the Stevenson ranch.

"What's this fellow's name who bought out Stevenson?"

"Lee Bryant. A young man. And I don't like him; I'm afraid he's a
trouble-maker. You should remember him, Charlie, for he's the fellow
who filled the radiator of the car at the ford on Perro Creek and who
threw your money back in your face."

Young Menocal's thin figure stiffened, while his small black moustache
rose in two points of ire.

"Him! That scoundrel who insulted me before Louise! That
lamb-stealer!" he shrilled.

"That is the man," his father affirmed.

Charlie spat forth a string of Spanish curses. When he had recovered
from his outburst of passion, he said:

"Well, I'm glad he's the man. He'll pay for that. Louise said nothing,
but she heard him. And now he's trying to steal our water, too! I'd
like to tie him down on a cactus-bed and run a band of sheep over
him."

"Charlie, Charlie, control yourself. Don't exhaust your strength by
being angry; it's bad for you in this heat; sunstrokes are sometimes
brought on that way. Besides, such talk as you uttered is foolish and
dangerous."

"Bah, I'm not afraid of a sunstroke."

"Anyway, it's unwise to be angry," his father warned. "When you're in
a temper, you talk loud; and people may hear it and repeat it, making
trouble. Now I must return to the bank. But remember what I say:
you're not to meddle in this Perro Creek matter. Do you hear?"

"Oh, yes, I hear," said Charlie.

His face as his father walked away did not, however, indicate
acquiescence in this tame course. His heart was full of rancour for
the insulting stranger of the ford; and where the fires of his hatred
blew, his feet would follow.

CHAPTER V

Though Lee Bryant, during his colloquy with Menocal, had spoken
confidently of his ability to obtain money wherewith to construct a
canal system linking the Pinas River and the Perro Creek ranch, he had
no definite promise of funds from any source. Nor would the project be
ripe for financing before he had completed his surveys and made his
cost estimates.

He had become interested in the undertaking in this way. Staying over
night with the Stevensons by chance a month previous, a stranger, his
speculation was aroused when through questions about the ranch he
learned of the unused Pinas River water right, a right valid but
apparently impracticable. Was it indeed impracticable? Would the cost
of bringing water to the land be, after all, prohibitive? In fac