man. No one ever enjoyed the hospitality
of Agua Dulce but went his way with an increased regard for its owner
and his estimable Castilian family. The rancho lay back from the river
probably sixty miles, and was on the border of the chaparral, which
was the rendezvous of the robbers. Don Ramon had a pleasant home in
one of the river towns. One June he and his family had gone to
the ranch, intending to spend a few weeks there. He had notified
cattle-buyers of this vacation, and had invited them to visit him
there either on business or pleasure.

One evening an unknown vaquero rode up to the rancho and asked for Don
Ramon. That gentleman presenting himself, the stranger made known his
errand: a certain firm of well-known drovers, friends of the ranchero,
were encamped for the night at a ranchita some ten miles distant. They
regretted that they could not visit him, but they would be pleased to
see him. They gave as an excuse for not calling that they were driving
quite a herd of cattle, and the corrals at this little ranch were
unsafe for the number they had, so that they were compelled to hold
outside or night-herd. This very plausible story was accepted without
question by Don Ramon, who well understood the handling of herds.
Inviting the messenger to some refreshment, he ordered his horse
saddled and made preparation to return with this pseudo vaquero.
Telling his family that he would be gone for the night, he rode away
with the stranger.

There were several thickety groves, extending from the main chaparral
out for considerable distance on the prairie, but not of as rank a
growth as on the alluvial river bottoms. These thickets were composed
of thorny underbrush, frequently as large as fruit trees and of a
density which made them impenetrable, except by those thoroughly
familiar with the few established trails. The road from Agua Dulce
to the ranchita was plain and well known, yet passing through several
arms of the main body of the chaparral. Don Ramon and his guide
reached one of these thickets after nightfall. Suddenly they were
surrounded by a dozen horsemen, who, with oaths and jests, told him
that he was their prisoner. Relieving Don Ramon of his firearms and
other valuables, one of the bandits took the bridle off his horse, and
putting a rope around the animal's neck, the band turned towards the
river with their captive. Near morning they went into one of their
many retreats in the chaparral, fettering their p