"The rifle practice is in dark nights," said a young Spaniard, who had been listening at what was said by the others.

"Or in the daytime, if the cattle deserve it," Mathews said.

"That is very creditable and brave, to shoot tame cows," the Spaniard rejoined.

"Perhaps you had better come and try it," Mathews returned.

"Thank you. It is the mischievous brutes I would like to shoot, not the good, useful cattle;" so saying, the Spaniard walked away, followed by the scowls of the settlers.

"That is impudence for you," Gasbang exclaimed.

"Those greasers ain't half crushed yet. We have to tame them like they do their mustangs, or shoot them, as we shoot their cattle," said Mathews.

"O, no. No such violent means are necessary. All we have to do is to take their lands, and finish their cattle," said Hughes, sneeringly, looking at Darrell for approval. But he did not get it. Darrell did not care for the Spanish population of California, but he did not approve of shooting cattle in the way which the foregoing conversation indicated.

To do this, was useless cruelty and useless waste of valuable property, no matter to whom it might belong. To destroy it was a loss to the State. It was folly.

"Why must cattle be shot? Can't they be kept off, away from your crops without shooting them?" he asked.

"Not always. At first, that is, for the first three years after we located our claims," Gasbang said; "we had to shoot them all the time.

Now the Don has sold a good many, or sent them to the mountains, so that few have been killed."

"I suppose fencing would be too expensive."

"Phew! It would be ruinous, impossible," Mathews said.

"Mr. Mechlin is the only one who has attempted to put up any fences,"

Romeo said, who had been listening in silence.

"He did so, because he is an old hypocrite," Mathews said.

"Because his daughter Lizzie is going to marry Gabriel Alamar, and of course, they have to be on friendly terms," said Hughes.

"That ain't the reason. He fenced a hundred acres the first year, and he never sows outside, so that he's not at all troubled by the Don's cattle," said Romeo.

"But Gabriel is going to marry Lizzie all the same, and the two families are as thick as can be. Old Mechlin has gone back on us. I wish he would go away," Mathews said.

"Why should he go? He paid a very good price for his farm, and has made many improvements," said Romeo.

"Who did he buy from?" asked Darrell.

"From me. I sold him that claim, and took up another a mile up the valley," said Mathews.

"And a good bargain it was, too," Romeo observed.

Mathews gave him a black look, but made no answer.

The steamer had now reached the wharf. The deck was filled with passengers and their baggage ready for shore. Pittikin, with wife and daughters blonde and freckled, and Hughes, with his wife and daughters dark and gypsy-looking, were all there, ready for their drive to Alamar.

There were several wagons, light and heavy, waiting to convey the newly-arrived and their luggage to the Alamar rancho. Darrell, having his choice of conveyances, preferred to go in a light wagon with Romeo Hancock, but Gasbang and Mathews joined him. Miller and Hager had come to meet their prodigal sons, who had been in San Francisco for several months, when they had permission to remain only a few weeks. But they had fallen into Peter Roper's company, and that individual had represented the fascinations of whiskey most alluringly to them, advising them to have a good time now that they had the opportunity.

They yielded to the tempter, and now had returned home like repentant prodigals.

In a few hours Darrell was driving by Don Mariano Alamar's house, a one-story mansion on a low hill, with a broad piazza in front, and in the interior a court formed by two wings, and a row of rooms variously occupied at its back. That the house was commodious, Darrell could see.

There was a flower garden in front. At the back there were several "_corrales_" for cattle and horses. At the foot of the hill, on the left, there was an orchard, and some grain fields enclosed with good fences.

Darrell took notice of all these particulars. He also noticed that there were females on the front piazza. He was taken to see the best unoccupied lands to make his selection. He ran his practiced eye over the valley from the highest point on the hill. He then came to the next bench; he stopped there, also, and finally came to the broad slope of the foothills.

"I think I'll locate here," said he, "if no one else has already filed a claim to this land."

This he said to his fellow-settlers, all being present, addressing all.

"I am sure I have no objection," said Hughes.

"Nor I, neither," said Gasbang. "What do you say, Pittikin and Mathews?

Do you know _if_ this land is located, or who done it?"

Mathews shook his head in the negative, and kept on chewing his tobacco in silence.

Pittikin said, "I reckon nobody is located here, and if they _done it_, why don't they leave stakes? They leave no stakes, no notice to settlers; they can't make any row if somebody else takes the land."

"Well, I want to respect everybody's right; so I want you all to bear witness, that I found no stakes or notices of anybody. I don't want to jump anybody's claim; I want a fair deal. I shall locate two claims here-one in my own name and one for my oldest son, Clarence," said Darrell.

"You'll take 320 acres?" asked Hughes.

"Yes, 320 acres,-according to law," replied Darrell.

"All right. Let us measure them now," said Gasbang. "We have time to mark the limits and put the corner stakes. I have a cord here in my wagon, which is a chain's length. That will do the business."

"That will do temporarily, I suppose; but I'll have the two claims properly surveyed afterwards according to law," Darrell said.

"Of course, you will. We all know you will do the fair thing by everybody, and follow the law strictly," said Hughes. In which opinion all concurred.

"Have you all made your selections?" Darrell asked Hughes.

"Yes; Pittikin and I will locate near Hancock. We like that valley; it is further off, but better soil," said Hughes. "My oldest boy will put a claim near me, and Miller's two boys have staked theirs also. I think we'll like that location better."

"I am glad you like it. I think this is good enough soil for me,"

Darrell said.

"It is good enough for anybody. The whole rancho is all good soil. Let us put the stakes now," said Gasbang; and assisted by Mathews, Romeo Hancock and Sumner Pittikin, Darrell proceeded by making a rough guess to measure 320 acres (more or less), and put the corner stakes.

"This is what I call business," said Gasbang, carrying cheerfully one end of the rope used for measurement; "and all inside of the law. That is the beauty of it-all perfectly lawful."

And so it was.

The stakes having been placed, Darrell felt satisfied. Next day he would have the claim properly filed, and in due time a surveyor would measure them. All would be done "according to law," and in this easy way more land was taken from its legitimate owner.

This certainly was a more simple way of appropriating the property of "_the conquered_" than in the days of Alaric or Hannibal.