The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-12-20
CHAPTER XVIII

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1t was days before Santa Clara
Valley recovered from the shock of
its mighty earthquake. Gradually
news from the neighboring ranches
reached Rancho Guadalupe, and the
excitement died when it was learned
there had been no human casual
ties.
The earthquake was past; but
Bowie's most troublesome problem
still confronted him-the squatters.
He resolved to act at once.
There's nothing to be gained by
temporizing-much may be lost, +"
he said to Don Ramon energetical-
ly. ''The quake has demoralized
them-couldn't help but do it. Any
way, I'm going after them in the
morning"
"As you think best, senior. Take
care of yourself. To lose you would
be to lose the whole battle for the
rancho"
Carmen listened to the decision
with uneasiness and anxiety, but
there seemed no alternative. She,
too, only begged Bowie to be care
full.
Scouting about among the squat
tiers the day before, Simmie had
learned that some half dozen of
them, chastened by the fright of
the tenblor, had decided to seek
other regions for their abode. But
these were the milder hammered of
the invaders. The hard cases re-
manned.
At daybreak the next morning
Bowie took Pardaloe, Sirnmie and
Pedro with him. Crossing the riv-
er, he directed his men to ask the
squatters to come out for talk.
When six of them had struggled
from their shacks Bowie, on his
horse, explained his mission.
s"I've called you together for a
plain talk, boys" explained Bowie,
addressing the six squatters and
their following of twice as many
strengthening men. you are
claiming land here that doesn't be-
long to you. Hold onl Don't all try
to talk at once. Wait till I get
through and you can have your say.
You've squatted here on a rancho
without leave from the owner, with
out asking leave.
"You are killing the rancho cat
tie about as you please. You claim
it's to feed yourselves; you claim
that the owners got more cattle
than he needs and you haven't got
any. But you don't say a word
about his cattle that you've killed
and sold in Monterey, do you? Not
a word about his beef quarters and
hides that you've traded for whisky
there. You don't say word about
raiding the rancho storehouse and
helping yourselves to flour and grain
and wine. That has happened twice.
Nov, all that's going to stop. I
say nothing more about old scores;
about your trying to burn the mis-
sion night before last and your de-
manding that the Indian women be
sent out to you.
'sBut take notice: You're headed,
one and all, to get off Guadalupe
Rancho and off the mission lands in
twenty-four hours or to stand your
ground with rifles and shotguns. For
tomorrow morning I'll be here to
clean this whole mess up and it'll
be done. That's my say. Now you
talk"
Deaf Peterson did talk, and he
talked loud and long. 1--WE stand on
our rights as bony fidey settlers and
citizens Of the United States of
America" he shouted finally. "You
can't scare us m we don't surren-
der our homesteads for you nor for
all the greasers in Californy. Capt'n
Blood'n be here tomorrow, boss.
Talk to him if you want to. M if
you're looking for a fight you can
get one right here now where you're
horsin' around"
you've had your warning, boys"
retorted Bowie evenly; and without
further parley he and his compan-
ions rode away.
After supper that night there was
a council at the quarters of the
Guadalupe vaqueros. Bowie had as
sembled Pardaloe, Simmie, Pedro,
Felipe and three of the hardest of
the cowboys for conference. The
plan of an attack on the squatter
stronghold was discussed. The sug-
gestion of daylight assault was
abandoned since it was almost GER
tain to result in more casualties
than would be likely in night raid.
Il was no part of Bowie's plan to
shoot any squatters, but the rancho