The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Gringos, by B. M. Bower

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Title: The Gringos

Author: B. M. Bower

Release Date: April 25, 2004 [EBook #12139]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GRINGOS ***

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THE GRINGOS

A STORY OF THE OLD CALIFORNIA DAYS IN 1849

BY B.M. BOWER

1913

WIth Illustrations By Anton Otto Fischer

[Illustration: "Gringos are savages and worse than savages."]

AUTHOR'S NOTE

I wish to make public acknowledgment of the assistance I have received
from George W. Lee, a "Forty-niner" who has furnished me with data,
material, and color which have been invaluable in the writing of this
story.

CONTENTS

I. THE BEGINNING OF IT

II. THE VIGILANTES

III. THE THING THEY CALLED JUSTICE

IV. WHAT HAPPENED AT THE OAK

V. HOSPITALITY

VI. THE VALLEY

VII. THE LORD OF THE VALLEY

VIII. DON ANDRES WANTS A MAJORDOMO

IX. JERRY SIMPSON, SQUATTER

X. THE FINEST LITTLE WOMAN IN THE WORLD

XI. AN ILL WIND

XII. POTENTIAL MOODS

XIII. BILL WILSON GOES VISITING

XIV. RODEO TIME

XV. WHEN CAMP-FIRES BLINK

XVI. "FOR WEAPONS I CHOOSE RIATAS"

XVII. A FIESTA WE SHALL HAVE

XVIII. WHAT IS LOVE WORTH?

XIX. ANTICIPATION

XX. LOST! TWO HASTY TEMPERS

XXI. FIESTA DAY

XXII. THE BATTLE OF BEASTS

XXIII. THE DUEL OF RIATAS

XXIV. FOR LOVE AND A MEDAL

XXV. ADIOS

_List of Illustrations_

"Gringos are savages and worse than savages"

He twisted in the saddle and sent leaden answer to the spiteful
barking of the guns

Mrs. Jerry took the senorita's hand and smiled up at her

"An accident it must appear to those who watch"

_The Gringos_

CHAPTER I

THE BEGINNING OF IT

If you would glimpse the savage which normally lies asleep, thank God,
in most of us, you have only to do this thing of which I shall tell
you, and from some safe sanctuary where leaden couriers may not bear
prematurely the tidings of man's debasement, watch the world below.
You may see civilization swing back with a snap to savagery and
worse