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bright opalescent mist。 Green； pink； and other pale col… ors gleamed as behind a thin layer of crystal。 Where the sun shone through a low white cloud upon a distant slope there might have been a great globe of iridescent glass illuminated within。 The water was a light； soft； filmy yet translucent blue。 Concha gazed with parted lips。
〃I never knew before how wonderful it was；〃 she murmured。 〃I have been taught to believe that only the south is beautiful； and when we had to come here again from Santa Barbara it was exile。 But now I am glad I was born in the north。〃
〃I have watched the light on these hills and islands； and what I could see of the fine lines of the mountains ever since I came； and were there but villas and castles； these waters would be far more beautiful than the Lake of Como or the Bay of Naples。 But I am glad to see trees again。 From our anchorage I had but a bare glimpse of two or three。 They seem to hide from the western winds。 Are they so strong； then？〃
〃We have terrible winds； senor。 I do not wonder the trees crouch to the east。 But I must tell you our names。〃 She pointed to the largest of the islands； a great bare mass that looked as had it been； when viscid； flung out in long folds from a central peak； concaving here and there with its own weight。 Its southern point was on a line with a point of mainland far to the west； and its northern； from their vantage looking to be but a continuation of the curve of the mainland； finished an arc of almost perfect proportions； whose deep curve was a tumbled mass of hills and one great mountain。 〃That is Nuestra Senora de los Angeles； and it opens a triple jaw； Luis has told me； at Point Tiburonyou will soon see the straits between。 The big rock over there is Alcatraz； and farther away still is Yerba Buenathat looks like a camel on its knees。〃
But Rezanov was examining the scene before him。 The lines of this bay within a bay were superb； and in its wide embrace； slanting from Point Tiburon toward an inner point two miles opposite was another island； as steep as Alcatraz； but long and waving of outline； with a glimpse of trees on its crest。 Rezanov； while he lost nothing of the pic… turesque beauty surrounding him； was more deeply interested in noting the many foundations； sheltered and solid； for fortifications that would hold these rich lands against the fleets of the world。 Never had he seen so many strategic advantages on one sheet of water。 The islands farther south he had examined through his glass from the deck of the Juno until he knew every convolution they turned to the west。
Concha was directing his attention to the tremen… dous angular peak rising above the tumbled hills。 〃That is Mount Tamalpaisthe mountain of peace。 It was named by the Indians； not by us。 Sometimes it is like a great purple shadow； and at others the clouds fight about it like the ghosts of big sea gulls。〃 They were sailing past the rounded end of the western inner point of the little bay。 It was almost detached from the bare ridge behind and half cov… ered with oaks and willow trees。 〃That is Point Sausalito。 I have often looked at it through the glass and longed for a merienda in the deep shade。〃 She turned to Rezanov with lips apart。 〃Could we notoh； senor！have our dinner on shore？〃
〃It is only for you to select the spot。 We can sail many miles before it is time for dinner； and you may find a place even more to your liking。 I fancy we can not go far here。 It looks swampy and shal… low。 Nothing could be less romantic than to stick in the mud。〃
〃May I ask；〃 said Concha demurely； 〃how you dare to run the risks of an unknown sheet of water？ I have heard it said that there is more than one rock and shoal in this bay。〃
〃I am not as rash as I may appear；〃 replied Reza… nov dryly； but smiling。 〃In 1789 there was a chart of this bay； taken from a Spanish MSS。； published in London； and I bought it there when I ran up from the Nadeshdaanchored at Falmouththree years ago。 Davidov； who； you may observe； is steering； oblivious to the charms of even Dona Caro… lina； knows every sounding by heart。〃
〃Oh！〃 Concha shrugged her shoulders。 〃The Governor； too； is very clever。 It will be a drawn battle。 Perhaps I shall remain neutral after all。 It would be more amusing。〃 The ship was turning； and she waved her hand to the island between the deep arc of the hilly coast。 〃I have heard so much of the beauty of that island；〃 she said； 〃that I have called it La Bellissima； but I never hoped to see anything but the back of its head； from which the wind has blown all the hair。 And now I shall。 How kind of you； senor！〃
〃How easily you are made happy！〃 he said； with a sigh。 〃You look like a child。〃
〃To…day I shall be one； and you the kind fairy god…father；〃 she added； with some malice。 〃How old are you； senor？〃
〃Forty…two。〃
〃That is twenty…six years older than myself。 But your excellency might pass for thirty…five；〃 she added politely。 〃We have all said it。 And now that you are not so pale you will soon look younger and even more triumphant than when you came。〃
〃I have never felt so triumphant as on this morn… ing； dear senorita。 I had not hoped to give you so much pleasure。〃
Her cheeks were as pink as her reboso； her great black eyes were dancing。 Her hands strained at the railing。 〃I shall see La Bellissima！ La Bellis… sima！〃 she cried。
They rounded the low broken point of the island； sailed through the racing currents between the lower end of La Bellissima and 〃Our Lady of the An… gels；〃 more slowly past what looked to be a per… pendicular forest。 From water to crest the gulches and converging spurs of this hillside in the sea were a dense mass of oaks； bays； underbrush； here and there a tall slender tree with a bark like red kid and a flirting polished leaf； at which Concha clapped her hands as at sight of an old friend and called 〃El Madrono。〃 It was a primeval bit of nature； but sweet and silent and peaceful； there was no sugges… tion either of gloom or of discourteous beast。
〃We shall have our dinner here； Excellency。 There on that little beach； and afterward we shall climb to the top。 See； there are trails！ The In… dians have been here。〃
They stood out through the straits between Point Tiburon and the Isle of the Angels； where the tide ran fast。 Then； for the first time； was Rezanov able to form a definite idea of the size and shape of this great natural harbor。 To the south it extended be… yond the peninsula in an unbroken sheet for some forty English miles。 Ten miles to the north there was a gateway between the lower hills which Luis had alluded to as leading into the bay of Saint Pablo； another large body of tidewater； but inferior in depth and beauty to the Bay of San Francisco。
The mist had dissolved。 The greens were vivid where the sun shone on island and hill。 The woods of Bellissima； the groves of Point Sausalito； the for… ests in the northern canyons； deepened to purple like that of the great bare sweep of Tamalpais。 Only the farther peaks remained a pale misty blue； and were of an indescribable floating delicacy。
Concha pointed to the eastern double cone。 〃That is Monte del Diablo。 Once th