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A backward movement of the poor Mexican natives carries them between the Americans and the yet powerful land barons of their own race. Harassed, unfit to work, unable to cope with the intruders, the native Californians become homeless rovers. They are bitter at heart. Many, in open resentment, rise on the plains or haunt the lonely trails.
"Rover must go," said Emma, sorrowfully; "but I wish there were two Rovers, one for Arthur, and one for me." It was a pretty sight to see these children put their fat, little arms round Rover's neck, and hug him over and over again, and kiss his rough face with their rosy mouths, and let their sunny curls lie among his shaggy locks.
A masterful man was he, beside a holy one, who bluntly told the king the truth when he needed it, and knew how to ward the faith and the church committed to his keeping. By such were the old rovers weaned from their wild life. What a mark he left upon his day is shown yet by the tradition that disaster impends if the cross is allowed to fall into decay.
The instinct which sets birds to nest-building amid the young green, turned the rovers' hearts toward their ice-bound home. With glad applause, they hailed Leif's proclamation from under the budding maple-tree: "Four weeks from to-day, if the season continues to be a forward one, it is likely that the pack-ice around the mouth of Eric's Fiord will be sufficiently broken to let us through.
"But you do not?" Karara asked then. "I do not know, Sea Maid. The time is coming when perhaps they shall have their chance to prove how strong is their magic. Already the Rovers gather in fleets as they never did before. And it seems that they, too, have found a new magic, for their ships fly through the water, depending no longer on wind-filling sails, or upon strong arms of men at long paddles.
The victuallers soon found out with whom they had to deal, and sent down to the fleet casks of meat which dogs would not touch, and barrels of beer which smelt worse than bilge water. Meanwhile the British Channel seemed to be abandoned to French rovers. Our merchantmen were boarded in sight of the ramparts of Plymouth. The sugar fleet from the West Indies lost seven ships.
"Have you captured poachers?" "No, the older ones are gypsies," for in the dim light of the cabin he was quite sure that they belonged to that army of rovers. "Are we then so dark?" asked the basket-maker, amused at the mistake. "All animals look dark at night." "Except a white cow," suggested the butcher. "But, Hartman, you have three boys with you," continued the forest-keeper.
These powerful rovers were indeed a match for any ordinary merchant-vessel, and often contended desperately with men-of-war. In 1677 the 26-gun ship Guernsey, Captain James Harman, fell in with one of them, an Algerine called the White Horse, carrying 50 guns, and 500 men, while the crew of the Guernsey numbered only 110.
"Oh, if mamma would only go!" cried Grace. "I am sure it would do her a great deal of good. She goes away from home so little." The matter was talked over until it was time for the two parties to separate, and the Rovers promised to write more particulars in a few days, as soon as they knew more about the houseboat and how it was to be run, and what sort of sleeping accommodations it afforded.
"Just look at them bend to it!" "Yes, and look at the quick recovery," added another fourth-year student. From two lengths the Rovers went three lengths ahead. Then Koswell missed a stroke, and tumbled up against Larkspur. "Hi! What are you doing?" spluttered Larkspur in disgust. "Cou couldn't hel help it," panted Jerry, He was all but winded, for the pulling had been too much for him.
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