doomed to suffer this gross injustice at your hand.”

Whether innocent or guilty, little cared Pedrarias; his victim must die, and quickly. Four of his comrades were condemned to be beheaded with him.

The appointed day broke dark and gloomy over Acla. At an early hour the dull strokes of the carpenter's hammer were heard in the plaza, where scaffolding was being erected for the bloody work. Groups of men and women gathered at the corners of the streets, and in subdued but earnest tones, recounted the bold achievements of the men now doomed to die. The cold, dismal, murky atmosphere was not more joyless than the heavy hearts of those who thus talked of these strange doings. At length, the condemned were led forth. First came Balboa, with firm step and lofty bearing. Fire flashed from his eye, and a flush of indignation crimsoned his cheek as he beheld the preparations made for his ignominious death.

Before him marched the town crier, who, as he reached the scaffold, exclaimed in a loud voice, "Behold the usurper; a man recreant to his trust, disloyal to his king, and unfaithful to his governor!"' ""Tis false!" cried Balboa. "Never have I harbored a disloyal thought; never have I committed one treasonable act; I, and all my comrades, have ever served our king with fidelity. We are now to die; not by order of our sovereign, whom we dearly love and reverence, but victims of treacherous hate and gross injustice."

Not one who heard these words but felt that they were true. Tears filled the eyes of the spectators, and the very air seemed laden with suffocating wrong. The Holy Sacrament was then administered; after which, calmly and with a firm step, Balboa mounted the scaffold. Raising his eyes to heaven, he called on God to witness his innocence; then with a rapid farewell glance at sky and earth, and the eager upturned faces of his friends, he placed his head upon the block, and in a moment Vasco Nunez de Balboa was no more!

Then followed his companions, each in his turn. All this

time, not twelve paces distant, hidden behind a wall of reeds, through the crevices of which the butchery of Balboa could be witnessed unobserved, slunk, reptile-like, Pedrarias. Time, which throws a misty cloud between the present and the past and strips the hideousness from many iniquitous deeds, drops no friendly mantle over the horrors of that day at Acla. One century after another rolls by, and the colors upon the canvas deepen; the red gore dripping from the scaffold becomes redder; the black heart of Pedrarias blacker, and the brilliant achievements and generous qualities of Vasco Nunez de Balboa shine yet brighter.

-Hubert H. Bancroft

Words: attachment-friendship; obliterate-remove, wipe out; premeditated-had planned; exultation-joy, satisfaction; criminate— involve and convict; vindictive-revengeful; iniquitous-wicked; perfidy—treachery; ignominious-shameful, disgraceful; recreantfalse, neglectful.

JUSTICE CONQUERS EVERMORE

TAINLESS soldier on the walls,

ST

Knowing this,-and knows no more,

Whoever fights, whoever falls,

Justice conquers evermore,

Justice after as before,

And he who battles on her side,

God, though he were ten times slain,

Crowns him victor glorified,

Victor over death and pain.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

THE STORY OF THE MISSIONS1

(For more than two hundred years after Cortes conquered Mexico, the governors of New Spain planned to make settlements in the lands lying northward along the Pacific. Cabrillo* discovered San Diego Bay in 1542. Sixty years later Vizcaino* sailed into Monterey Bay, and claimed the entire coast for Spain. From that time on it was Spain's purpose to plant settlements at San Diego and Monterey. But nothing was done until 1768. Don Jose Galvez, a remarkable man, was governor of New Spain at that time. With great energy and admirable forethought he fitted out two ships and two land expeditions, and started them to make the long-delayed settlements. Galvez was wise in choosing leaders for this great undertaking. He selected Don Gaspar de Portola as leader of the entire force, and entrusted to Father Junipero Serra* the task of converting and training the Indians. The story of their efforts, as given in the selection which follows, is as interesting and wonderful as any story ever written.)

A

FTER many months of great exertion the expedition was ready to start. Three ships were in condition to make the voyage-two of them to be sent out together and the third to be sent later as a relief ship. It will be well to keep this third ship in mind because it plays a part in a most dramatic incident.

The two ships that were to sail upon the appointed day carried a portion of the troops, the camping outfit, the ornaments for the new churches that were to be builded, a goodly supply of provisions, and cargoes of agricultural implements with which the Indians in the new country were to be taught to till the soil. Simultaneously with the sailing of the ships two land parties started out, one somewhat in advance of the other, their purpose being mainly to pick up cattle and sheep at Loreto and to bring them with them to stock the new country. Four missionaries went on the ship, but Father Junipero decided to go with the second land party. With him was the newly appointed governor, Don Gaspar de Portola.*

'From John Steven McGroarty's California: Its History and RoCopyrighted by Grafton Publishing Company, Los Angeles.

mance.

On January 9, 1769, Don Jose Galvez,* Visitador General, assembled all the people together who were to set out on the great adventure, both by land and sea. He addressed them in feeling words, stirring their hearts as best he could to meet bravely whatever dangers might await them.

The first ship to sail was the San Carlos, a bark of some two hundred tons burden. On this ship were the surgeon; one of the Franciscan missionaries; twenty Catalonian soldiers, and many other important personages; and also a blacksmith, a baker, and a cook.

As soon as Galvez had the satisfaction of seeing the San Carlos well on its way, he started the second vessel, which was known as the San Antonio. It was on January 11, 1769, that Galvez saw the last of the San Carlos and it was on February 15, following, that he started the San Antonio.

The two land expeditions were by this time also upon their way. But by the time the second expedition reached San Xavier, in Lower California, the old wound in Father Junipero's leg became so troublesome and so cruelly painful that Father Palou* advised him to remain at San Xavier until he should be in better condition to proceed. But to this proposal Junipero would give no heed.

"Let us speak no more upon the subject," he said; "I have placed my faith in God and trust in His goodness to plant the standard of the Holy Cross not only at San Diego but even as far as Monterey."

о

In a few days Junipero's party resumed its journey, traversing the wild mountain districts and desert plains of Lower California, stopping now and then at previously established Missions. Father Junipero suffered intensely all the time until one of the muleteers, by applying tallow mixed with herbs, to the wound, accomplished a surprising and most welcome measure of relief. Some of the Indians died upon the way. Several of the soldiers deserted. But at last on July 1, 1769, Junipero Serra and Don Gaspar de Portola came