stray traveller. The Utes are merciless in the day of their advantage,
and the American war vessels cut off all escape by sea to Mexico.
All the towns near the ocean are rendezvous of defiant foreigners,
now madly exultant. To the north is the enemy he is going out to
fight.

Padre Francisco advises him to leave the rancho in his charge. He
begs him to even let the young American prisoner remain.

Lagunitas may be seized, yet private property will be respected.
Young Valois may be a help to considerate treatment. After council
with his frightened spouse, Don Miguel rides off to the rendezvous
near Santa Clara. He curbs his passion from prudence only, for he
was on the point of making Valois a human tassel for a live-oak
limb.

The padre breaths freer.

Day after day elapses. Under a small body-guard both the padre and
Maxime ride the domain in freedom. Juanita Peralta shuts herself
up in the gloomy mansion, where she tells her beads in the shadow
of the coming defeats.

Rich and lovely Lagunitas is yet out of the theatre of action. Its
lonely inhabitants hear of the now rapid march of events, but only
defeated riders wander in with heavy tidings.

Fremont has whirled back once more and controls Suiter's Fort and
Sonoma. The ablest general of California is powerless. Gallant
Vallejo is now a prisoner. His scanty cannons and arms are all