoza smiled and repeated his gestures. "I don't reck'n I'll go in just now," he said dryly. "You see, I'm workin' and my time isn't my own. I'm lookin' for the minister of that there church," pointing to the Mission over the way. "I can't make the feller in the box catch my meanin'." "Ah! You wish to see Padre Osuna?" "That's the name written here," producing the envelope. "Very well, my friend. Come with me. I'll speak to the porter for you." "Señor Brown, shall I accompany you across the way?" "I'll be much obleeged." "Filipo!" called Mendoza. Filipo understood. He came out the gate, took the horse's bridle from Brown, then clapped his hands together sharply. A peon boy came running. The porter gave quick command in Spanish. The boy sprang into the saddle and galloped after the riflemen. "I--see here--" ejaculated the astonished Missourian. "Why, I have to ride that nag to Monterey to-night!" alarm beginning to show in his face. "The horse will be fed and cared for, Señor Brown," assured Mendoza. "I'll see that you have a mount to Monterey." Then quickly: "You rode through the lower Santa Clara from Monterey to-day?" "Sure, I did." "Saw no signs of renegades?" "Nary sign. Haven't seen a renegade since I swatted a bunch over last week." The two went in the direction of the Mission lodge. Noting the erect figure and decisive step of the Californian, Brown squared his heavy shoulders and endeavored to walk in dignified fashion. Mendoza said a few words to the lodge keeper. The gate opened noiselessly. "Brown, you are to enter. When your business is over, come to my house. Do not start for Monterey until I see you again. Will you promise, my friend?" The señor held out his hand. "All right. I don't know where my horse is anyhow. Besides, I'd enjoy to come in and set a spell." He administered several hearty handshakes. Mendoza turned and walked toward his own gate. "I declare," Brown soliloquized, "in my country that 'seenyore' there would have come right into the preacher's setting room and stayed around a while." The porter, by crooking his finger, indicated that Brown was to follow him. "All right," assented Brown. "I'll follow where you can lead anyway." The Indian took him within the quadrangle. The busy life he saw attracted his attention. "A lot of you folks do seem to be working at something or other," he remarked to the porter. "No sabe, señor," was the answer. "Seems to me I heard you say something like that before." They came to the friar's apartments. Juan Antonio met them. "Be you the Reverend?" asked Brown. "No sabe, señor," from the old major-domo. "That there 'pears to be a common remark," commented Brown. Juan Antonio signaled Brown to come with him.