294 
SCENES IN THE PACIFIC. 
who in California knew better than he, the power and effect 
of such superiority ? Who understood more clearly than the 
Don, the execution which that number of noses might do in 
the approaching struggle for “ law and order ? ” But who, 
among all living and dead heroes, could better rally the 
energies required to meet that horrible crisis, than the Don ? 
None ! His horse even partook of the overpowering mag¬ 
nitude of the energies that bestrode his back, and bore 
his rider along the line with unwonted speed and fire as the 
order boomed along, for the soldiers to prime anew their pans 
—shoulder their gleaming muskets, and retreat within the 
walls of the Mission Santa Buenaventura !! 
Three days after this intrepid retreat of the invading army, 
the redoubtable Captain Jose Castro arrived at Santa Bar¬ 
bara, with the army of the North, six men strong, well ap¬ 
pointed with muskets, powder, ball, and Californian patriot¬ 
ism. His entry was a triumph; rendered sweet to that warrior’s 
heart by the consciousness of being looked upon, while his 
army defiled through the streets, as the saviour of all the mud 
walls, tiles, and babies of that famous town. He repaired to 
quarters in the barracks, dined with becoming dignity, and 
smoked a cigar. After this important business had been dis¬ 
patched, he summoned before him the authorities, and made 
an exhibit of the luxuriant love of country, which had led 
Alvarado—that superlative adjative of the genus homo , to 
assume the government of Alta California, and assured the 
Commandante, and Alcaldes, that he was authorized and ready 
to receive the surrender of the place, and the fealty of the 
inhabitants to the Revolutionary Government. He added, that 
he hoped it might not be necessary for him to use force in the 
premises. This latter intimation, backed as it was by the 
standing presence of the army of six, was deemed of great 
service to humanity, for no hesitation was manifested by the 
population, amounting to some six hundred souls, about sub¬ 
mitting to the new order of things so gallantly proposed to 
them by the renowned Captain. 
