"Surely," said Padre Serra, his eyes shining, his whole face glowing
with enthusiasm. "It is God's work to carry the cross of the holy faith
[Santa Fe] into the wilderness, and He will go with us; can you not hear
the heathen calling us to bring them the blessed Gospel? I can see that
I have lived all my life for this glorious day."
Then they went to work, the priest and the king's counselor--down on
the wharf, even working with their own hands, packing away the cargo.
"Hurry! Hurry!" said Galvez. The word was passed along, and in a short
time the four expeditions were ready.
Many were the trials and discouragements of the various parties. Scurvy
was so severe among the sailors that one ship lost all its crew save two
men, and there were a number of deaths on another ship; while a third
vessel which started later was never heard from. Padre Junipero, who
accompanied the second land party, under the charge of Governor Portola,
became so ill from the wound on his leg that the commander urged him to
return; but he would not. Calling a muleteer who was busy after the
day's march, doctoring the sores on his animals, he said:--
"Come, my son, and cure my sores also.
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