m accused of fantasies for all time.
Necessary it becomes therefore that we should go TOGETHER. My
fantasies and speculations cannot injure you, my brother; your whiskey
shall not empoison me. We shall go together in the great world of your
American ideas of which I am much inflamed. We shall together breathe
as one the spirit of Progress and Liberty. We shall be even as
neophytes making of ourselves Apostles of Truth. I absolve and
renounce myself henceforth of my family. I shall take to myself the
sister and the brother, the aunt and the uncle, as we proceed. I
devote myself to humanity alone. I devote YOU, my friend, and the
mare--though happily she has not a Christian soul--to this glorious
mission."

The few level last rays of light lit up a faint enthusiasm in the face
of Don Jose, but without altering his imperturbable gravity. The
vaquero eyed him curiously and half doubtfully.

"We will go to-morrow," resumed Don Jose with solemn decision, "for it
is Wednesday. It was a Sunday that thou didst ride the mare up the
steps of the Fonda and demanded that thy liquor should be served to
thee in a pail. I remember it, for the landlord of the Fonda claimed
twenty pesos for damage and the kissing of his wife. Therefore, by
computation, good Roberto, thou shouldst be sober until Friday, and we
shall have two clear days to fly before thy madness again seizes thee."

"They kin say what they like, Don Kosay, but YOUR head is level,"
returned the unabashed American, grasping Don Jose's hand. "All right,
then. Hasta manana, as your folks say."

"Hasta manana," repeated Don Jose gravely.

At daybreak next morning, while slumber still weighted the lazy eyelids
of "the Blessed Innocents," Don Jose Sepulvida and his trusty squire
Roberto, otherwise known as "Bucking Bob," rode forth unnoticed from
the corral.

II.

Three days had passed. At the close of the third, Don Jose was seated
in a cosy private apartment of the San Mateo Hotel, where they had
halted for an arranged interview with his lawyer before reaching San
Francisco. From his window he could see the surrounding park-like
avenues of oaks and the level white high road, now and then clouded
with the dust of passing teams. But his eyes were persistently fixed
upon a small copy of the American Constitution before him. Suddenly
there was a quick rap on his door, and before he could reply to it a
man brusquely entered.

Don Jose raised his head slo