These peaceable Indians paid tribute to intermediary tribes to hold
the passes and do their fighting. Those about the Mission gave corn
and cereals and hides and the products of the sea, and got in
exchange pinones (pine nuts). One of these Indians, named Valerio,
was a strong, brave, handsome youth, whose haughty spirit revolted at
his servitude, and, after seeking an opportunity for many weeks he
finally escaped to the Santa Ynez mountains, where he found a cave in
which he hid himself, drawing himself up by a rope and taking it in
after him. The Indians had unlimited belief in Valerio's mysterious
and wonderful powers. Pancho says that he could make himself
invisible at will, that locks and keys were powerless against him;
and that no one could hinder his taking money, horses, or food. All
sorts of things disappeared mysteriously by day and by night, and the
robberies were one and all laid to the door of Valerio. But after a
while Valerio grew lonely in his mountain retreat. He longed for
human companionship, and at length, becoming desperate, he descended
on the Mission settlement and kidnapped a young Indian boy named
Chito, took him to his cave, and admitted him into his wild and
lawless life. But Chito was not contented. He liked home and
comfortable slavery better than the new, strange life; so he seized
the first opportunity, and being a bright, daring little lad, and
fleet of foot, he escaped and made his way to the Mission.
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