LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 171 



Indian urchin who blocked the door, and bowing with punctil- 

 ious politeness to the sturdy mozas who were grinding corn, Don. 

 Antonio approached our friend Augustin, who was discussing war- 

 like matters with his admiiiistrador. 



" Hola I Don Antonio, how do you find yourself, sir ?" 



" Perfectly well, and your very humble servant, reverend father ; 

 and your worship also, I trust you are in good health ?" 



" Sin novedad — without novelty ;" which, since it was one 

 hour and a half since our friends had separated to take their 

 siestas, was not impossible. 



" Myself and the worthy Jose," continued Fray Augustin, 

 " were speaking of the vile invasion of a band of North Ameri- 

 can robbers, who three years since fiercely assaulted this peaceful 

 Mission, killing many of its inoffensive inhabitants, wounding 

 many more, and carrying off several of our finest colts and most 

 promising mules to their dens and caves in the Rocky Mountains. 

 Not with impunity, however, did they eflect this atrocity. Jose 

 informs me that many of the assailants were killed by my brave 

 Indians. How many said you, Jose ?" 



" Quizas mo-o-ochos," answered the Indian. 



" Yes, probably a great multitude," continued the padre; "but, 

 unwarned by such well-merited castigation, it has been reported 

 to me by a Chemeguaba mansito, that a band of these audacious 

 marauders are now on the road to repeat the ofTense, numbering 

 many thousands, well mounted and armed ; and to oppose these 

 white barbarians it behoves us to make every preparation of de- 

 fense."* 



" There is no cause for alarm," answered the Andaluz. " I 

 (tapping his breast) have served in three wars : in that glorious 

 one ' de la Independencia,' when our glorious patriots drove the 

 French like sheep across the Pyrenees ; in that equally glorious 



* From the report to the Governor of California by the Head of the Mission, 

 in reference to the attacks by the American mountaineers. 



