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knuckles.
    â€œWe are practical men, Capitán .”
    The Nantucket man looked thoughtfully at the don through the cigar smoke, guessing at what might be coming.
    The don went on. “The letter of the law on this coast is that we are forbidden to trade with foreign vessels. Yet agreements are made. We’re almost without a government. The official packets from Acapulco and Panama haven’t arrived for months.”
    Padre Mendoza nodded sadly as Stackpole translated.
    â€œThere are things we need, Capitán . Trade goods, simple things. Let us arrive at some agreement between us. Not to defy the law, but to nourish the pueblo.”
    Stackpole translated, listened, and gave the captain’s reply: “He is agreeable to all free trade, especially with a man of honor.”
    Don Alejandro bowed in thanks to the compliment. “What if I were to deliver hides and tallow to the capitán ’s vessel, a cargo he might sell almost anyplace. He could return with goods we need. If the capitán places his trust in us, we will place our trust with him.”
    The captain smiled warmly and held out his hand toDon Alejandro, who took it as warmly.
    Bernardo and Diego looked at each other: secret agreements at our table!
    The don said, “Today in the pueblo, this year’s mayor beat the drum and announced the day our apartado begins next week. This is our spring rodeo. We will be parting out and counting the mission cattle and the cattle belonging to the ranchos. We will brand our calves, make a fiesta, and then we can slaughter the needed number of steers for the hides and tallow. Most will be de la Vega cattle. The padre and I have arranged that some will be mission cattle, so that his necessities can be met, since he has lost several hundred head of cattle. All this will require three weeks of hard work. Can you return at a given time when the cargo is ready?”
    Stackpole translated, listened, and spoke. “The capitán asks me to express his gratitude for the don’s trust in his discretion and fidelity.”
    The men shook hands all around while the boys watched. Just being allowed to stay in the room was a mark of the don’s respect for them. It was his way of bringing them into the difficult and confusing world of practical matters.
    Scar disappeared to arrange for horses and an armedescort back to the docks. Even around a prosperous pueblo like Los Angeles, there were still cougars, wolves, and marauding grizzly bears. More dangerous than natural predators, the bandit El Chollo had robbed a traveling party of soldiers to the south; who knows where he could be tonight?
    At the hacienda door, Captain Carter asked Stackpole to translate one more question: “He asks if you or the padre have seen or heard of his ship’s cooper, his barrel maker, Mr. Warr. He came ashore to arrange for water yesterday and has not returned. He is a reliable man and unlikely to desert his ship in a foreign port. If you see or hear of him, please contact the captain or me.”
    The padre crossed himself and said, “Another craftsman has disappeared!”
    Stackpole translated a question from Captain Carter. “He asks if there is some wickedness afoot in the pueblo.”
    Don Alejandro glanced at Scar and the padre. He puffed his cigar and blew out a thin stream of smoke as he thought. “We have the makings of a mystery, for sure. But at the edge of the world, there are always mysteries, yes?”
    The men exchanged handshakes and compliments.Stackpole and the captain mounted awkwardly. With hooting and shouts, the vaqueros galloped out of the hacienda with the two sailors clinging to their saddles.
    Scar, the padre, and Don Alejandro talked quietly on the veranda.
    The boys stood with them for a time, but they were tired. They walked around the hacienda toward their sleeping porch.
    â€œBernardo,” Diego said.
    Bernardo stopped and looked at him.
    â€œWhat is happening to