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was here that Father Pedro had lived for fifty years； found the
prospect good； and had smiled also。
Father Pedro's smile was rare。 He was not a Las Casas； nor a
Junipero Serra； but he had the deep seriousness of all disciples
laden with the responsible wording of a gospel not their own。 And
his smile had an ecclesiastical as well as a human significance；
the pleasantest object in his prospect being the fair and curly
head of his boy acolyte and chorister； Francisco； which appeared
among the vines； and his sweetest pastoral music； the high soprano
humming of a chant with which the boy accompanied his gardening。
Suddenly the acolyte's chant changed to a cry of terror。 Running
rapidly to Father Pedro's side； he grasped his sotana； and even
tried to hide his curls among its folds。
〃'St！ 'st！〃 said the Padre； disengaging himself with some
impatience。 〃What new alarm is this？ Is it Luzbel hiding among
our Catalan vines； or one of those heathen Americanos from
Monterey？ Speak！〃
〃Neither； holy father；〃 said the boy； the color struggling back
into his pale cheeks； and an apologetic； bashful smile lighting his
clear eyes。 〃Neither； but oh！ such a gross； lethargic toad！ And
it almost leaped upon me。〃
〃A toad leaped upon thee！〃 repeated the good father with evident
vexation。 〃What next？ I tell thee； child； those foolish fears are
most unmeet for thee； and must be overcome； if necessary； with
prayer and penance。 Frightened by a toad！ Blood of the Martyrs！
'Tis like any foolish girl！〃
Father Pedro stopped and coughed。
〃I am saying that no Christian child should shrink from any of
God's harmless creatures。 And only last week thou wast disdainful
of poor Murieta's pig； forgetting that San Antonio himself did
elect one his faithful companion； even in glory。〃
〃Yes； but it was so fat； and so uncleanly； holy father；〃 replied
the young acolyte； 〃and it smelt so。〃
〃Smelt so？〃 echoed the father doubtfully。 〃Have a care； child；
that this is not luxuriousness of the senses。 I have noticed of
late you gather overmuch of roses and syringa； excellent in their
way and in moderation； but still not to be compared with the flower
of Holy Church； the lily。〃
〃But lilies don't look well on the refectory table； and against the
adobe wall；〃 returned the acolyte； with a pout of a spoilt child；
〃and surely the flowers cannot help being sweet； any more than
myrrh or incense。 And I am not frightened of the heathen
Americanos either NOW。 There was a small one in the garden
yesterday； a boy like me； and he spoke kindly and with a pleasant
face。〃
〃What said he to thee； child？〃 asked Father Pedro； anxiously。
〃Nay； the matter of his speech I could not understand；〃 laughed the
boy； 〃but the manner was as gentle as thine； holy father。〃
〃'St； child；〃 said the Padre impatiently。 〃Thy likings are as
unreasonable as thy fears。 Besides； have I not told thee it ill
becomes a child of Christ to chatter with those sons of Belial？
But canst thou not repeat the wordsthe WORDS he said？〃 he
continued suspiciously。
〃'Tis a harsh tongue the Americanos speak in their throat；〃 replied
the boy。 〃But he said 'Devilishnisse' and 'pretty…as…a…girl；' and
looked at me。〃
The good father made the boy repeat the words gravely； and as
gravely repeated them after him with infinite simplicity。 〃They
are but heretical words；〃 he replied in answer to the boy's
inquiring look； 〃it is well you understand not English。 Enough。
Run away； child； and be ready for the Angelus。 I will commune with
myself awhile under the pear trees。〃
Glad to escape so easily； the young acolyte disappeared down the
alley of fig trees； not without a furtive look at the patches of
chickweed around their roots； the possible ambuscade of creeping or
saltant vermin。 The good priest heaved a sigh and glanced round
the darkening prospect。 The sun had already disappeared over the
mountain wall that lay between him and the sea； rimmed with a faint
white line of outlying fog。 A cool zephyr fanned his cheek； it was
the dying breath of the vientos generales beyond the wall。 As
Father Pedro's eyes were raised to this barrier； which seemed to
shut out the boisterous world beyond； he fancied he noticed for the
first time a slight breach in the parapet； over which an advanced
banner of the fog was fluttering。 Was it an omen？ His speculations
were cut short by a voice at his very side。
He turned quickly and beheld one of those 〃heathens〃 against whom
he had just warned his young acolyte； one of that straggling band
of adventurers whom the recent gold discoveries had scattered along
the coast。 Luckily the fertile alluvium of these valleys； lying
parallel with the sea； offered no 〃indications〃 to attract the gold
seekers。 Nevertheless to Father Pedro even the infrequent contact
with the Americanos was objectionable； they were at once
inquisitive and careless； they asked questions with the sharp
perspicacity of controversy； they received his grave replies with
the frank indifference of utter worldliness。 Powerful enough to
have been tyrannical oppressors； they were singularly tolerant and
gentle； contenting themselves with a playful； good…natured
irreverence； which tormented the good father more than opposition。
They were felt to be dangerous and subversive。
The Americano； however； who stood before him did not offensively
suggest these national qualities。 A man of middle height； strongly
built； bronzed and slightly gray from the vicissitudes of years and
exposure； he had an air of practical seriousness that commended
itself to Father Pedro。 To his religious mind it suggested self…
consciousness； expressed in the dialect of the stranger it only
meant 〃business。〃
〃I'm rather glad I found you out here alone；〃 began the latter； 〃it
saves time。 I haven't got to take my turn with the rest； in
there〃he indicated the church with his thumb〃and you haven't
got to make an appointment。 You have got a clear forty minutes
before the Angelus rings；〃 he added； consulting a large silver
chronometer； 〃and I reckon I kin git through my part of the job
inside of twenty； leaving you ten minutes for remarks。 I want to
confess。〃
Father Pedro drew back with a gesture of dignity。 The stranger；
however； laid his hand upon the Padre's sleeve with the air of a
man anticipating objection； but never refusal； and went on。
〃Of course； I know。 You want me to come at some other time； and in
THERE。 You want it in the reg'lar style。 That's your way and your
time。 My answer is： it ain't MY way and MY time。 The main idea of
confession； I take it； is gettin' at the facts。 I'm ready to give
'em if you'll take 'em out here； now。 If you're willing to drop
the Church and confessional； and all that sort o' thing； I； on my
side； am willing to give up the absolution； and all that sort o'
thing。 You might；〃 he added； with an unconscio