Enrico, turning, faced his fellows. "I'll not say, men," he exclaimed, "but whatever ye be, go to service in the house, and let the maids there ride with the señorita doña and me to the chastising of Stanislaus. Go, for we are wasting time while the hostiles' pace marks leagues the hour. Go! Cook the feed, wash the dishes, make the beds, while the peonas do the fighting. Ye cowards! Go into the house where ye belong." Enrico's sarcasm brought no result. He turned back to Carmelita. The girl looked past the old peon's upturned face, over the heads of the unresponsive Indians, out into the distance, her eyes resting on the eastern hills. "I hear no other offer. So be it. A woman and a crippled old man ride forth alone. It shall not be said that the deed of to-day passes unopposed." Her face hardened, bright spots showing in either cheek. Her mouth set in lines which bespoke the fixity of her purpose. Enrico raised his hands with affection and reverence. "Señorita doña, these arms carried thee before thy tongue could lisp a word. I will go without thee. Thou must not----" "Hush! hush! old friend. Zunello," to a stable boy, "two horses ready for the mounting, and two rifles. Be quick! Bring them here." As said, so done. "Come Enrico, I'll lend thee a shoulder to help thee to the saddleseat." In a moment she too was on her horse. She checked its head high and reined it mountainward. "Wait, señorita, wait! Here, doña, here! I will go. And I! So will I! So will I! I! I! I!" swelled in hoarse tones from the multitude. "Take them at their word at once," whispered Enrico. She needed no second prompting. Couriers were sent posthaste to San José pueblo, Yerba Buena and Monterey, with messages acquainting the different comandantes of the raid. The Mendoza armory was opened and muskets, powder and ball apportioned to the volunteers. While horses were being brought the señorita, with her corps of peona nurses, hastened to the Mission grounds. They found several peons who had been severely manhandled lying insensible in the patio, or trying to crawl to their quarters. A half dozen or more matronas had been beaten with clubs while offering resistance to the summary taking-away of their charges. The injured were given first-aid treatment, and the terrified matronas encouraged to regain self-possession. Carmelita soon left the Mission, to lead a half-unwilling band of armed mounted men up the steep grades to the east, to follow on the heels of Stanislaus, to wrest from him, if they could, the prizes his daring had gained for himself and his renegade followers.