Page:The Road to Monterey (1925).pdf/238

 gave him an aspect of fierceness that would not appear to admit a gentle thought.

Henderson pulled his horse up, drawing rein as if he intended to turn back.

"Felipe, do you suppose the governor sent those men to take her away from Don Abrahan's house?"

"Who knows?" Felipe replied, shifting the responsibility of a direct reply in the manner of his blood.

"I must find out. Felipe, I'm going back."

"That would be a perilous thing to do, Gabriel."

"Her peril is greater than mine. She was relying on Don Abrahan to protect her, she convinced me he would be able to do it, even against the governor. But Don Abrahan has lost his power. Felipe, they'll murder her."

"I doubt if they would go that far. They can confiscate her property without that."

"They hate her for her Yankee blood, because she speaks English. And I suppose she is guilty of treason, since the two countries are at war. Felipe, I was a fool not to bring her with me."

"That would have been better, if there had been time. But the soldiers would have come before you could have broken down the door."

"I'm going back!"

"It would be too rash," Felipe protested, laying his hand on Gabriel's rein to check his hazardous intention. There is a better plan."