The Valiant Runaways [37]
Perhaps something more, for changes may come
and your opportunities be greater. But I--I am no longer young; there is
no hope in California for me."
"Why do you not return to Spain?"
"I have written. They will not answer. In my youth I was wild. They
forced me to come here. I had no money. I was obliged to obey. I have
christianized a few hundred worthless savages who were better off in
their barbarism, and I have made myself a power among a few thousand men
of whom the outer world, the great world, knows nothing. My Mission is
the most prosperous in the Californias--and I--" he set and ground his
teeth.
Roldan thought of the gold. "When I am governor of the Californias, my
father," he said, "I shall send you back to Spain, for then I shall have
great influence--and much gold."
At the last word the priest's eyes flamed with so fierce a light that
Roldan shrank back repelled, feeling himself in the presence of a
passion of which he had no knowledge. But the priest controlled himself
at once. "Thank you, my son," he said with a brilliant smile. "And I do
not ask you to guard as your own what I have said. It is a part of the
power of such natures as yours that you know what to repeat and what to
leave unsaid." Then as they approached the house he suddenly took
Roldan's slender elegant hand in one of his mighty paws, shook it
heartily, and flinging his bridle to a vaquero, sprang lightly to the
ground and entered the courtyard, leaving our hero in a condition of
flattered bewilderment.
XVI
That day there was to be a grand rodeo, or "round-up:" the branding of
cattle; not only of the stock belonging to Don Tiburcio, but of many of
his neighbours, which would be driven over to his rancho for the
operation. This was one of the great occasions of the year. Immediately
after breakfast the neighbours began to arrive, magnificently mounted,
sparkling with gold and silver lace, their wives and daughters each
surrounded by her cavalcade. About ten the gorgeous company, led by the
host, started for an immense corral about three miles from the house.
The boys were well to the front, and established themselves on the wall
of the corral. The rest of the party remained on their horses, but
mounted the little slopes. The green winter landscape had suddenly
become a blaze of colour, and never was there a more animated scene.
Over all hung a light haze. The distant mountains, which could be seen
from the outer valley, were almost invisible. The priest, a huge brown
figure, on his big brown horse, stood on the very apex of the highest
knoll.
Presently, from various directions rose a low deep murmur, then a rumble
of growing volume as of an approaching earthquake. Men and women grasped
their bridles with firmer fingers, and pressed still nearer to the
crests of the many mounds. Then over the hills on every side came a mass
of tossing horns and sleek shining bodies, separated here and there by a
shouting vaquero, whose black and silver seemed pierced at every point
by those white curving horns. The cattle, several thousand in number,
trotted over the hills and toward the corral swiftly, but in good order,
held well in check by the careful vaqueros. There was no cheering, for
excitement was to be avoided. The cattle would stand any amount of the
shouting they were used to, but little from unaccustomed throats.
In the corral, at its farther end, stood, by an oven, a tall muscular
Indian, the most famous brander in that part of the country. He was
stripped to the waist, and as the first steer was driven through the
narrow gate, he plucked a red-hot iron from the coals. The beast,
kicking and bellowing, was flung to the ground by a dexterous twist of
his tail, two more Indians held him in position, and the branding was
accomplished.
Almost before he was up another was prostrate; and they followed each
other in such rapid succession that the wonder was some were not branded
twice. As fast as each brute received his mark he was driven out of
another gate and over
and your opportunities be greater. But I--I am no longer young; there is
no hope in California for me."
"Why do you not return to Spain?"
"I have written. They will not answer. In my youth I was wild. They
forced me to come here. I had no money. I was obliged to obey. I have
christianized a few hundred worthless savages who were better off in
their barbarism, and I have made myself a power among a few thousand men
of whom the outer world, the great world, knows nothing. My Mission is
the most prosperous in the Californias--and I--" he set and ground his
teeth.
Roldan thought of the gold. "When I am governor of the Californias, my
father," he said, "I shall send you back to Spain, for then I shall have
great influence--and much gold."
At the last word the priest's eyes flamed with so fierce a light that
Roldan shrank back repelled, feeling himself in the presence of a
passion of which he had no knowledge. But the priest controlled himself
at once. "Thank you, my son," he said with a brilliant smile. "And I do
not ask you to guard as your own what I have said. It is a part of the
power of such natures as yours that you know what to repeat and what to
leave unsaid." Then as they approached the house he suddenly took
Roldan's slender elegant hand in one of his mighty paws, shook it
heartily, and flinging his bridle to a vaquero, sprang lightly to the
ground and entered the courtyard, leaving our hero in a condition of
flattered bewilderment.
XVI
That day there was to be a grand rodeo, or "round-up:" the branding of
cattle; not only of the stock belonging to Don Tiburcio, but of many of
his neighbours, which would be driven over to his rancho for the
operation. This was one of the great occasions of the year. Immediately
after breakfast the neighbours began to arrive, magnificently mounted,
sparkling with gold and silver lace, their wives and daughters each
surrounded by her cavalcade. About ten the gorgeous company, led by the
host, started for an immense corral about three miles from the house.
The boys were well to the front, and established themselves on the wall
of the corral. The rest of the party remained on their horses, but
mounted the little slopes. The green winter landscape had suddenly
become a blaze of colour, and never was there a more animated scene.
Over all hung a light haze. The distant mountains, which could be seen
from the outer valley, were almost invisible. The priest, a huge brown
figure, on his big brown horse, stood on the very apex of the highest
knoll.
Presently, from various directions rose a low deep murmur, then a rumble
of growing volume as of an approaching earthquake. Men and women grasped
their bridles with firmer fingers, and pressed still nearer to the
crests of the many mounds. Then over the hills on every side came a mass
of tossing horns and sleek shining bodies, separated here and there by a
shouting vaquero, whose black and silver seemed pierced at every point
by those white curving horns. The cattle, several thousand in number,
trotted over the hills and toward the corral swiftly, but in good order,
held well in check by the careful vaqueros. There was no cheering, for
excitement was to be avoided. The cattle would stand any amount of the
shouting they were used to, but little from unaccustomed throats.
In the corral, at its farther end, stood, by an oven, a tall muscular
Indian, the most famous brander in that part of the country. He was
stripped to the waist, and as the first steer was driven through the
narrow gate, he plucked a red-hot iron from the coals. The beast,
kicking and bellowing, was flung to the ground by a dexterous twist of
his tail, two more Indians held him in position, and the branding was
accomplished.
Almost before he was up another was prostrate; and they followed each
other in such rapid succession that the wonder was some were not branded
twice. As fast as each brute received his mark he was driven out of
another gate and over