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her？〃
〃Well； if I made it profitable to her； perhaps。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 echoed the priest； scornfully。 〃So be it。 But why come
here？〃
〃To ask your advice。 To know how to begin my search。 You know
this country。 You were here when that boat drifted ashore beyond
that mountain。〃
〃Ah； indeed。 I have much to do with it。 It is an affair of the
alcaldethe authoritiesof youryour police。〃
〃Is it？〃
The Padre again met the stranger's eyes。 He stopped； with the
snuff box he had somewhat ostentatiously drawn from his pocket
still open in his hand。
〃Why is it not； Senor？〃 he demanded。
〃If she lives； she is a young lady by this time； and might not want
the details of her life known to any one。〃
〃And how will you recognize your baby in this young lady？〃 asked
Father Pedro； with a rapid gesture； indicating the comparative
heights of a baby and an adult。
〃I reckon I'll know her； and her clothes too； and whoever found her
wouldn't be fool enough to destroy them。〃
〃After fourteen years！ Good！ you have faith； Senor〃
〃Cranch；〃 supplied the stranger； consulting his watch。 〃But time's
up。 Business is business。 Good…by； don't let me keep you。〃
He extended his hand。
The Padre met it with a dry； unsympathetic palm； as sere and yellow
as the hills。 When their hands separated； the father still
hesitated； looking at Cranch。 If he expected further speech or
entreaty from him he was mistaken； for the American； without
turning his head； walked in the same serious； practical fashion
down the avenue of fig trees； and disappeared beyond the hedge of
vines。 The outlines of the mountain beyond were already lost in
the fog。 Father Pedro turned into the refectory。
〃Antonio。〃
A strong flavor of leather； onions； and stable preceded the
entrance of a short； stout vaquero from the little patio。
〃Saddle Pinto and thine own mule to accompany Francisco； who will
take letters from me to the Father Superior at San Jose to…morrow
at daybreak。〃
〃At daybreak； reverend father？〃
〃At daybreak。 Hark ye； go by the mountain trails and avoid the
highway。 Stop at no posada nor fonda； but if the child is weary；
rest then awhile at Don Juan Briones' or at the rancho of the
Blessed Fisherman。 Have no converse with stragglers； least of all
those gentile Americanos。 So 。 。 。〃
The first strokes of the Angelus came from the nearer tower。 With
a gesture Father Pedro waved Antonio aside； and opened the door of
the sacristy。
〃Ad Majorem Dei Gloria。〃
CHAPTER II
The hacienda of Don Juan Briones； nestling in a wooded cleft of the
foot…hills； was hidden； as Father Pedro had wisely reflected； from
the straying feet of travelers along the dusty highway to San Jose。
As Francisco； emerging from the canada； put spurs to his mule at
the sight of the whitewashed walls； Antonio grunted。
〃Oh aye； little priest！ thou wast tired enough a moment ago； and
though we are not three leagues from the Blessed Fisherman； thou
couldst scarce sit thy saddle longer。 Mother of God！ and all to
see that little mongrel； Juanita。〃
〃But； good Antonio； Juanita was my play…fellow； and I may not soon
again chance this way。 And Juanita is not a mongrel； no more than
I am。〃
〃She is a mestiza； and thou art a child of the Church； though this
following of gypsy wenches does not show it。〃
〃But Father Pedro does not object；〃 urged the boy。
〃The reverend father has forgotten he was ever young；〃 replied
Antonio； sententiously； 〃or he wouldn't set fire and tow together。〃
〃What sayest thou； good Antonio？〃 asked Francisco quickly； opening
his blue eyes in frank curiosity； 〃who is fire； and who is tow？〃
The worthy muleteer； utterly abashed and confounded by this display
of the acolyte's direct simplicity； contented himself by shrugging
his shoulders； and a vague 〃Quien sabe？〃
〃Come；〃 said the boy； gayly； 〃confess it is only the aguardiente of
the Blessed Fisherman thou missest。 Never fear； Juanita will find
thee some。 And see！ here she comes。〃
There was a flash of white flounces along the dark brown corridor；
the twinkle of satin slippers； the flying out of long black braids；
and with a cry of joy a young girl threw herself upon Francisco as
he entered the patio； and nearly dragged him from his mule。
〃Have a care； little sister；〃 laughed the acolyte； looking at
Antonio； 〃or there will be a conflagration。 Am I the fire？〃 he
continued； submitting to the two sounding kisses the young girl
placed upon either cheek； but still keeping his mischievous glance
upon the muleteer。
〃Quien sabe？〃 repeated Antonio； gruffly； as the young girl blushed
under his significant eyes。 〃It is no affair of mine；〃 he added to
himself； as he led Pinto away。 〃Perhaps Father Pedro is right； and
this young twig of the Church is as dry and sapless as himself。
Let the mestiza burn if she likes。〃
〃Quick； Pancho；〃 said the young girl； eagerly leading him along the
corridor。 〃This way。 I must talk with thee before thou seest Don
Juan； that is why I ran to intercept thee； and not as that fool
Antonio would signify； to shame thee。 Wast thou ashamed； my
Pancho？〃
The boy threw his arm familiarly round the supple； stayless little
waist； accented only by the belt of the light flounced saya； and
said； 〃But why this haste and feverishness； 'Nita？ And now I look
at thee； thou hast been crying。〃
They had emerged from a door in the corridor into the bright
sunlight of a walled garden。 The girl dropped her eyes； cast a
quick glance around her； and said；
〃Not here； to the arroyo；〃 and half leading； half dragging him；
made her way through a copse of manzanita and alder until they
heard the faint tinkling of water。 〃Dost thou remember；〃 said the
girl； 〃it was here；〃 pointing to an embayed pool in the dark
current； 〃that I baptized thee； when Father Pedro first brought
thee here； when we both played at being monks？ They were dear old
days； for Father Pedro would trust no one with thee but me； and
always kept us near him。〃
〃Aye and he said I would be profaned by the touch of any other； and
so himself always washed and dressed me； and made my bed near his。〃
〃And took thee away again； and I saw thee not till thou camest with
Antonio； over a year ago； to the cattle branding。 And now； my
Pancho； I may never see thee again。〃 She buried her face in her
hands and sobbed aloud。
The little acolyte tried to comfort her； but with such abstraction
of manner and inadequacy of warmth that she hastily removed his
caressing hand。
〃But why？ What has happened？〃 he asked eagerly。
The girl's manner had changed。 Her eyes flashed； and she put her
brown fist on her waist and began to rock from side to side。
〃But I'll not go；〃 she said viciously。
〃Go where？〃 asked the boy。
〃Oh； where？〃 she echoed； impatiently。 〃Hear me； Francisco； thou