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departed from San Carlos。
As the long dry summer passed； the low hills that surrounded the
white walls of the Presidio grew more and more to resemble in hue
the leathern jacket of the Commander； and Nature herself seemed to
have borrowed his dry； hard glare。 The earth was cracked and
seamed with drought； a blight had fallen upon the orchards and
vineyards； and the rain； long…delayed and ardently prayed for； came
not。 The sky was as tearless as the right eye of the Commander。
Murmurs of discontent； insubordination； and plotting among the
Indians reached his ears； he only set his teeth the more firmly；
tightened the knot of his black…silk handkerchief； and looked up
his Toledo。
The last day of the year 1798 found the Commander sitting； at the
hour of evening prayers； alone in the guardroom。 He no longer
attended the services of the Holy Church； but crept away at such
times to some solitary spot； where he spent the interval in silent
meditation。 The firelight played upon the low beams and rafters；
but left the bowed figure of Salvatierra in darkness。 Sitting
thus； he felt a small hand touch his arm； and looking down； saw the
figure of Paquita； his little Indian pupil； at his knee。 〃Ah；
littlest of all；〃 said the Commander； with something of his old
tenderness； lingering over the endearing diminutives of his native
speech〃sweet one； what doest thou here？ Art thou not afraid of
him whom everyone shuns and fears？〃
〃No；〃 said the little Indian； readily； 〃not in the dark。 I hear
your voicethe old voice； I feel your touchthe old touch； but I
see not your eye； Senor Commandante。 That only I fearand that； O
senor； O my father；〃 said the child； lifting her little arms
towards his〃that I know is not thine own！〃
The Commander shuddered and turned away。 Then； recovering himself；
he kissed Paquita gravely on the forehead and bade her retire。 A
few hours later； when silence had fallen upon the Presidio； he
sought his own couch and slept peacefully。
At about the middle watch of the night a dusky figure crept through
the low embrasure of the Commander's apartment。 Other figures were
flitting through the parade ground； which the Commander might have
seen had he not slept so quietly。 The intruder stepped noiselessly
to the couch and listened to the sleeper's deep…drawn inspiration。
Something glittered in the firelight as the savage lifted his arm；
another moment and the sore perplexities of Hermenegildo
Salvatierra would have been over； when suddenly the savage started
and fell back in a paroxysm of terror。 The Commander slept
peacefully； but his right eye； widely opened； fixed and unaltered；
glared coldly on the would…be assassin。 The man fell to the earth
in a fit； and the noise awoke the sleeper。
To rise to his feet； grasp his sword； and deal blows thick and fast
upon the mutinous savages who now thronged the room was the work of
a moment。 Help opportunely arrived； and the undisciplined Indians
were speedily driven beyond the walls； but in the scuffle the
Commander received a blow upon his right eye； and； lifting his hand
to that mysterious organ； it was gone。 Never again was it found；
and never again； for bale or bliss； did it adorn the right orbit of
the Commander。
With it passed away the spell that had fallen upon San Carlos。 The
rain returned to invigorate the languid soil； harmony was restored
between priest and soldier； the green grass presently waved over
the sere hillsides； the children flocked again to the side of their
martial preceptor； a TE DEUM was sung in the Mission Church； and
pastoral content once more smiled upon the gentle valleys of San
Carlos。 And far southward crept the GENERAL COURT with its master；
Peleg Scudder； trafficking in beads and peltries with the Indians；
and offering glass eyes； wooden legs； and other Boston notions to
the chiefs。