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this point of the conversation Master Peleg produced from about his
person divers small trinkets； kickshaws； and newfangled trifles；
and even forced some of them upon his host。 It is further alleged
that under the malign influence of Peleg and several glasses of
aguardiente； the Commander lost somewhat of his decorum； and
behaved in a manner unseemly for one in his position； reciting
high…flown Spanish poetry； and even piping in a thin； high voice
divers madrigals and heathen canzonets of an amorous complexion；
chiefly in regard to a 〃little one〃 who was his； the Commander's；
〃soul〃！ These allegations； perhaps unworthy the notice of a
serious chronicler； should be received with great caution； and are
introduced here as simple hearsay。 That the Commander； however；
took a handkerchief and attempted to show his guest the mysteries
of the SEMICUACUA； capering in an agile but indecorous manner about
the apartment； has been denied。 Enough for the purposes of this
narrative that at midnight Peleg assisted his host to bed with many
protestations of undying friendship； and then； as the gale had
abated； took his leave of the Presidio and hurried aboard the
GENERAL COURT。 When the day broke the ship was gone。
I know not if Peleg kept his word with his host。 It is said that
the holy fathers at the Mission that night heard a loud chanting in
the plaza； as of the heathens singing psalms through their noses；
that for many days after an odor of salt codfish prevailed in the
settlement； that a dozen hard nutmegs； which were unfit for spice
or seed； were found in the possession of the wife of the baker； and
that several bushels of shoe pegs； which bore a pleasing
resemblance to oats； but were quite inadequate to the purposes of
provender； were discovered in the stable of the blacksmith。 But
when the reader reflects upon the sacredness of a Yankee trader's
word； the stringent discipline of the Spanish port regulations； and
the proverbial indisposition of my countrymen to impose upon the
confidence of a simple people； he will at once reject this part of
the story。
A roll of drums； ushering in the year 1798； awoke the Commander。
The sun was shining brightly； and the storm had ceased。 He sat up
in bed； and through the force of habit rubbed his left eye。 As the
remembrance of the previous night came back to him； he jumped from
his couch and ran to the window。 There was no ship in the bay。 A
sudden thought seemed to strike him； and he rubbed both of his
eyes。 Not content with this； he consulted the metallic mirror
which hung beside his crucifix。 There was no mistake； the
Commander had a visible second eyea right oneas good； save for
the purposes of vision； as the left。
Whatever might have been the true secret of this transformation；
but one opinion prevailed at San Carlos。 It was one of those rare
miracles vouchsafed a pious Catholic community as an evidence to
the heathen； through the intercession of the blessed San Carlos
himself。 That their beloved Commander； the temporal defender of
the Faith； should be the recipient of this miraculous manifestation
was most fit and seemly。 The Commander himself was reticent； he
could not tell a falsehoodhe dared not tell the truth。 After
all； if the good folk of San Carlos believed that the powers of his
right eye were actually restored； was it wise and discreet for him
to undeceive them？ For the first time in his life the Commander
thought of policyfor the first time he quoted that text which has
been the lure of so many well…meaning but easy Christians； of being
〃all things to all men。〃 Infeliz Hermenegildo Salvatierra！
For by degrees an ominous whisper crept though the little
settlement。 The Right Eye of the Commander； although miraculous；
seemed to exercise a baleful effect upon the beholder。 No one
could look at it without winking。 It was cold； hard； relentless；
and unflinching。 More than that； it seemed to be endowed with a
dreadful presciencea faculty of seeing through and into the
inarticulate thoughts of those it looked upon。 The soldiers of the
garrison obeyed the eye rather than the voice of their commander；
and answered his glance rather than his lips in questioning。 The
servants could not evade the ever watchful but cold attention that
seemed to pursue them。 The children of the Presidio school
smirched their copybooks under the awful supervision； and poor
Paquita； the prize pupil； failed utterly in that marvelous upstroke
when her patron stood beside her。 Gradually distrust； suspicion；
self…accusation； and timidity took the place of trust； confidence；
and security throughout San Carlos。 Whenever the Right Eye of the
Commander fell； a shadow fell with it。
Nor was Salvatierra entirely free from the baleful influence of his
miraculous acquisition。 Unconscious of its effect upon others； he
only saw in their actions evidence of certain things that the
crafty Peleg had hinted on that eventful New Year's eve。 His most
trusty retainers stammered； blushed； and faltered before him。
Self…accusations； confessions of minor faults and delinquencies； or
extravagant excuses and apologies met his mildest inquiries。 The
very children that he lovedhis pet pupil； Paquitaseemed to be
conscious of some hidden sin。 The result of this constant
irritation showed itself more plainly。 For the first half…year the
Commander's voice and eye were at variance。 He was still kind；
tender； and thoughtful in speech。 Gradually； however； his voice
took upon itself the hardness of his glance and its skeptical；
impassive quality； and as the year again neared its close it was
plain that the Commander had fitted himself to the eye； and not the
eye to the Commander。
It may be surmised that these changes did not escape the watchful
solicitude of the Fathers。 Indeed； the few who were first to
ascribe the right eye of Salvatierra to miraculous origin and the
special grace of the blessed San Carlos； now talked openly of
witchcraft and the agency of Luzbel； the evil one。 It would have
fared ill with Hermenegildo Salvatierra had he been aught but
Commander or amenable to local authority。 But the reverend father；
Friar Manuel de Cortes； had no power over the political executive；
and all attempts at spiritual advice failed signally。 He retired
baffled and confused from his first interview with the Commander；
who seemed now to take a grim satisfaction in the fateful power of
his glance。 The holy Father contradicted himself； exposed the
fallacies of his own arguments； and even； it is asserted； committed
himself to several undoubted heresies。 When the Commander stood up
at mass； if the officiating priest caught that skeptical and
searching eye； the service was inevitably ruined。 Even the power
of the Holy Church seemed to be lost； and the last hold upon the
affections of the people and the good order of the settlement
departed from San Carlos。
As the long dry s