DAWN AND THE DONS 45
agreed to postpone departure to Lower California until March 20. If, in the meantime, the San Antonio should
arrive with supplies, another search would be made for the missing port. Otherwise the effort would be abandoned, and the entire exeditionary force would return
to Lower California. The
San Antonio,
it will be remembered,
had been
sent back from San Diego for fresh crews and more supplies. Now, it happened that the vessel was held in her home
port, and
the San Jose was
dispatched
to San
Diego with supplies. Later, the San Antonio put to sea with instructions to sail directly to the Port of Monterey, with supplies for the Portola party. The San Jose was never heard
of after her departure,
and undoubtedly
was lost at sea. The scene at San Diego on Portola’s last day of grace is thus described by Richman: “All day on March 19— St. Joseph’s own day—the Father President and _ his coadjutors prayerfully strained their eyes seaward fora sail. One appeared toward evening, but vanished with the fall of night. It nevertheless brought hope. Portola deferred his departure, and five days later, the San Antonio, under Perez, sailed into port.”
An extraordinary thing had happened, of which the fatalist may make further note. The San Antonio, when seen off San Diego on March
19, was, in obedience
to
orders, sailing direct for the port of Monterey, without stopping at San Diego. Near Point Conception, Perez landed to take on water. While thus engaged, the natives,
