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Now go and get an hour's sleep before we start." The young officer shrugged his shoulders, saluted, and walked down the line of tents. A man emerged from one of them, and he recognized Russell. "Hello, Ned," he said. "How's the arm?" "'Twas only a scratch. Is Altimira down there with Pico, do you know? He is a brave fellow!

Then Altimira, infuriated, wrote to the governor, who had been a party to the proposed removal, concluding his tirade by saying: "I came to convert gentiles and to establish new Missions, and if I cannot do it here, which, as we all agree, is the best spot in California for the purpose, I will leave the country."

Is it not an inspiring subject for speculation? Where would the modern city of San Francisco be, if the irate Father and plotting politicians of those early days had been successful in their schemes? The new Mission, all controversy being settled, was formally dedicated on Passion Sunday, April 4, 1824, by Altimira, to San Francisco Solano, "the great apostle to the Indies."

"Surely, my mother; I love no one in the world but you." Doña Eustaquia leaned back and tapped the girl's fair cheek with her finger. "Not even Don Fernando Altimira?" "No, my mother." "Nor Flujencio Hernandez? Nor Juan Perez? Nor any of the caballeros who serenade beneath thy window?" "I love their music, but it comes as sweetly from one throat as from another."

Suddenly, however, Fernando Altimira raised himself in his stirrups, looked back, laughed and galloped across the field to General Pico. "Look!" he said. "Only a few men on horses are after us. The mules are stumbling half a mile behind." Pico wheeled about, gave the word of command, and bore down upon the Americans.

"Señor!" she cried sharply. "What you go to tell me?" "There is a report that Ned is slightly wounded; but it is not serious. It was Altimira who did it, I believe." She shook from head to foot, but was calmer than he had expected. She laid the gown on a chair and stood up. "Take me to him. Si he is wound, I go to nurse him." "My child! You would die before you got there.

Altimira flung the ladder to the ground, but fire-blooded as he was, the politeness of his race did not desert him, and his struggle with English flung oil upon his passion. "Señor," he said, "I no know what you do it by the house of the Señorita Benicia so late in the night. I suppose you have the right to walk in the town si it please yourself."

Immediately following the American officers came Don Fernando Altimira on horseback. He scowled as he saw the erect swinging figures of the conquerors, but Benicia kissed the tips of her fingers as he flung his sombrero to the ground, and he galloped, smiling, on his way. That night the officers of the United States squadron met the society of Monterey at the house of Don Jorje Hernandez.

It will do these seething caballeros good to learn that American blood is quite as swift as Californian." As the song finished, the musicians began a waltz; Russell took the guitar from Benicia's hand and laid it on the floor. "This waltz is mine, señorita," he said. "I no know " "Señorita!" said Don Fernando Altimira, passionately, "the first waltz is always mine.

He drew his pistol, then laughed at himself, although not without annoyance. "A rival; and he has got ahead of me. He is going to serenade her." The caballero seated himself uncomfortably on the tiles that roofed the wall, removed his sombrero, and Russell recognized Fernando Altimira.