But if Guest had been successful in evading the observation of the
man he had come so suddenly upon, he was utterly unconscious of
another figure that had been tracking HIM for the last ten minutes
through the tall grain, and had even succeeded in gaining the
shadow of the wall behind him; and it was this figure, and not his
own, that eventually attracted the attention of the tall stranger.
The pursuing figure was rapidly approaching the unconscious Guest;
in another moment it would have been upon him, when it was suddenly
seized from behind by the tall devotee. There was a momentary
struggle, and then it freed itself, with the exclamation, "Pereo!"

"Yes--Pereo!" said the old man, panting from his exertions. "And
thou art Miguel. So thou wouldst murder a man for a few pesos!" he
said, pointing to the knife which the desperado had hurriedly hid
in his jacket, "and callest thyself a Californian!"

"'Tis only an Americano--a runaway, with some ill-gotten gold,"
said Miguel, sullenly, yet with unmistakable fear of the old man.
"Besides, it was only to frighten him, the braggart. But since
thou fearest to touch a hair of those interlopers--"

"Fearest!" said Pereo, fiercely, clutching him by the throat, and
forcing him against the wall. "Fearest! sayest thou. I, Pereo,
fear? Dost thou think I would soil these hands, that might strike
a higher quarry, with blood of thy game?"

"Forgive me, padrono," gasped Miguel, now thoroughly alarmed at the
old man's awakened passion; "pardon; I meant that, since thou
knowest him--"