"Take these letters and lock them in my desk there. Bring me the key. Good. Now, attend carefully to what I say." "Yes, Señor Padre." "Tell no one the name of the man whom you have just escorted out." "It shall be as you say, Reverend Padre." "It is well. The giant, ambition, stirs in his sleep. Soon he awakes and moves to action." Then, in half aside: "Mexico has wrought the undoing of our missions. If a chance of retrieval comes why should I not--but Misericordia!" A great cheering was heard in the courtyard. "Go, see the cause, and come and tell me, Antonio." "Glorious news!" the Indian hastening back. "Pedro Carrasca returns from Monterey two hours before the time, and has an abundance of Jesuit bark in his saddlebags. More yet, good padre. A messenger from Dario. He is the third messenger sent--Yoscolo and Stanislaus must have captured the others. Dario has driven our herds far into the valley of the San Joaquin River; and, the man says, soon will they fat for the matanza" (the killing). "'Tis well, Juan. Bring me a portion of the bark, then I'll rest a little. In the chapel to-night pray fervently for rain, and thank God for his mercies; and ask him to avert war and bloodshed from our province here, and from the whole world. Shut the door now. Carry my blessing to the children when they are assembled for evening prayer." The door closed and the major-domo went about his many tasks. CHAPTER VI THE MERIENDA "Daughter mine, awake! 'Tis the day of the merienda." "I'm up, little papa." A rasp of file on flint was heard as she struck a light. "Ugh-oo-oo! the water's cold." The old don laughed. "Cold water drives the sands of sleep from the eyelids, child." He walked along the corridor to his sitting room. The large time-piece showed four o'clock and three minutes. Five minutes later his daughter joined him, clad in tanned-skin blouse and skirt, with a straw sombrero on her head. "Here I am, papacito. Is breakfast ready?" "Breakfast waits, but the coming of the morning waits not." The peons served them by candlelight. Soon they were ready for the start. Before the courtyard gate were the doña's carreta, the señor's horse, and a squad of mounted fighting peons. Servants placed soft tule grass in the carreta, lambwool comforters, for greater ease in riding. In double file marched the mounted peon soldiers, the carreta between, while the lord of the hacienda rode by his daughter's side. Thus they reached the plaza of the village near the Mission San José. The place was alive with carretas bearing mothers, dueñas, and daughters, with caballeros, with bustling peons and early-risen Indian children. Lanterns were strung around the square, in the middle of which blazed a big bonfire. The caballeros capered their horses before the carretas. The señoritas applauded by "Brava! Brava!" or shrieked at some unusually daring equestrian feat.