"My good Brown, it is wiser that you stay here to-night." "Simply can't do it. One reason is, the Cap'n's business. The other is, my own business." "At any rate, partake of the food and wine. You can the better go on your journey." Brown did as invited. After a moment he said: "Aren't some folks doin' more or less pull-hauling toward makin' California English territory?" "It is true. Haven't you known it for some time?" "Well, I should say not!" contemptuously. "Your preferences are not English?" "My family," emphatically, "has spilled too much blood fighting 'em, for that. Not," apologetically, "but what some pretty good Britishers exist; but if anybody gets this country, it's Uncle Sam." "Have you spoken in this way to the Captain?" "Haven't got round to it yet. You bet I do before this time to-morrow. Then I strike the long trail back to old Missouri, either on ship or on shank's mare." "If you leave your present employment at any time, I wish you would apply to me before going farther. Well, here comes my daughter." Carmelita greeted the American cordially. "I am delighted to see you in my father's house." "I reckon it's a good place to be in. Wish I could stay longer, but I'm anxious to get to Monterey." He was obdurate to Mendoza's urging him to remain as his guest till more could be learned as to the renegades. "I can travel by night along a trail I know. They won't see I'm not one of themselves. All men look alike in the dark." Mendoza, greatly reluctant, allowed Brown to be off. He sent a strong guard of fighting peons with him. "Reckon it's the proper caper to travel in style now I'm a landed proprietor. Gosh! Wouldn't my dad be proud to see me now!" "When you come to this house you come to your own," the host had insisted at parting. "Mr. Mendoza is a tolerable generous old gent," Brown remarked to the leader of peons who rode by his side. "No sabe, señor." "Well, your ignorance is thick enough to be cut with a knife. Hey?" "No sabe, señor." "Well," resignedly, "that is about all I've been able to get out of men like you for months." They were presently in San José. The pueblo was in an almost hysterical state. Morando had drawn with him nearly all the men capable of bearing arms. Rumors were flying about that the Spanish force had been cut to pieces and that Yoscolo was about to descend on the country. Brown did not understand a word of what was being said. He insisted on starting for Monterey. The peon leader ordered his men to detain him by force. "Gosh darn yer! Gosh darn yer!" the American shouted. "Leggo my horse! Leggo my horse, I say!"