Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/111

Rh gave evidence on the mysterious shipment of $6,000 in gold on the Santa Apolonia by Padre Martinez, an act supposed to have some connection with the plans for flight. Captain Gonzalez took a prominent part in the charges, and this was perhaps a reason why Echeandía and others paid very little attention to the subject.

The rumors had some foundation, for at the end of December, or perhaps in January 1828, padres Ripoll and Altimira went on board the American brig Harbinger, Captain Steele, at Santa Bárbara, and left California never to return. They went on board the vessel on pretence of examining certain goods, and such effects as they wished to carry with them were embarked by stealth. Echeandía was there at the time, and David Spence tells us he was for some mysterious purpose invited to take breakfast on the brig before she sailed, but was prevented by other affairs from accepting. Orders were at once issued to seize the Harbinger should she dare to enter any other port; but Steele chose to run no risks. The fugitives left letters in which they gave as their reason for a clandestine departure the fear that their going might be prevented otherwise, prompt action being necessary for reasons not stated. They were among the youngest of the Franciscan band, and in several respects less identified than most others with the missionary work in California, the reader being already familiar with certain eccentricities on the part of each. Their destination was Spain, which they seem to have reached in safety. A suspicion was natural that the two padres carried away with them something more than the sack and staff of their order, that they took enough of the mission treasure to insure a comfortable voyage,