Do you think that can be so, Father, when we have
always lived on them, and the owners promised them to us
forever?"
Father Salvierderra was silent a long time before replying, and
Alessandro watched his face anxiously. He seemed to be hesitating
for words to convey his meaning. At last he said: "Got your father
any notice, at any time since the Americans took the country,--
notice to appear before a court, or anything about a title to the
land?"
"No, Father," replied Alessandro.
"There has to be some such paper, as I understand their laws,"
continued the monk; "some notice, before any steps can be taken
to remove Indians from an estate. It must be done according to the
law, in the courts. If you have had no such notice, you are not in
danger."
"But, Father," persisted Alessandro, "how could there be a law to
take away from us the land which the Senor Valdez gave us
forever?"
"Gave he to you any paper, any writing to show it?"
"No, no paper; but it is marked in red lines on the map. It was
marked off by Jose Ramirez, of Los Angeles, when they marked all
the boundaries of Senor Valdez's estate.
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