Juanita Peralta shuts herself
up in the gloomy mansion, where she tells her beads in the shadow
of the coming defeats.
Rich and lovely Lagunitas is yet out of the theatre of action. Its
lonely inhabitants hear of the now rapid march of events, but only
defeated riders wander in with heavy tidings.
Fremont has whirled back once more and controls Suiter's Fort and
Sonoma. The ablest general of California is powerless. Gallant
Vallejo is now a prisoner. His scanty cannons and arms are all
taken. Castro's cavalry are broken up or captured. Everywhere the
foreigners gather for concerted action. It is a partisan warfare.
Don Miguel's sullen bulletins tell of Castro's futile attempt
to get north of the bay. Since Cabrillo was foiled in landing at
Mendocino in 1543, the first royal flag floating over this "No Man's
Land" was Good Queen Bess's standard, set up in 1579 by dashing Sir
Francis Drake. He landed from the Golden Hind. In 1602 the Spanish
ensign floated on December 10 at Monterey; in 1822 the third national
ensign was unfurled, the beloved Mexican eagle-bearing banner. It
now flutters to its downfall.
Don Miguel warns the padre that the rude "bear flag" of the revolted
foreigners victoriously floats at Sonoma.
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