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lackey of muchachas； an attendant on children to amuse them； orwhy
not？an appendage to his daughter's state！ Ah； Jesus Maria！ such a
state！ such a muchacha！ A picked…up foundlinga swineherd's
daughterto be ennobled by his； Pedro's； attendance； and for whose
vulgar； clownish tricks；tricks of a swineherd's daughter；he；
Pedro； was to be brought to book and insulted as if she were of
Hidalgo blood！ Ah； Caramba！ Don Juan Peyton would find he could no
more make a servant of him than he could make a lady of her！〃
The two young girls were rapidly approaching。 Judge Peyton spurred
his horse beside the vacquero's； and； swinging the long thong of his
bridle ominously in his clenched fingers； said； with a white face：
〃Vamos！〃
Pedro's hand slid towards his sash。 Peyton only looked at him with
a rigid smile of scorn。
〃Or I'll lash you here before them both；〃 he added in a lower voice。
The vacquero met Peyton's relentless eyes with a yellow flash of
hate； drew his reins sharply； until his mustang； galled by the cruel
bit； reared suddenly as if to strike at the immovable American；
then； apparently with the same action； he swung it around on its
hind legs； as on a pivot； and dashed towards the corral at a furious
gallop。
CHAPTER III。
Meantime the heroic proprietor of the peaceful ox…team； whose valor
Incarnacion had so infelicitously celebrated； was walking listlessly
in the dust beside his wagon。 At a first glance his slouching
figure； taken in connection with his bucolic conveyance； did not
immediately suggest a hero。 As he emerged from the dusty cloud it
could be seen that he was wearing a belt from which a large dragoon
revolver and hunting knife were slung； and placed somewhat
ostentatiously across the wagon seat was a rifle。 Yet the other
contents of the wagon were of a singularly inoffensive character；
and even suggested articles of homely barter。 Culinary utensils of
all sizes； tubs； scullery brushes； and clocks； with several rolls of
cheap carpeting and calico； might have been the wares of some
traveling vender。 Yet； as they were only visible through a flap of
the drawn curtains of the canvas hood； they did not mitigate the
general aggressive effect of their owner's appearance。 A red
bandanna handkerchief knotted and thrown loosely over his shoulders；
a slouched hat pulled darkly over a head of long tangled hair；
which； however； shadowed a round； comfortable face； scantily and
youthfully bearded； were part of these confusing inconsistencies。
The shadows of the team wagon were already lengthening grotesquely
over the flat； cultivated fields； which for some time had taken the
place of the plains of wild oats in the branch road into which they
had turned。 The gigantic shadow of the proprietor； occasionally
projected before it； was in characteristic exaggeration； and was
often obliterated by a puff of dust； stirred by the plodding hoofs
of the peaceful oxen； and swept across the field by the strong
afternoon trades。 The sun sank lower； although a still potent
presence above the horizon line； the creaking wagon lumbered still
heavily along。 Yet at intervals its belligerent proprietor would
start up from his slouching； silent march； break out into violent；
disproportionate； but utterly ineffective objurgation of his cattle；
jump into the air and kick his heels together in some paroxysm of
indignation against them；an act； however； which was received
always with heavy bovine indifference； the dogged scorn of swaying；
repudiating heads； or the dull contempt of lazily flicking tails。
Towards sunset one or two straggling barns and cottages indicated
their approach to the outskirts of a country town or settlement。
Here the team halted； as if the belligerent…looking teamster had
felt his appearance was inconsistent with an effeminate
civilization； and the oxen were turned into an open waste opposite a
nondescript wooden tenement； half farmhouse and half cabin；
evidently of the rudest Western origin。 He may have recognized the
fact that these 〃shanties〃 were not； as the ordinary traveler might
infer； the first rude shelter of the original pioneers or settlers；
but the later makeshifts of some recent Western immigrants who； like
himself； probably found themselves unequal to the settled habits of
the village； and who still retained their nomadic instincts。 It
chanced； however； that the cabin at present was occupied by a New
England mechanic and his family； who had emigrated by ship around
Cape Horn； and who had no experience of the West； the plains； or its
people。 It was therefore with some curiosity and a certain amount
of fascinated awe that the mechanic's only daughter regarded from
the open door of her dwelling the arrival of this wild and lawless…
looking stranger。
Meantime he had opened the curtains of the wagon and taken from its
interior a number of pots； pans； and culinary utensils； which he
proceeded to hang upon certain hooks that were placed on the outer
ribs of the board and the sides of the vehicle。 To this he added a
roll of rag carpet； the end of which hung from the tailboard； and a
roll of pink calico temptingly displayed on the seat。 The
mystification and curiosity of the young girl grew more intense at
these proceedings。 It looked like the ordinary exhibition of a
traveling peddler； but the gloomy and embattled appearance of the
man himself scouted so peaceful and commonplace a suggestion。 Under
the pretense of chasing away a marauding hen； she sallied out upon
the waste near the wagon。 It then became evident that the traveler
had seen her； and was not averse to her interest in his movements；
although he had not changed his attitude of savage retrospection。
An occasional ejaculation of suppressed passion； as if the memory of
some past conflict was too much for him； escaped him even in this
peaceful occupation。 As this possibly caused the young girl to
still hover timidly in the distance； he suddenly entered the wagon
and reappeared carrying a tin bucket； with which he somewhat
ostentatiously crossed her path； his eyes darkly wandering as if
seeking something。
〃If you're lookin' for the spring； it's a spell furder onby the
willows。〃
It was a pleasant voice； the teamster thought； albeit with a dry；
crisp； New England accent unfamiliar to his ears。 He looked into
the depths of an unlovely blue…check sunbonnet； and saw certain
small； irregular features and a sallow check； lit up by a pair of
perfectly innocent； trustful； and wondering brown eyes。 Their timid
possessor seemed to be a girl of seventeen； whose figure； although
apparently clad in one of her mother's gowns； was still undeveloped
and repressed by rustic hardship and innutrition。 As her eyes met
his she saw that the face of this gloomy stranger was still
youthful； by no means implacable； and； even at that moment； was
actually suffused by a brick…colored blush！ In matters of