It perplexed his dazed, disturbed mind to think that if such an antagonistic element could exist within a dozen miles of the Mission, and he not know it, could not such an atmosphere have been around him, even in his monastic isolation, and he remain blind to it?
Had he really lived in the world without knowing it?
Had it been in his blood?
Had it impelled him to--He shuddered and rode on.
They were at the last slope of the zigzag descent to the shore, when he saw the figures of a man and woman moving slowly through a field of wild oats, not far from the trail.

It seemed to his distorted fancy that the man was Cranch.

The woman! His heart stopped beating.

Ah! could it be?
He had never seen her in her proper garb: would she look like that?
Would she be as tall?
He thought he bade Jose and Antonio go on slowly before with Sanchicha, and dismounted, walking slowly between the high stalks of grain lest he should disturb them.

They evidently did not hear his approach, but were talking earnestly.