He may yet
elude his pursuers, or cut his way out.
Don Miguel steadily refuses to see Maxime. Through the padre,
Maxime receives any necessary messages or questions.
The Louisianian learns that all the foreigners are in commotion.
Peralta's spies bring rumors of war vessels expected, both English
and American.
In New Helvetia, in Sonoma, at Monterey, and in Yerba Buena,
guided by the most resolute, the aliens are quietly arming; they
are secretly organizing.
March wears away into April. The breath of May is wafted down in
spicy odors from the forests.
Fremont is away hiding where the great Sacramento River mountains
break into the gorgeous canyons of its headwaters. Will he never
turn?
The padre, now unreservedly friendly, tells Maxime that Castro fears
to attack Fremont in the open field. He has sent Indian runners to
stir up the wild Klamath, Snake River, and Oregon Indians against
the Americans. This is serious. Should the explorers receive a
check there, they would retreat; then the guerillas would cut them
off easily.
Padre Francisco fears for the result. He tells Maxime that bands of
fierce vaqueros are riding the roads; they have already butchered
straggling foreigners.
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