The Evening News. October 23, 1916

21. Fremont and Don Bruno Bernal's Horses, Part II

Don Bruno Bernal was heartbroken over the loss of his horses. Some he had bought from La Purissima. Some he had run down wild in the San Joaquin valley. For him each had a personality and a story. His son Antonio threatened to take them from Fremont, but Mrs. Ortega de Bernal forbade.

In the Spanish families the mother was a being loved and revered. Mrs. Bernal ruled her family with the rod of love, which is the rod of iron. What cared she for three hundred horses? Her son's life alone mattered. She begged Antonio not to go for the horses. Let the gringos have them. She made him promise her not to meet Captain Weber on the trail.

Don Antonio promised, but every day Weber was on the trail between Laguna Seca and San Jose. In order to avoid the meeting Don Antonio was obliged to go up on the highest mountain on the Santa Teresa ranch, called El Serro, to try to see Weber. He grew impatient under the restraint.

Don Antonio was always in the open, and his sight was like an Indian's. He could tell an American by the way he sat his horse. All Spanish Californians hated Captain Charles Weber, as they called him, "Don Carlos Weaver." Don Antonio shared the hatred. This day when he looked at Weber-he knew Weber by the way he rode-hatred flooded him. He forgot his promise to his mother, rode down the mountains from the hacienda and struck Weber's trail. The winding path was canopied by flaming poison oak. In a bend in the trail Don Antonio lay waiting for Weber.

At the sight of Don Antonio, Weber brought his horse to a stop. Don Antonio ran his horse up against Weber's.

"Come on," he said, "I've been waiting for you. Here were are, man to man. One of us must die. Mark your distance."

"I don't want to die, Bernal," said Weber. "I'm your friend. Let's be friends."

"That don't go. Gringos and Californians can't be friends."

Even today the Spanish Californians speak of themselves as CALIFORNIANS as if there were no others.

"Yes, we can be friends," pleaded Weber. "Shake hands. I want to do something for you. I'll send east and get you a fine German gun."

"I want no gun from you," said Don Antonio. "You not only stole my father's three hundred horses, but you didn't even spare his saddle horses that he rode himself. Mark your distance. You give the signal for shooting. The man quickest with the gun wins."

Weber knew that Don Antonio could clip the beak from a bird. He took the last remaining chance for his life. The horses!

"Come with me to Captain Fremont's post at Laguna Seca. I'll give you back your three best horses."

"You can't trap me," said Don Antonio.

"I mean it. If you don't get your father's three best horses you can shoot me."

The boy quickly balanced revenge and the desire for his father's happiness.

"All right, Weber. But remember I ride behind you all the way to Laguna Seca. If Fremont's men try to shoot, you die. Remember!"

"All right, said Weber, turning his back and leading the way over the trail to Laguna Seca.

Captain Fremont met Weber and Don Antonio.

"I promised Mr. Bernal to give him back his father's three best horses," explained Weber.

Fremont was indignant. "You shouldn't have promised."

Weber didn't go into details. "I must give them back. I brought Mr. Bernal to give him the horses."

Fremont understood. "You can give him two horses, but not this big fellow," he pointed to Don Pedro's pride. "He is the best horse in California. I have made him my expedition horse. I won't give him up."

"I promised," insisted Weber.

"And I'm going to keep you to your promise," said Don Antonio.

"No," said Fremont. "Mr. Bernal I'll give you the ten best horses of the three hundred we got at your ranch. You may have eight instead of the expedition horse."

Intensely Don Antonio considered that offer. The ten best. He thought of his father's joy in repossessing ten of the best of the band of three hundred.

"I'll take the ten," said Don Antonio.

Within an hour Don Antonio was on his way back from Fremont's camp to the Santa Teresa ranch with ten picked horses, including two of Don Bruno's saddle horses. Captain Fremont rode about California on a stolen horse, Don Bruno's pride. He was spreading civilization, showing the superiority of American's to the Spanish.

In a year or so Don Antonio Bernal received from Captain Weber a beautiful German gun which he always kept. Don Antonio died a few years ago on a ranch near Livermore. The gun is the property of his widow.

Transcribed by Kitty LaFavor, for the Santa Clara Co. CAGenWeb Project. 2008

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