With such a resolution as this, Portola could not cope.  Yielding to Serra’s persuasion, he consented to wait while a novena (a nine days’ devotional exercise) was made to St. Joseph, the holy patron of the expedition.  Fervently day by day Serra prayed.  On the day of San Jose (St. Joseph) a high mass was celebrated, and Serra preached.  On the fourth day the eager watchers saw the vessel approach.  Then, strange to say, it disappeared, and as the sixth, seventh and eighth days passed and it did not reappear again, hope seemed to sink lower in the hearts of all but Serra and his devoted brother Crespi.  On the ninth and last day—­would it be seen?  Bowing himself in eager and earnest prayer Serra pleaded that his faith be not shamed, and, to his intense delight, doubtless while he prayed, the vessel sailed into the bay.

Joy unspeakable was felt by every one.  The provisions were here, the expedition need not be abandoned; the Indians would yet be converted to Holy Church and all was well.  A service of thanksgiving was held, and happiness smiled on every face.

With new energy, vigor, and hope, Portola set out again for the search of Monterey, accompanied by Serra as well as Crespi.  This time the attempt was successful.  They recognized the bay, and on June 3, 1770, a shelter of branches was erected on the beach, a cross made ready near an old oak, the bells were hung and blessed, and the services of founding began.  Padre Serra preached with his usual fervor; he exhorted the natives to come and be saved, and put to rout all infernal foes by an abundant sprinkling of holy water.  The Mission was dedicated to San Carlos Borromeo.

Thus two of the long desired Missions were established, and the passion of Serra’s longings, instead of being assuaged, raged now all the fiercer.  It was not long, however, before he found it to be bad policy to have the Missions for the Indian neophytes too near the presidio, or barracks for the soldiers.  These latter could not always be controlled, and they early began a course which was utterly demoralizing to both sexes, for the women of a people cannot be debauched without exciting the men to fierce anger, or making them as bad as their women.  Hence Serra removed the Missions:  that of San Diego six miles up the valley to a point where the ruins now stand, while that of San Carlos he re-established in the Carmelo Valley.

The Mission next to be established should have been San Buenaventura, but events stood in the way; so, on July 14, 1771, Serra (who had been zealously laboring with the heathen near Monterey), with eight soldiers, three sailors, and a few Indians, passed down the Salinas River and established the Mission of San Antonio de Padua.  The site was a beautiful one, in an oak-studded glen, near a fair-sized stream.  The passionate enthusiasm of Serra can be understood from the fact that after the bells were hung from a tree, he loudly tolled them, crying the while like one possessed: