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the　Company　his　own　genius　had　created；　forgot　the　year　of　loneli…　ness　and　hardship　and　peril　in　whose　jaws　the　bravest　was　impotent；　forgot　even　his　pitiable　crew；　diseased　when　he　left　Sitka；　that　had　filled　the　Juno　with　their　groans　and　laments；　and　the　bells　of　youth；　long　still；　rang　in　his　soul　once　more。

〃It　is　the　spring　in　California；〃　he　thought；　with　a　sigh　that　curled　at　the　edge。　　〃However；〃　life　had　made　him　philosophical；　〃the　moments　of　un…　reasonable　happiness　are　the　most　enviable　no　doubt；　for　there　is　neither　gall　nor　satiety　in　the　reaction。　All　this　is　as　enchanting　aswell；　as　a　woman's　promise。　　What　lies　beyond？　　Illiterate　and　mer…　cenary　Spaniards；　vicious　natives；　and　boundless　ennui；　one　may　safely　wager。　　But　if　all　California　is　as　beautiful　as　this；　no　man　that　has　spent　a　winter　in　Sitka　should　ask　for　more。〃

In　the　extent　and　variety　of　his　travels　Rezanov　had　seen　Nature　more　awesome　of　feature　but　never　more　fair。　　On　his　immediate　right　as　he　sailed　down　the　straits　toward　the　narrow　entrance　to　be　known　as　the　Golden　Gate；　there　was　little　to　interest　save　the　surf　and　the　masses　of　outlying　rocks　where　the　seals　leapt　and　barked；　the　shore　beyond　was　sandy　and　low。　　But　on　his　left　the　last　of　the　northern　mountains　rose　straight　from　the　water；　the　warm　red　of　its　deeply　indented　cliffs　rich　in　harmony　with　the　green　of　slope　and　height。　There　was　not　a　tree；　the　mountains；　the　promon…　tories；　the　hills　far　down　on　the　right　beyond　the　sand　dunes；　looked　like　stupendous　waves　of　lava　that　had　cooled　into　every　gracious　line　and　fold　within　the　art　of　relenting　Nature；　granted　ages　after；　a　light　coat　of　verdure　to　clothe　the　terrible　mystery　of　birth。　　The　great　bay；　as　blue　and　tran…　quil　as　a　high　mountain　lake；　as　silent　as　if　the　planet　still　slept　after　the　agonies　of　labor；　looked　to　be　broken　by　a　number　of　promontories；　rising　from　their　points　far　out　in　the　water　to　the　high　back　of　the　land；　but　as　the　Juno　pursued　her　slant…　ing　way　down　the　channel　Rezanov　saw　that　the　most　imposing　of　these　was　but　the　end　of　a　large　island；　and　that　scattered　near　were　other　islands；　masses　of　rock　like　the　castellated　heights　that　rise　abruptly　from　the　plains　of　Italy　and　Spain；　far　away；　narrow　straits；　with　a　glittering　expanse　be…　yond；　while　bounding　the　whole　eastern　rim　of　this　splendid　sheet　of　water　was　a　chain　of　violet　hills；　with　the　pale　green　mist　of　new　grass　here　and　there；　and　purple　hollows　that　might　mean　groves　of　trees　crouching　low　against　the　cold　winds　of　summer；　in　the　soft　pale　blue　haze　above　and　be…　yond；　the　lofty　volcanic　peak　of　a　mountain　range。　Not　a　human　being；　not　a　boat；　not　even　a　herd　of　cattle　was　to　be　seen；　and　Rezanov；　for　a　moment　forgetting　to　exult　in　the　length　of　Russia's　arm；　yielded　himself　to　the　subtle　influence　abroad　in　the　air；　and　felt　that　he　could　dream　as　he　had　dreamed　in　a　youth　when　the　courts　of　Europe　to　the　boy　were　as　fabulous　as　El　Dorado　in　the　im…　mensity　of　ancestral　seclusions。

〃It　is　like　the　approach　to　paradise；　is　it　not；　Excellency？〃　a　deferential　voice　murmured　at　his　elbow。

The　plenipotentiary　frowned　without　turning　his　head。　　Dr。　Langsdorff；　surgeon　and　naturalist；　had　accompanied　the　Embassy　to　Japan；　and　although　Rezanov　had　never　found　any　man　more　of　a　bore　and　would　willingly　have　seen　the　last　of　him　at　Kamchatka；　a　skilful　dispenser　of　drugs　and　mender　of　bones　was　necessary　in　his　hazardous　voy…　ages；　and　he　retained　him　in　his　suite。　　Langsdorff　returned　his　polite　tolerance　with　all　the　hidden　re…　sources　of　his　spleen；　but　his　curiosity　and　scientific　enthusiasm　would　have　sustained　him　through　greater　trials　than　the　exactions　of　an　autocrat；　whom　at　least　he　had　never　ceased　to　respect　in　the　most　trying　moments　at　Nagasaki。

〃Yes；〃　said　Rezanov。　　〃But　I　wonder　you　find　anything　to　admire　in　such　unportable　objects　as　mountains　and　water。　　I　have　not　seen　a　living　thing　but　gulls　and　seal；　and　God　knows　we　had　enough　of　both　at　Sitka。〃

〃Ah；　your　excellency；　in　a　land　as　fertile　as　this；　and　caressed　by　a　climate　that　would　coax　life　from　a　stone；　there　must　be　an　infinite　number　of　aquatic　and　aerial　treasures　that　will　add　materially　to　the　scientific　lore　of　Europe。〃

〃Humph！〃　said　Rezanov；　and　moved　his　shoulder　in　an　uncontrollable　gesture　of　dismissal。　　But　the　spell　of　the　April　morning　was　broken；　although　the　learned　doctor　was　not　to　be　the　only　offender。

The　Golden　Gate　is　but　a　mile　in　width　and　the　swift　current　carried　the　Juno　toward　a　low　prom…　ontory　from　the　base　of　which　a　shrill　cry　suddenly　ascended。　　Rezanov；　raising　his　glass；　saw　that　what　he　had　taken　to　be　a　pile　of　fallen　rocks　was　a　fort；　and　that　a　group　of　excited　men　stood　at　its　gates。　Once　more　the　plenipotentiary　on　a　delicate　mission；　he　ordered　the　two　naval　officers　sailing　the　ship　to　come　forward；　and　retired　to　the　dignified　isola…　tion　of　the　cabin。

The　high…spirited　young　officers；　who　would　have　raised　a　gay　hurrah　at　the　sight　of　civilized　man　had　it　not　been　for　the　awe　in　which　they　held　their　chief；　saluted　the　Spaniards　formally；　then　stood　in　an　attitude　of　extreme　respect；　the　Juno　was　directly　under　the　guns　of　the　fort。

One　of　the　Spaniards　raised　a　speaking　trumpet　and　shouted：

〃Who　are　you？〃

No　one　on　the　Juno；　save　Rezanov；　could　speak　a　word　of　Spanish；　but　the　tone　of　the　query　was　its　own　interpreter。　　The　oldest　of　the　lieutenants；　through　the　ship's　trumpet；　shouted　back：

〃The　JunoSitkaRussian。〃

The　Spanish　officer　made　a　peremptory　gesture　that　the　ship　come　to　anchor　in　the　shelter　given　by　an　immense　angle　of　the　mainland；　of　which　the　fort's　point　was　the　western　extreme。　　The　Rus…　sians；　as　befitted　the　peaceful　nature　of　their　mis…　sion；　obeyed　without　delay。　　Before　their　resting　place；　and　among　the　sand　hills　a　mile　from　the　beach；　was　a　quadrangle　of　buildings　some　two　hun…　dred　feet　square　and　surrounded　by　a　wall　about　fourteen　feet　high　and　seven　feet　thick。　　This　they　knew　to　be　the　Presidio。　　They　saw　the　officers　that　had　hailed　them　gallop　over　the　hill　behind　the　fort　to　the　more　ambitious　enclosure；　and；　in　the　square；　confer　with　another　group　that　seemed　to　be　in　a　corresponding　state　of　excitement。　　A　few　moments　later　a　deputation　of　officers；　accompanied　by　a　priest　in　the　brown　habit　of　the　Franciscan　order；　started　on　horseback　for　the　beach。　　Rezanov　or…　dered　Lieutenant　Davidov　and　Dr。　Langsdorff　to　the　shore　as　his　representatives。

The　Spaniards　wore　the　undress　uniform　of　black　and　scarlet　in　which　they　had　been　surprised；　but　their　peaked　straw　hats　were　decorated　with　cords　of　gold　or　silver；　the　tassels　hanging　low　on　the　broad　brim；　their　high　deer…skin　boots　were　gaily　embroidered；　and　bristled　with　immense　silver　spurs。　　The　commanding　officer　alone　had　invested　himself　with　a　gala　serape；　a　square　of　red　cloth　with　a　bound　and　embroidered　slit　for　the　head。　Leading　the　rapid　procession；　his　left　hand　resting　significantly　on　his　sword；　he　was　a　fine　specimen　of　the　young　California　grandee；　dark　and　dashing　and　reckless；　lithe　of　figure；　thoroughbred；　ardent。　His　eyes　were　sparkling　at　the　prospect　of　excite…　ment；　not　only　had　the　Russians；　by　their　nefarious　appropriation　of　the　northwestern　corner　of　the　continent　and　a　recent　piratical　excursion　in　pursuit　of　otter；　inspired　the　Spanish　Government　with　a　profound　disapproval　and　mistrust；　but　a　rumor　had　run　up　the　coast　that　made　every　sea…gull　look　like　the　herald　of　a　hostile　fleet。　　This　was　young　Arguello's　first　taste　of　command；　and　life　was　dull　on　the　northern　peninsula；　he　would　have　wel…　comed　a　declaration　of　war。

Davidov　and　Langsdorff　had　come　to　shore　in　one　of　the　JUNO'S　canoes。　　The　conversation　was　held　in　Latin　between　the　two　men　of　learning。

〃Who　are　you　and　whence　come　you？〃　asked　the　priest。

Langsdorff；　who　had　been　severely　drilled　by　the　plenipotentiary　as　to　text；　replied　with　a　profound　bow：　〃We　are　Russians　engaged　in　completing　the　circumnavigation　of　the　globe。　　It　was　our　inten…　tion　to　go　directly　to　Monterey　and　present　our　offi…　cial　documents；　as　well　as　our　respects；　to　your　illus…　trious　Governor；　but　owing　to　contrary　winds　and　a　resultant　scarcity　of　provisions；　we　were　under　the　necessity　of　putting　into　the　nearest　harbor。　The　Juno　is　navigated　by　Lieutenant　Davidov　and　Lieutenant　Khovstov；　of　the　Imperial　Navy　of　Rus…　sia；　by　gracious　permission　associated　with　the　Ma…　rine　of　the　Russo…American　Company。〃　　He　paused　a　moment；　and　then　swept　out　his　trump　card　with　a　magnificent　flourish：　〃Our　expedition　is　in　com…　mand　of　His　Excellency；　Privy　Counsellor　and　Grand　Chamberlain　Baron　Rezanov；　late　Ambas…　sador　to　the　Court　of　Japan；　Plenipotentiary　of　the　Russo…American　Company；　Imperial　Inspector　of　the　extreme　eastern　and　northwestern　American　dominions　of　His　Imperial　Majesty；　Alexander　the　First；　Emperor　of　all　the　Russias；　whose　representa…　tives　in　these　waters　he　is。〃

The　Spaniards　were　properly　impressed　as　the　priest　translated　with　the　glibness　of　the　original；　but　Arguello；　who　announced　himself　as　Com…　mandante　ad　interim　of　the　Presidio　of　San　Fran…　cisco　during　the　absence　of　his　father　at　Monterey；　nodded　sagely　several　times；　and　then　held　a　short　conference　in　Spanish　with　the　interpreter。　　The　priest　turned　to　the　Russians　with　a　smile　as　diplo…　matic　as　that　which　Rezanov　had　drilled　upon　the　ugly　ingenuous　countenance　of　his　medicine　man。

〃Our　illustrious　Governor；　Don　Jose　Arrillaga；　received　word　from　the　court　of　Spain；　now　quite　two　years　ago；　of　the　sailing　in　1803　from　Kron…　stadt　of　the　ships　Nadeshda　and　Neva；　in　command　of　Captain　Krusenstern　and　Captain　Lisiansky；　the　former　having　on　board　the　illustrious　Ambassador　to　Japan；　the　Privy　Counsellor　and　Chamberlain　de　Rezanov。　　It　was　expected　that　these　ships　would　touch　at　more　than　one　of　His　Most　Holy　Catholic　Majesty's　vast　dominions；　and　all　viceroys　and　gobernador　proprietarios　were　alike　instructed　to　re…　ceive　the　exalted　representatives　of　the　mighty　Em…　peror　of　Russia　with　hospitality　and　respect。　　But　we　cannot　understand　why　his　excellency　comes　to　us　so　late　and　in　so　small　a　ship；　rather　than　in　the　state　with　which　he　saile