"And I also-bitterly ashamed," Everett said.

The old gentleman at last succeeded in fastening his spurs and getting on his horse. He trotted off to meet the Don. Everett and Webster went down stairs. Webster had saddled two horses; he was not going to let Everett go alone, when he might need help. So the two boys followed their father at a short distance.

Lucy and Jane went to Clarence's room, from which they had a better view of that part of the valley through which passed the main road, in front of the Alamar house. They saw their father take the main road. The Don was coming slowly with his two sons, watching the _vaqueros_ driving the cattle up the hill.

"Mamma, see father going to meet the Don. What does he mean?" exclaimed Alice, alarmed.

Mrs. Darrell went to the window, and both sat there to watch proceedings.

Two or three head of cattle got separated, and Gabriel turned back at a few paces to head them off. Don Mariano and Victoriano kept on, and soon after met Darrell.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Darrell," said Don Mariano, pleasantly. "You see we are Clarence's _vaqueros_ now."

Darrell muttered something gruffly, and stopped his horse in the middle of the road. The others did the same. Don Mariano saw that Darrell was very angry, and waited for him to speak first.

The enraged man gasped twice, but no sound came. On the third effort his harsh tones said:

"I want you to tell me what is all this trickery and lies about my having paid you six thousand four hundred dollars for land. You know that to be a lie."

"Of course I do. You never paid me a cent, nor the other settlers either. No settler wants to pay, and I never said you had, or expected they would, for I know they believe themselves authorized by law to appropriate my property."

"Didn't Clarence pay you for the land I took?"

"Look here, Mr. Darrell, business matters between Clarence and myself are not to be mentioned, and unless he authorizes me to speak I cannot repeat anything which he wishes to keep quiet."

"Then you have some private business together."

Don Mariano bowed, but did not speak. Darrell came closer to the Don, and shaking at him the fist in which he held the whip, said:

"Then I tell you, you ought to be ashamed of yourself to be bargaining with my son in a clandestine manner, fooling me, and making me appear ridiculous. But I tell you to your face-for I am not a sneaking coward-I tell you, that you have acted most dishonorably, inveigling Clarence into bargains unbeknown to me, inducing him, with seductive bribes, to act most dishonorably towards me."

"What were those bribes?" Don Mariano asked.

"What were they? Your daughter's pretty looks, by G-!"

"Oh, father!" exclaimed Everett, turning very pale.

"Pshaw! That is too low," the Don said, turning his horse towards his house.

Darrell spurred his and stood in the way.

"Too low, you say? And isn't it low to act as you have? And now you want to sneak off like a coward, and not give me any satisfaction."

"I am ready to give you any satisfaction you want, but demand it like a gentleman. I am no Peter Roper, or Gasbang, or Billy Mathews, to have a tumble-down fist-fight in the dirt with you. If you forget your dignity, I do not," the Don replied, again trying to go towards his house.

Darrell again placed his horse in front to intercept his road, and said, livid with rage:

"And why didn't you think of your dignity when you paraded your daughter (like a pretty filly for sale) before my son, to get his money! Damn you! can't I make you fight? Won't you be insulted, you coward? I'll publish your cowardice all over California."

So saying, he lifted his whip and struck a severe blow at the Don.

Quickly, at the same instant, Victoriano and Everett had dashed their horses between, and the blow fell right upon the backs of the two young men.

This act of devotion was scarcely necessary, for as Darrell lifted his whip, and before it fell down, Don Mariano touched his horse with one spur only, giving a quick touch to the reins to one side. The horse jumped aside, sat on his haunches for an instant, half-crouching, half-rearing, and in a second he was up again. Don Mariano smiled at Darrell's clumsy horsemanship, conscious of being able to ride him down and all around him before the belligerent squatter could tell what was happening. Still smiling, the Don rode slowly away. Darrell followed close, and again lifted his whip to strike, but instantaneously he felt as if he had been struck by lightning, or as if an aerolite had fallen upon him. His arm fell powerless by his side, and an iron hoop seemed to encircle him. He looked down to his breast surprised, and there the coil of a _reata_ held him in an iron grip, and he could not move. He looked about him amazed, and saw that the other end of the _reata_ was neatly wound around the pommel of Gabriel's saddle, and that young gentleman sat quietly on his horse, as if waiting Mr. Darrell's orders to move, his handsome face a little pale, but quite composed.

"Go home and bring me my pistols, Webster. I'll fix this brood of greasers," said Darrell, half choked with rage and the tight embrace of the _reata_.

Webster hesitated, and looked towards his brother for advice. Everett winked, and Webster understood at once that Everett meant that he should go, but bring no pistols. He galloped off towards home.

The horse that Darrell was riding was the mate of the one that Webster rode, so that when he saw his partner go off towards home, he thought he must do the same, and followed. As the reins hung loosely upon his neck, he naturally supposed that he was to follow at the pace his companion went, so he started at a gallop to catch up with Webster.

Thus now began a most ridiculous steeple-chase going home. Darrell could not check his horse or do anything but hold to the pommel of his saddle, his arms being pinioned to his body. Gabriel, fearing to let go the _reata_, which, if loosened, might entangle the horse, and thus pull the old man off his saddle, followed, maintaining the _reata_ at an even, gentle tension, carefully keeping at the same distance. Victoriano and Everett saw nothing to do but follow, trying to get near Darrell to catch him in case he should lose his balance going over the rough ground of the plowed field.

The two Indian _vaqueros_ after putting their cattle in the _corral_, came down to inquire for further orders, and seeing the race going on, they thought they could join in, too. So, putting spurs to their horses, they began to run and shout in high glee. Noticing that the patron, Don Gabriel, held a _reata_ in his hands, the _lazo_ end of which was attached to Darrell, they thought that for sport Don Gabriel had thrown the _lazo_ on the old squatter. Having come to this conclusion, they began to shout and hurrah with renewed vigor.

"Apa! viejo escuata o cabestreas o te orcas," cried one.

"No le afloje patroncito Gabriel," said the other.

Now the ground being very rough, Darrell began to sway, as if losing his balance.

"Aprietate viejo! aprietate miralo! ya se ladea!" cried again one _vaquero_.

"Creo que el viejo escuata va chispo," said the other.

"Que es eso? A que vienen aca? Quien los convida? Callense la boca, no sean malcreados, Vallense!" said Victoriano, turning to them in great indignation.

This rebuke and imperative order silenced them immediately, and not understanding why these gentlemen were having all that fun, and did not laugh, nor wished any one else to laugh, quietly turned and went home.

Darrell's horse now came to a hollow made by the old bed of a brook where the road passed diagonally. To gallop down hill was too much equestrianism for the pinioned rider; he began again to topple to one side. Quick as a flash Victoriano darted forward, and grasping the bridle with one hand, caught with the other the body of Darrell, which having entirely lost balance, was toppling over like a log.

Gabriel immediately gathering the _reata_ quickly in successive loops, all of which he hung on the pommel of his saddle, came to Darrell's side.

"I'll take that _lazo_ off, Mr. Darrell, if you permit me," said Gabriel, very quietly, when Victoriano had straightened him on the saddle, and he had again a perpendicular position.

"Yes, damn you, and you'll pay for it, too!" was Darrell's courteous reply.

"Very well, but don't be abusive. Use better language; and if you want to fight I'll accommodate you whenever you wish, with any weapons, except the tongue," Gabriel answered.

"I suppose you think a _lazo_ is a very genteel weapon. It is good enough for cowardly, treacherous greasers," said the irate Darrell, eager to be as insulting as possible.

"And to subdue wild cattle," Gabriel added. "I threw my _lazo_ on you to keep you from striking my father. He was unarmed, and you made a brutal attack upon him with a heavy mule whip. I would _lazo_ you again fifty times, or any other man, under the same circumstances. If you think it was cowardly to do so, I will prove to you at any time that I was not prompted by cowardice. Victoriano, loosen the _reata_ off Mr. Darrell's arms."

Victoriano dismounted, and endeavored to loosen the tight noose, but it was so firmly drawn that he could not move it. Everett came to his assistance, but he, too, failed.

"I cannot loosen the noose without hurting Mr. Darrell," said Victoriano, giving up the task.

Gabriel dismounted, and examined the noose carefully. He shook his head, saying: