when it was broken open. Walking all night, Juan found himself, at
daybreak, still far from San Pedro, tired out and hungry. But he knew he
must keep on, if he did not want to be overtaken and captured. We shall
not follow him farther; it is more than certain he will be relieved of
his gold, when he reaches San Pedro, by some friendly sailor or bad
character of the settlement; and he will, after all, have to work his
way to Mexico, for it would be out of the question to return to San Juan
Capistrano.

Juan was frequently away for two or three days at a time, and his
non-appearance the next morning caused no particular remark from his
parents; and not until late in the afternoon of the second day of his
absence did anything occur to lead them to think he was gone. His father
had begun to cut his wheat the day before. This afternoon he was just
finishing the last piece of the field, when he spied something white on
the ground, almost hidden by the tall grain. Stopping his horse, he
picked it up, wondering, and with some difficulty made out the writing
on it. Where had it come from; to whom did it belong; who was Dolores -
it was too much for his slow mind to fathom. But of one thing he was
certain - it must be taken to the Father; he would know if it was of
moment. And then it was he thought of his son and his absence. Hardly in
his own mind did he connect it with the bit of paper; and yet the
suspicion, once aroused, would not be dispelled. Finishing his work as
quickly as possible, he returned to his house and told his wife what he
had found, and then spoke of the absence of their son as, possibly,
having some connection with it.

"I will take it to the Father to-morrow," said his wife, calmly, as
became her race, but with an undertone of anxiety and sadness.