THE GRINGOS A STORY OF THE OLD CALIFORNIA DAYS IN 1849 BY B.M. BOWER 1913 WIth Illustrations By Anton Otto Fischer [Illustration: "Gringos are savages and worse than savages."] AUTHOR'S NOTE I wish to make public acknowledgment of the assistance I have received from George W. Lee, a "Forty-niner" who has furnished me with data, material, and color which have been invaluable in the writing of this story. CONTENTS I. THE BEGINNING OF IT II. THE VIGILANTES III. THE THING THEY CALLED JUSTICE IV. WHAT HAPPENED AT THE OAK V. HOSPITALITY VI. THE VALLEY VII. THE LORD OF THE VALLEY VIII. DON ANDRES WANTS A MAJORDOMO IX. JERRY SIMPSON, SQUATTER X. THE FINEST LITTLE WOMAN IN THE WORLD XI. AN ILL WIND XII. POTENTIAL MOODS XIII. BILL WILSON GOES VISITING XIV. RODEO TIME XV. WHEN CAMP-FIRES BLINK XVI. "FOR WEAPONS I CHOOSE RIATAS" XVII. A FIESTA WE SHALL HAVE XVIII. WHAT IS LOVE WORTH? XIX. ANTICIPATION XX. LOST! TWO HASTY TEMPERS XXI. FIESTA DAY XXII. THE BATTLE OF BEASTS XXIII. THE DUEL OF RIATAS XXIV. FOR LOVE AND A MEDAL XXV. ADIOS _List of Illustrations_ "Gringos are savages and worse than savages" He twisted in the saddle and sent leaden answer to the spiteful barking of the guns Mrs. Jerry took the señorita's hand and smiled up at her "An accident it must appear to those who watch" _The Gringos_ CHAPTER I THE BEGINNING OF IT If you would glimpse the savage which normally lies asleep, thank God, in most of us, you have only to do this thing of which I shall tell you, and from some safe sanctuary where leaden couriers may not bear prematurely the tidings of man's debasement, watch the world below. You may see civilization swing back with a snap to savagery and worse--because savagery enlightened by the civilization of centuries is a deadly thing to let loose among men. Our savage forebears were but superior animals groping laboriously after economic security and a social condition that would yield most prolifically the fruit of all the world's desire, happiness; to-day, when we swing back to something akin to savagery, we do it for lust of gain, like our forebears, but we do it wittingly. So, if you would look upon the unlovely spectacle of civilized men turned savage, and see them toil painfully back to lawful living, you have but to do this: