looking fellow, and her intuitions might get
confused."

"A civil engineer!" said Miriam, with
an intonation worthy of the daughter of a
West-Pointer and the descendant of an
Aztec prince.

Kamaiakan (who spoke only Spanish) had
been gathering up some cushions that had
fallen out of the hammock. Having replaced
them, and cast a quick glance at
Meschines, he withdrew.



CHAPTER II.

The Southern Pacific Railway passes, today,
not far from the site of General
Trednoke's ranch. But the events now to
be narrated occurred some years before the
era of transcontinental railroads: they were
in the air, but not yet bolted down to the
earth. The general, therefore, was a
pioneer, and was by no means overrun with
friends from the East in search of an
agreeable winter climate. The easiest way to
reach him--if you were not pressed for time
--was round the cape which forms the