Through the narration of Joaquín’s childhood, Ridge demonstrates the transformation from a mild and peaceful boy into a daring-spirited bandit. The first incident occurs when Joaquín is 18 and still an American character’s admirer. As Joaquín is lucky enough to strike gold in the California Gold Rush, a group of Americans approaches him and question why a Mexican like him thinks he has a right to mine on the American ground.
As the conflict escalates, Joaquín’s wife tries to defend him, which results in her being raped while Joaquín is brutally beaten. This first encounter shows Joaquín that despite having a right to be and having considered himself an American, to these people, he is not. This conflict plants the first seeds of hatred in Joaquín’s experience of California’s land.
The second encounter happens when Joaquín is unjustly accused of stealing horses and mules around the area. Joaquín, who borrowed the horse from his brother, tries to dispute the accusations, but the angry mod does not listen. The crow proceeds to hang his brother in front of him and then tie Joaquín to the same tree to lash him. At that moment, Joaquín’s feelings of grief, fear, and confusion transform into hatred, which has a very concrete target.
Thus began the first story of Joaquín’s murders: although he did the first ones in revenge against the particular crowd of Americans, the ones to follow are not. Joaquín’s thinking is fully transformed as he says that he hates his enemies, those being “almost all the Americans.” The author demonstrates how unjust violence and racial targeting can quickly turn even the quietest and noblest men into bandits through these stories.