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Francisco before the real search will be begun。 As to any clue
that might come from Captain Bunker； that's still more remote。
Allowing he crossed the bar and got out of the channel； he wasn't
at the right time for meeting a passing steamer； and the only
coasters are Mexican。 If he didn't die of delirium tremens or
exposure； and was really picked up in his senses by some other
means； he would have been back with succor before this； if only to
get our evidence to prove the loss of the vessel。 No； sir sooner
or later； of course； the San Francisco crowd are bound to find us
here。 And if it wasn't for my crops and our mine； I wouldn't be in
a hurry for them； but our FIRST hold is the Church。〃
He stopped。 Crosby was asleep。 Brace arose lazily； lounged into
his office； and closed his desk。
〃Going to shut for the day？〃 said Banks； yawning。
〃I reckon；〃 said Brace dubiously； 〃I don't know but I'd take a
little pasear into the town if I had my horse ready。〃
〃Take mine； and I'll trapse over on foot to the Ranche with Crosby
after a spell。 You'll find him under that big madrono； if he has
not already wound himself up with his lariat by walking round it。
Those Mexican horses can't go straight even when they grazethey
must feed in a circle。 He's a little fresh； so look out for him！〃
〃All the better。 I'd like to get into town just after the siesta。〃
〃Siesta！〃 echoed Banks； lying comfortably down in the shade just
vacated by Brace； 〃that's another of their shiftless practices。
Two hours out of every daythat's a day out of the weekspent in
a hammock； and during business hours too！ It's disgraceful； sir；
simply disgraceful。〃
He turned over and closed his eyes； as if to reflect on its
enormity。
Brace had no difficulty in finding the mare； although some trouble
in mounting her。 But； like his companions； having quickly adopted
the habits of the country； he had become a skillful and experienced
horseman； and the mustang； after a few springless jumps； which
failed to unseat him； submitted to his rider。 The young man
galloped rapidly towards Todos Santos； but when within a few miles
of the pueblo he slackened his pace。 From the smiles and greetings
of wayfarersamong whom were some pretty Indian girls and
mestizasit was evident that the handsome young foreigner； who had
paid them the compliment of extravagantly adopting their national
costume； was neither an unfamiliar nor an unpleasing spectacle。
When he reached the posada at the top of the hilly street； he even
carried his simulation of the local customs to the point of
charging the veranda at full speed； and pulling up suddenly at the
threshold； after the usual fashion of vaqueros。 The impetuous
apparition brought a short stout man to the door； who； welcoming
him with effusive politeness； conducted him to an inner room that
gave upon a green grass courtyard。 Seated before a rude table；
sipping aguardiente； was his countryman Winslow and two traders of
the pueblo。 They were evidently of the number already indicated
who had adopted the American fashions。 Senor Ruiz wore a linen
〃duster〃 in place of his embroidered jacket； and Senor Martinez had
an American beard； or 〃goatee；〃 in imitation of Mr。 Banks。 The air
was yellow with the fumes of tobacco； through which the shrewd eyes
of Winslow gleamed murkily。
〃This；〃 he said to his countryman； in fluent if not elegant
Spanish； indicating the gentleman who had imitated Banks； 〃is a man
of ideas； and a power in Todos Santos。 He would control all the
votes in his district if there were anything like popular suffrage
here； and he understands the American policy。〃
Senor Martinez here hastened to inform Mr。 Brace that he had long
cherished a secret and enthusiastic admiration for that grand and
magnanimous nation of which his friend was such a noble
representative； that； indeed； he might say it was an inherited
taste； for had not his grandfather once talked with the American
whaling Capitano Coffino and partaken of a subtle spirit known as
〃er…r…rum〃 on his ship at Acapulco？
〃There's nothing mean about Martinez；〃 said Winslow to Brace
confidentially； in English。 〃He's up to anything； and ready from
the word 'Go。' Don't you think he's a little like Banks； you know
a sort of Mexican edition。 And there is Ruiz； he's a cattle
dealer； he'd be a good friend of Banks if Banks wasn't so
infernally self…opinionated。 But Ruiz ain't a fool； either。 He's
picked up a little Englishgood American； I meanfrom me already。〃
Senor Ruiz here smiled affably； to show his comprehension； and
added slowly； with great gravity；
〃It is of twenty…four year I have first time the Amencano of your
beautiful country known。 He have buy the hides and horns of the
cattlefor his shiphere。〃
〃Here？〃 echoed Brace。 〃I thought no American shipno ship at all
had been in here for fifty years。〃
Ruiz shrugged his shoulders； and cast a glance at his friend
Martinez； lowered his voice and lifted his eyelashes at the same
moment； and； jerking his yellow； tobacco…stained thumb over his
arm； said；
〃Ahof a verityon the beachtwo leagues away。〃
〃Do you hear that？〃 said Winslow； turning complacently to Brace and
rising to his feet。 〃Don't you see now what hogwash the Commander；
Alcalde； and the priest have been cramming down our throats about
this place being sealed up for fifty years。 What he says is all
Gospel truth。 That's what I wanted you fellows to hear； and you
might have heard before； only you were afraid of compromising
yourselves by talking with the people。 You get it into your heads
and the Comandante helped you to get it therethat Todos Santos
was a sort of Sleepy Hollow； and that no one knew anything of the
political changes for the last fifty years。 Well； what's the fact？
Ask Ruiz there； and Martinez； and they'll both tell you they know
that Mexico got her independence in 1826； and that the Council keep
it dark that they may perpetuate themselves。 They know；〃 he
continued； lowering his voice； 〃that the Commander's commission
from the old Viceroy isn't worth the paper it is stamped upon。〃
〃But what about the Church？〃 asked Brace hesitatingly； remembering
Banks' theory。
〃The Churchcaramba！ the priests were ever with the Escossas； the
aristocrats； and against the Yorkenos； the men of the Republicthe
people；〃 interrupted Martinez vehemently； 〃they will not accept；
they will not proclaim the Republic to the people。 They shut their
eyes； so。 They fold their hands； so。 They say； 'Sicut era
principio et nunc et semper in secula seculorum！' Look you； Senor；
I am not of the Churchno； caramba！ I snap my fingers at the
priests。 Ah！ what they give one is food for the bull's horns；
believe meI have read 'Tompano；' the American 'Tompano。'〃
〃Who's he？〃 asked Brace。
〃He means Tom Paine！ 'The Age of Reason'you know；〃 said Winslow；
gazing with a mixture of delight and p