midnight
It is further alleged that under the malign influence of Peleg and several glasses of aguardiente , the Commander lost somewhat of his decorum , and behaved in a manner unseemly for one in his position , reciting high-flown Spanish poetry , and even piping in a thin , high voice divers madrigals and heathen canzonets of an amorous complexion ; chiefly in regard to a `` little one '' who was his , the Commander 's , `` soul '' ! These allegations , perhaps unworthy the notice of a serious chronicler , should be received with great caution , and are introduced here as simple hearsay . That the Commander , however , took a handkerchief and attempted to show his guest the mysteries of the SEMICUACUA , capering in an agile but indecorous manner about the apartment , has been denied . Enough for the purposes of this narrative that at midnight Peleg assisted his host to bed with many protestations of undying friendship , and then , as the gale had abated , took his leave of the Presidio and hurried aboard the GENERAL COURT . When the day broke the ship was gone . I know not if Peleg kept his word with his host . It is said that the holy fathers at the Mission that night heard a loud chanting in the plaza , as of the heathens singing psalms through their noses ; that for many days after an odor of salt codfish prevailed in the settlement ; that a dozen hard nutmegs , which were unfit for spice or seed , were found in the possession of the wife of the baker , and that several bushels of shoe pegs , which bore a pleasing resemblance to oats , but were quite inadequate to the purposes of provender , were discovered in the stable of the blacksmith .