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o and do it the honor to partake of the poor hospitality it afforded。 An officer galloped furiously for horses。
A few moments later they were still more deeply impressed by the appearance of their distinguished visitor as he stood erect in the boat that brought him to shore。 In full uniform of dark green and gold lace； with cocked hat and the splendid order of St。 Ann on his breast； Rezanov was by far the finest specimen of a man the Californians； themselves of ampler build than their European ancestors； had ever beheld。 Of commanding stature and physique； with an air of highest breeding and repose； he looked both a man of the great world and an intol… erant leader of men。 His long oval face was thin and somewhat lined； the mouth heavily moulded and closely set； suggestive of sarcasm and humor； the nose long； with arching and flexible nostrils。 His eyes； seldom widely opened； were light blue； very keen； usually cold。 Like many other men of his position in Europe； he had discarded wig and queue and wore his short fair hair unpowdered。
It was a singularly imposing but hardly attractive presence； thought young Arguello； until Rezanov； after stepping on shore and bowing formally； sud… denly smiled and held out his hand。 Then the im… pressionable Spaniard 〃melted like a woman；〃 as he told his sister； Concha； and would have embraced the stranger on either cheek had not awe lingered to temper his enthusiasm。 But Rezanov never made a stauncher friend than Louis Arguello； who vowed to the last of his days that the one man who had fulfilled his ideal of the grand seigneur was he that sailed in from the North on that fateful April morning of 1806。
II
As Rezanov； heading the procession with young Arguello； entered the wide gates of the Presidio； he received an impression memorably different from that which led earlier travelers to describe it in… clemently as a large square surrounded by mud houses； thatched with reeds。 It is true that the walls were of adobe and the roofs of tule； nor was there a tree on the sand hills encircling the stronghold。 But in this early springtimethe summer of the peninsulathe hills showed patches of verdure； and all the low white buildings were covered by a net… work of soft dull green and archaic pink。 The Cas… tilian rose； full and fluted； and of a chaste and pene… trating fragrance； hung singly and in clusters on the pillars of the dwellings； on the barracks and chapel； from the very roofs； bloomed upon bushes as high as young trees。 The Presidio was as delicately per… fumed as a lady's bower； and its cannon faced the ever…changing hues of water and island and hill。
As the party approached； heads of all ages ap… peared between the vines； and there was a low mur… mur of irrepressible curiosity and delight。
〃We do not see many strangers in this lonely land；〃 said Arguello apologetically。 〃And never before have we had so distinguished a guest as your excellency。 It was always a gala day when ever a Boston skipper came in with a few bales of goods and a complexion like the hides we sold him。 Now； alas！ they are no longer permitted to enter our ports。 Governor Arrillaga will have none of contra… band trade and slaying of our otter。 And as for Europeans other than Spaniards； save for an Eng… lish sea captain now and then； they know naught of our existence。〃
But Rezanov had not come to California on the impulse of a moment。 He replied suavely： 〃There you are mistaken。 Your illustrious father； Don Jose Mario de Arguello； is well known to us as the most respected； eminent and influential character in the Californias。 It was my intention； after paying a visit of ceremony to his excellency； Governor Ar… rillaga； to come to San Francisco for the sole pur… pose of meeting a man whose record has inspired me with the deepest interest。 And we have all heard such wonderful tales of your California； of its beauty； its fertility； of the beneficent lives of your missionariesso different from oursand of the hospitality and elegance of the Spaniards； that it has been the objective point of my travels； and I have found it difficult to curb my impatience while attending to imperative duties elsewhere。〃
〃Ay！ senor！〃 exclaimed the young Californian。 〃What you say fills me with a pride I cannot ex… press； and I can only regret that the reports of our poor habitations should be so sadly exaggerated。 Such as our possessions are； however； they are yours while you deign to remain in our midst。 This is my father's house。 I beg that you will regard it as your own。 Burn it if you will！〃 he cried with more enthusiasm than commonly enlivened the phrases of hospitality。 〃He will be proud to know that a lifetime of severe attention to duty and of devotion to his King have won him fame abroad as well as at home。 He has risen to his present position from the ranks； but he is of pure Spanish blood； not a drop of Indian； and my mother was a Moraga； of the best blood of Spain；〃 he added art… lessly。 〃As to the beauty and variety of our country； senor； of course you will visit our opulent south； but〃 They had dismounted at the Comman… dante's house in the southeast corner of the square。 Arguello impulsively led Rezanov back to the gates and pointed to the east。 〃I have crossed those mountains and the mountains beyond； Excellency； and seen fertile and beautiful valleys of a vast ex… tent； watered by five rivers and bound far； far away by mountains covered with snow and gigantic trees。 The valley beyond the southern edge of the bay； where the Missions of Santa Clara and San Jose are； is also rich； but those between the ranges is an empire； and one day when the King sends us more colonists； we shall recompense Spain for all she has lost。〃
〃I congratulate you！〃 Rezanov； indifferent to his host's ancestral tree； had lifted an alert ear。 His quick incisive brain was at work。 〃I should like to stretch my legs over a horse for a week at a time； and even to climb your highest mountains。 You may imagine how much exercise a man may get on a vessel of two hundred and six tons； and it is thirty…two days since I left Sitka。 To look upon a vast expanse of greento say nothing of possible sportafter a winter of incessant rain and impene… trable forestswhat a prospect！ I beg you will take me off into the wilderness as soon as possible。〃
〃I promise you the Governor shall not withhold his consentand there are bear and deerquail； wild duckyour excellency will enjoy that beauti… ful wild country as I have done。〃 Arguello was enchanted at the prospect of fresh adventure in the company of this fascinating stranger。 〃But we are once more at our poor abode； senor。 I beg you to remember that it is your own。〃
They ascended the steps of the piazza； suddenly deserted； and it seemed to Rezanov that every sense in his being quivered responsively to the poignant sweetness of the Castilian roses。 He throbbed with a sudden exultant premonition that he stood on the threshold of an historic future； with a pagan joy in mere existence； a sudden rush of desire for the keen wild happiness of youth。 Such is the elixir of California in the north and the spring。
They entered a long sala typical of its day and of many to