Читать книгу Folded Hills - Stewart Edward White - Страница 14

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For the moment Andy was much aroused by his talk with Thomas Larkin. But the feeling lost its power very shortly. It had no fuel on which to feed. Most of his Californian friends and acquaintances merely laughed good-naturedly at his earnestness. A few were willing to discuss things; but they could see no reason for personal agitation.

“Undoubtedly it is as you say, Don Largo,” said they, “and it is to be regretted that these things should be thus. But such has always been the law, as is well known from early days. And,” they added reasonably enough, “undoubtedly the situation is satisfactory to the good Lord and the blessed saints; for, if it were not, would they not protect their own holy padres who burn so many candles and offer up so many prayers?”

There was really no refutation of this argument of the pious. As for those not so religiously inclined, it was difficult to stir up much interest in the question of who owned what lands. There was plenty of land. When Andy argued that possibly the whole business was to result in sequestration of the land, not only from the missions but from the Indians as well, they shrugged their shoulders. Nobody even spared a thought to the Indians. The only point that elicited the smallest interest was the rumor that Hijar had brought with him twenty-one men who were to be appointed civil administrators of the mission properties. That was of a piece with all the rest of Mexican impudence. If civil administrators were necessary, were there not plenty of Californians? Their facile emotions flared up. They became indignant over the outrage. They would demand ...

But Andy knew they would not demand. They were momentarily stirred by the traditional and persistent discrimination, that was all. It is fair to say that no envy of possible loot influenced their indignation. Andy’s own first interest cooled. After all, it was none of his affair. He had his family, and his wide acres, and his friends. Life was very full. They laughed at him gently.

“Guárdese, Don Largo!” they warned him. “If you do not look out you will become político, like Alvarado.”