“I jerked on the bridle and told him to let go.  He held on and rolled his eyes at me.  I dare say he imagined he was a gentlemen to be infatuated with.  He seemed sure of conquest.  One thing certain, he didn’t know the least bit about horses.  It scared me the way he got in front of Jose.  I thanked my stars I wasn’t up on Blanco Diablo.  Well, Dad, I’m a little ashamed now, but I was mad.  I slashed him across the face with my quirt.  Jose jumped and knocked Mr. Chase into the sand.  I didn’t get the horse under control till I was out of sight of those surveyors, and then I let him run home.”

“Nell, I guess you punished the fellow enough.  Maybe he’s only a conceited softy.  But I don’t like that sort of thing.  It isn’t Western.  I guess he won’t be so smart next time.  Any fellow would remember being hit by Blanco Jose.  If you’d been up on Diablo we’d have to bury Mr. Chase.”

“Thank goodness I wasn’t!  I’m sorry now, Dad.  Perhaps the fellow was hurt.  But what could I do?  Let’s forget all about it, and I’ll be careful where I ride in the future....Dad, what does it mean, this surveying around Forlorn River?”

“I don’t know, Nell,” replied Belding, thoughtfully.  “It worries me.  It looks good for Forlorn River, but bad for Dick’s plan to irrigate the valley.  Lord, I’d hate to have some one forestall Dick on that!”

“No, no, we won’t let anybody have Dick’s rights,” declared Nell.

“Where have I been keeping myself not to know about these surveyors?” muttered Belding.  “They must have just come.”

“Go see Mrs. Cater.  She told me there were strangers in town, Americans, who had mining interests in Sonora, and were run out by Orozco.  Find out what they’re doing, Dad.”

Belding discovered that he was, indeed, the last man of consequence in Forlorn River to learn of the arrival of Ben Chase and son, mineowners and operators in Sonora.  They, with a force of miners, had been besieged by rebels and finally driven off their property.  This property was not destroyed, but held for ransom.  And the Chases, pending developments, had packed outfits and struck for the border.  Casita had been their objective point, but, for some reason which Belding did not learn, they had arrived instead at Forlorn River.  It had taken Ben Chase just one day to see the possibilities of Altar Valley, and in three days he had men at work.

Belding returned home without going to see the Chases and their operations.  He wanted to think over the situation.  Next morning he went out to the valley to see for himself.  Mexicans were hastily erecting adobe houses upon Ladd’s one hundred and sixty acres, upon Dick Gale’s, upon Jim Lash’s and Thorne’s.  There were men staking the valley floor and the river bed.  That was sufficient for Belding.  He turned back toward town and headed for the camp of these intruders.