The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-10-11
CHAPTER III-Continued

It was a bootless search with no
signs of the Indians. Daylight was
well advanced by the time the four
had covered the canyon and Pedro
had signaled for the horses.
Riding back, the quartette found
the vaqueros riding in circles over
the scene Of the fight of the day be-
fore. They had counted, when Bow
lie rejoined them, the bodies of elev-
en- dead Indians, but there was no
sign of Don Francisco. Once more
Bowie ordered the party up the can
yon to pick up the trail. He him
self was riding slowly ahead, alone
and under driving rain, across a
field of loose rock and shale when
his eye was drawn from the trail by
an object lying near to clump of
stunted trees. He refined toward it,
looked again, hesitated, then sprang
from his horse. It might be the
naked body of a dead Indian. But
closer look brought a shock; it was
the rain-sodden body of Don Fran
cisco.
A saddle blanket was stretched on
the ground. The dead lad was
wrapped in it and slung across the
back of a horse, and with every
precaution against ambush the So
Der horsemen made their way back
to open country and the ranch. At
Bowie's insistence Pedro rode ahead
to break the news; he himself did
not feel equal to it.
Leud walls greeted the little caval-
cade as it approached the rancho.
Servants and children made no eff
fort to restrain their grief. At the
ranch house door Don Ramon, stern
faced and bitter, stood with Dona,
Maria, who was supported by Car
men, the two women in tears. They
suppressed their sobs as best they
could while Don Francisco was awk-
wardly but tenderly carried in by
the tall Texan and laid on the young
Don's own bed and in his darkened
room.
Don Ramon summoned DR.. Doane
from Monterey, and under his skill
full hands the features Of Don Fran
cisco, as he lay in the candlelight
the next night in his rough coffin,
were less terrible, more nearly nat
ural and, in some measure, more
consoling to those who gathered
around him to recite the prayers of
the dead. Indeed the whole night
heard their voices raised to heaven
in intercession for a dear one. Hour
by hour groups Of the household,
from master and mistress to the
lowliest Of the servants, relieved one
another in vigil beside the rude bier.
Next day, lying before the mission
altar while Padre Martinez and his
Franciscan assistant intoned the
Mass Of Requiem, the youthful VIC
tim seemed in his repose almost to
speak words Of consolation to those
who still mourned him with unceas-
ing sobs. Bowie had never seen
just such a Catholic funeral. The
solemn ritual, the marked rever-
ence, the uplifted hands of the sup
plant at the altar, joined by those
uplifted at times at the altar rail-
moved him beyond any spectacle he
had ever Witnessed.
DR.. Doane spent the night at
Guadalupe and sat late with Bowie
and Don Ramon. Again the mas
ter Of the rancho talked with the
Texan about taking over the man
agement of the great domain.
''Now more than ever ! need you,
Senior Bowie,' said Don Ramon quiz
city. "My nephew was my right
arm; without him, am helpless.
And without him, well-nigh defense
less. He has handled the vaqueros,
managed the matanzas, arranged
the sale of the hides and tallow.
These marauding Indians - from
now on they will be holder, encour-
aged by this partial victory ~. :.
Don Ricardo" he said, addressing
DR.. Doane, twill you not also lend
your voice to persuade our Texan
friend to become, as you have. a
Californiano?"
''Give me tonight to think it over,
Don Ramon" said Bowie at last.
Tomorrow ! will decide. In any
event., ] thank you. Good night"
After breakfast next morning
Bowie and Don Ramon sat down in
the rancho Office. IF you still feel
you want to 60 ahead, Don Ramon,
said Bowie, ''I'm inclined to come
10 stay here with YOU"