He knew very well how widespread had been the distress the last two years.

With their own tenants on Los Muertos, affairs had reached the stage of desperation.

Derrick had practically been obliged to "carry" Hooven and some of the others.

The Governor himself had made almost nothing during the last season; a third year like the last, with the price steadily sagging, meant nothing else but ruin.
But here he checked himself.

Two consecutive dry seasons in California were almost unprecedented; a third would be beyond belief, and the complete rest for nearly all the land was a compensation.