the crusade of the excelsior-第45节

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fair　stranger's　address；　we　began　a　correspondence；　at　once

imaginative　and　sympathetic　in　expression；　if　not　always　poetical

in　form。　　I　was　called　to　South　America　by　the　Macedonian　cry　of

'Quinquinambo！'　　I　still　corresponded　with　her。　　When　I　returned　to

Quinquinambo　I　received　letters　from　her；　dated　from　San　Francisco。

I　feel　that　my　words　could　only　fail；　my　dear　Hurlstone；　to　convey

to　you　the　strength　and　support　I　derived　from　those　impassioned

breathings　of　aid　and　sympathy　at　that　time。　　Enough　for　me　to

confess　that　it　was　mainly　due　to　the　deep　womanly　interest　that

SHE　took　in　the　fortunes　of　the　passengers　of　the　Excelsior　that　I

gave　the　Mexican　authorities　early　notice　of　their　whereabouts。

But；　pardon　me；〃he　stopped　hesitatingly；　with　a　slight　flush；　as

he　noticed　the　utterly　inattentive　face　and　attitude　of　Hurlstone；

〃I　am　boring　you。　　I　am　forgetting　that　this　is　only　important　to

myself；〃　he　added；　with　a　sigh。　　〃I　only　intended　to　ask　your

advice　in　regard　to　the　disposition　of　certain　manuscripts　and

effects　of　hers；　which　are　unconnected　with　our　acquaintance。　　I

thought；　perhaps；　I　might　entrust　them　to　your　delicacy　and

consideration。　　They　are　here；　if　you　choose　to　look　them　over；　and

here　is　also　what　I　believe　to　be　a　daguerreotype　of　the　lady

herself；　but　in　which　I　fail　to　recognize　her　soul　and　genius。〃



He　laid　a　bundle　of　letters　and　a　morocco　case　on　the　table　with　a

carelessness　that　was　intended　to　hide　a　slight　shade　of

disappointment　in　his　faceand　rose。



〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　Hurlstone；　in　confused　and　remorseful

apology；　〃but　I　frankly　confess　that　my　thoughts　WERE　preoccupied。

Pray　forgive　me。　　If　you　will　leave　these　papers　with　me；　I　promise

to　devote　myself　to　them　another　time。〃



〃As　you　please；〃　said　the　Senor；　with　a　slight　return　of　his　old

affability。　　〃But　don't　bore　yourself　now。　　Let　us　go　on　deck。〃



He　passed　out　of　the　cabin　as　Hurlstone　glanced；　half　mechanically；

at　the　package　before　him。　　Suddenly　his　cheek　reddened；　he

stopped；　looked　hurriedly　at　the　retreating　form　of　Perkins；　and

picked　up　a　manuscript　from　the　packet。　　It　was　in　his　wife's

handwriting。　　A　sudden　idea　flashed　across　his　mind；　and　seemed　to

illuminate　the　obscure　monotony　of　the　story　he　had　just　heard。　　He

turned　hurriedly　to　the　morocco　case；　and　opened　it　with　trembling

fingers。　　It　was　a　daguerreotype；　faded　and　silvered；　but　the

features　were　those　of　his　wife！





CHAPTER　VIII。



HOSTAGE。





The　revolution　of　Todos　Santos　had　to　all　appearances　been　effected

as　peacefully　as　the　gentle　Liberator　of　Quinquinambo　could　have

wished。　　Two　pronunciamientos；　rudely　printed　and　posted　in　the

Plaza；　and　saluted　by　the　fickle　garrison　of　one　hundred　men；　who

had；　however；　immediately　reappointed　their　old　commander　as

Generalissimo　under　the　new　regime；　seemed　to　leave　nothing　to　be

desired。　　A　surging　mob　of　vacant　and　wondering　peons；　bearing　a

singular　resemblance　to　the　wild　cattle　and　horses　which

intermingled　with　them　in　blind　and　unceasing　movement　across　the

Plaza　and　up　the　hilly　street；　and　seemingly　as　incapable　of　self…

government；　were　alternately　dispersed　and　stampeded　or　allowed　to

gather　again　as　occasion　required。　　Some　of　these　heterogeneous

bands　were　afterwards　foundthe　revolution　accomplishedgazing

stupidly　on　the　sea；　or　ruminating　in　bovine　wantonness　on　the

glacis　before　the　Presidio。



Eleanor　Keene；　who　with　her　countrywomen　had　been　hurried　to　the

refuge　of　the　Mission；　was　more　disturbed　and　excited　at　the

prospect　of　meeting　Hurlstone　again　than　by　any　terror　of　the

insurrection。　　But　Hurlstone　was　not　there；　and　Father　Esteban

received　her　with　a　coldness　she　could　not　attribute　entirely　to

her　countrymen's　supposed　sympathy　with　the　insurgents。　　When

Richard　Keene；　who　would　not　leave　his　sister　until　he　had　seen　her

safe　under　the　Mission　walls；　ventured　at　her　suggestion　to　ask

after　the　American　recluse；　Father　Esteban　replied　dryly　that；

being　a　Christian　gentleman；　Hurlstone　was　the　only　one　who　had　the

boldness　to　seek　out　the　American　filibuster　Perkins；　on　his　own

ship；　and　remonstrate　with　him　for　his　unholy　crusade。　　For　the　old

priest　had　already　become　aware　of　Hurlstone's　blunder；　and　he

hated　Eleanor　as　the　primary　cause　of　the　trouble。　　But　for　her；

Diego　would　be　still　with　him　in　this　emergency。



〃Never　mind；　Nell；〃　said　Dick；　noticing　the　disappointed　eyes　of

his　sister　as　they　parted；　〃you'll　all　be　safe　here　until　we

return。　　Between　you　and　me；　Banks；　Brimmer；　and　I　think　that　Brace

and　Winslow　have　gone　too　far　in　this　matter；　and　we're　going　to

stop　it；　unless　the　whole　thing　is　over　now；　as　they　say。〃



〃Don't　believe　that；〃　said　Crosby。　　〃It's　like　their　infernal

earthquakes；　there's　always　a　second　shock；　and　a　tidal　wave　to

follow。　　I　pity　Brace；　Winslow；　and　Perkins　if　they　get　caught　in

it。〃



There　seemed　to　be　some　reason　for　his　skepticism；　for　later　the

calm　of　the　Mission　Garden　was　broken　upon　by　the　monotonous　tread

of　banded　men　on　the　shell…strewn　walks；　and　the　door　of　the

refectory　opened　to　the　figure　of　Senor　Perkins。　　A　green　silk　sash

across　his　breast；　a　gold…laced　belt；　supporting　a　light　dress…

sword　and　a　pair　of　pistols；　buckled　around　the　jaunty　waist　of　his

ordinary　black　frock…coat；　were　his　scant　martial　suggestions。　　But

his　hat；　albeit　exchanged　for　a　soft　felt　one；　still　reposed　on　the

back　of　his　benevolent　head；　and　seemed　to　accent　more　than　ever

the　contrast　between　his　peaceful　shoulders　and　the　military

smartness　of　his　lower　figure。　　He　bowed　with　easy　politeness　to

the　assembled　fugitives；　but　before　he　could　address　them；　Father

Esteban　had　risen　to　his　feet；



〃I　thought　that　this　house；　at　least；　was　free　from　the　desecrating

footsteps　of　lawlessness　and　impiety；〃　said　the　priest　sternly。

〃How　dare　YOU　enter　here？〃



〃Nothing　but　the　desire　to　lend　my　assistance　to　the　claims　of

beauty；　innocence；　helplessness；　andif　you　will　allow　me　to　add；〃

with　a　low　bow　to　the　priest〃sanctity；　caused　this　intrusion。

For　I　regret　to　say　that；　through　the　ill…advised　counsels　of　some

of　my　fellow…patriots；　the　Indian　tribes　attached　to　this　Mission

are　in　revolt；　and　threaten　even　this　sacred　building。〃



〃It　is　false！〃　said　Father　Esteban　indignantly。　　〃Even　under　the

accursed　manipulation　of　your　emissaries；　the　miserable　heathen

would　not　dare　to　raise　a　parricidal　hand　against　the　Church　that

fostered　him！〃



Senor　Perkins　smiled　gently；　but　sadly。



〃Your　belief；　reverend　sir；　does　you　infinite　credit。　　But；　to　save

time；　let　me　give　way　to　a　gentleman　who；　I　believe；　possesses　your

confidence。　　He　will　confirm　my　statement。〃



He　drew　aside；　and　allowed　Hurlstone；　who　had　been　standing

unperceived　behind；　to　step　forward。　　The　Padre　uttered　an

exclamation　of　pleasure。　　Miss　Keene　colored　quickly。　　Hurlstone

cast　a　long　and　lingering　glance　at　her；　which　seemed　to　the

embarrassed　girl　full　of　a　new；　strange　meaning；　and　then　advanced

quickly　with　outstretched　hands　towards　Father　Esteban。



〃He　speaks　truly；〃　he　said；　hurriedly；　〃and　in　the　interests　of

humanity　alone。　　The　Indians　have　been　tampered　with　treacherously；

against　his　knowledge　and　consent。　　He　only　seeks　now　to　prevent

the　consequences　of　this　folly　by　placing　you　and　these　ladies　out

of　reach　of　harm　aboard　of　the　Excelsior。〃



〃A　very　proper　and　excellent　idea；〃　broke　in　Mrs。　Brimmer；　with

genteel　precision。　　〃You　see　these　people　evidently　recognize　the

fact　of　Mr。　Brimmer's　previous　ownership　of　the　Excelsior；　and　the

respect　that　is　due　to　him。　　I；　for　one；　shall　accept　the　offer；

and　insist　upon　Miss　Chubb　accompanying　me。〃



〃I　shall　be　charmed　to　extend　the　hospitality　of　the　Excelsior　to

you　on　any　pretext；〃　said　the　Senor　gallantly；　〃and；　indeed；　should

insist　upon　personally　accompanying　you　and　my　dear　friends　Mrs。

Markham　and　Miss　Keene；　but；　alas！　I　am　required　elsewhere。　　I

leave；〃　he　continued；　turning　towards　Hurlstone；　who　was　already

absorbed　in　a　whispered　consultation　with　Padre　Esteban〃I　leave　a

sufficient　escort　with　you　to　protect　your　party　to　the　boats　which

have　brought　us　here。　　You　will　take　them　to　the　Excelsior；　and

join　me　with　the　ship　off　Todos　Santos　in　the　morning。　　Adieu；　my

friends！　　Good…night；　and　farewell！〃



The　priest　made　a　vehement　movement　of　protestation；　but　he　was

checked　by　Hurlstone；　as；　with　a　low　bow；　Senor　Perkins　passed　out

into　the　darkness。　　The　next　moment　his　voice　was　heard　raised　in

command；　and　the　measured　tramp　of　his　men　gradually　receded　and

was　lost　in　the　distance。



〃Does　he　think；〃　said　the　priest　indignantly；　〃that　I；　Padre

Esteban；　would　desert　my　sacred　trust；　and　leave　His　Holy　Temple　a

prey　to　sacrilegious　trespass？　　Never；　while　I　live；　Diego！　　Call

him　back　and　tell　him　so！〃



〃Rather　listen　to