Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/569

Rh In the north, during the first half of March, they were content to wait as before, news from the south being unexciting, and the governor also suffering for a time from illness. Then came the information that Don Cárlos had sent a force to San Buenaventura, thus assuming the offensive. The force was understood to be small, and Carrillo not apprehensive of any immediate attack. Alvarado resolved on prompt action, and sent Castro with fifteen men to Santa Bárbara to join the garrison of that place, attack the abajeños by surprise, and to send Don Cárlos and his leaders as prisoners to Monterey. It was the plan suggested by Castro earlier, the execution of which had been postponed. "It is time to put an end to these political discussions," wrote the governor.

There were particular reasons, it seems, for prompt action on both sides at this time. Alvarado learned that a despatch from Castillero for him had been intercepted by Carrillo; and he, on the other hand, intercepted a letter from Don Cárlos to his wife. In that letter it was announced that the California had reached Acapulco; that some of Alvarado's official letters had been published in government journals of September