Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/219

Rh with about a dozen companions started out to take possession of the presidio and garrison. Doubtless by a previous understanding with the soldiers, no resistance was made, though the forms of a surprise were gone through, the arms and barracks secured, and the officers placed under arrest.

Next day the soldiers gave in their adhesion to the plan readily enough, but the officers, especially captains Portilla and Argüello, showed considerable reluctance. They shared the feelings of the rebels against Victoria — so they said, Portilla perhaps not quite truthfully — but they felt that for military men in their position to engage in open rebellion against their comandante general was a serious matter. At first they declined to do more than remain neutral under arrest; but finally they were induced to promise active coöperation on condition that Echeandía would accept the command. What part Echeandía had taken, if any, in the previous plottings cannot be known; but after much hesitation, real or pretended, he consented to head the movement. The plan, slightly amended, was now made to embrace substantially the following points: the suspension of Victoria, the vesting by the diputacion of the political and military command in separate persons, and the provisional resumption by Echeandía of both commands until such act of the diputacion or the decision of the national government. This pronunciamiento was