The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-05-08


impending woe, Lucian could do no
more than lie still within a guns
length Of Padilla the cruel.
He heard Padilla speak in husky
whisper
General. General your excellency,"
said the outlaw in Spanish to the re-
Ginning Vallejo.
Vallejo did not move, but Lucian
heard him murmur as quietly: What?
Who are your"
ut is I, Juan Padilla, and my men.
We have come to rescue you, to slaugh-
ter the gringoes, to free California
from the hateful clutch Of the Yam
KEGS"
mo, Juan" replied the great hearted
General Vallejo. NO my son. not
that. Our days are bloody enough and
God knows that you have blood enough
on your hands now. But now you may
make a peace with God by Withholding
your knife. / have given my parole,
my word the word of Spanish gen.
tleman, and /, as general of the army
of your country and mine. order you
not to shed blood here. Slip away with
your men before these foolish Yankees
awake, before it is too late to spare
their blood and yours. My son, our
ways have been different but we still
belong to the same noble race. Do not
blot the name of our mother country
at this time We will triumph in the
u.
our children. Here is my hand, my
son, and here is my purse Take them
both with the best regard of your gem
eral Say no more and slip away as
swiftly and as quietly as you came"
Padilla muttered
"See, it is light, the sun is Frightening
the sky; leave I order YOU" demanded
the general Sternly. He had been
speaking as a friend. Now he COM
manded as a general.
Padilla SUNK away in the UNDER
brush. Lucian lay still for several mo-
ments. Then General Vallejo. still re-
Ginning nNhis elbow, heard the regular
breathing of sleeper close behind him.
He turned. There he saw Lucian,
sleeping soundly The boys troubles
were over. His exhausted and pain
racked body had forgotten it's woes in
the soft comfort of slumber
The Americans in Sonoma were dis
tressed. They had captured the town
and were about to establish their short
lived California Republic" but they
counted that it would be at terrible
cost. 1t was known that Padilla and
his men had gone after Captain Merritt
and his party, and it was feared that
the Yankees would all be killed. Then
Lucian, the bright boy who had guided
the Americans into Sonoma, was miss
ing. 1t was feared that he had been
spirited away by Padilla. Mr.. and
Mrs. Elliott, Lucians father and moth
err, and his little sister Rose had come
into Sonoma where they might be in
a position to learn at the earliest mo-
ment the fate of their boy
On the fourth day after the capture
of the settlement there was a great
clashing of drums at dawn. The FL
liotts were aroused by the sound and
sprang from their beds in terror. for
they feared that another party of Mex
leans had come to- sack the town and
put to death all Yankees.
They rushed into the plaza and saw
coming down the dusky village street
a party of horsemen, Yankee horsemen,
and at the head rode Lucian Elliott.
Captain Merritt and his men, after
Padilla's departure, met a body of re-
Inducements for Sonoma. and while
Merritt and his men continued on to
Fremont's camp the achievements
hurried to Sonoma, and when they
heard the story OF Lucian they elected
him captain in the army OF the Cali
fornia republic.
With the arrival OF Captain Lucians
troops the security of the California
republic was assured. And a republic
must have flag.
1t was decided that a California bear
was the symbol most worthy to be
placed on the banner, for was there
a man In the party who had not killed
a bear?
A young man named William L. Tod
drew an outline Of bear on a piece of
white cotton cloth which Lucian's
mother had torn from her skirt.
But the bear should be colored in
red" declared Tod.
And then it was Roses turn to
speak II have a bushel of blackber-
ries," said Lucians little sister, (Which
/ was going to make into jam. 1t will
make pretty stain"
And so it did.
The banner was completed The bear
was drawn standing on his four feet
and over his head and TO the front of
him was a red star. Below were the
words
HCalifornfo pannb1io