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wouldn't be a bad idea； if we could only see what sort of a place
we've got to。 It wouldn't do to go feeling round the settlement in
the darkwould it？ Hallo！ what's that？ Oh； by Jove； that'll
finish Mrs。 Brimmer； sure！〃
〃Hush！〃 said Miss Keene impulsively。
He stopped。 The long…drawn cadence of a chant in thin clear
soprano voices swept through the fog from the invisible shore； rose
high above the ship； and then fell； dying away with immeasurable
sweetness and melancholy。 Even when it had passed； a lingering
melody seemed to fill the deck。 Two or three of the foreign
sailors crossed themselves devoutly； the other passengers withheld
their speech； and looked at each other。 Afraid to break the charm
by speech； they listened again； but in vain an infinite repose
followed that seemed to pervade everything。
It was broken； at last； by the sound of oars in their rowlocks； the
boat was returning。 But it was noticed that the fog had slightly
lifted from the surface of the water； for the boat was distinctly
visible two cables' length from the ship as she approached； and it
was seen that besides the first officer and Senor Perkins there
were two strangers in the boat。 Everybody rushed to the side for a
nearer view of those strange inhabitants of the unknown shore； but
the boat's crew suddenly ceased rowing； and lay on their oars until
an indistinct hail and reply passed between the boat and ship。
There was a bustle forward； an unexpected thunder from the
Excelsior's eight…pounder at the bow port； Captain Bunker and the
second mate ranged themselves at the companionway； and the
passengers for the first time became aware that they were
participating at the reception of visitors of distinction； as two
strange and bizarre figures stepped upon the deck。
CHAPTER V。
TODOS SANTOS。
It was evident that the two strangers represented some exalted
military and ecclesiastical authority。 This was shown in their
dressa long…forgotten； half mediaeval costume； that to the
imaginative spectator was perfectly in keeping with their
mysterious advent； and to the more practical as startling as a
masquerade。 The foremost figure wore a broad…brimmed hat of soft
felt； with tarnished gold lace； and a dark feather tucked in its
recurved flap； a short cloak of fine black cloth thrown over one
shoulder left a buff leathern jacket and breeches； ornamented with
large round silver buttons； exposed until they were met by high
boots of untanned yellow buckskin that reached halfway up the
thigh。 A broad baldric of green silk hung from his shoulder across
his breast； and supported at his side a long sword with an enormous
basket hilt； through which somewhat coquettishly peeped a white
lace handkerchief。 Tall and erect； in spite of the grizzled hair
and iron…gray moustaches and wrinkled face of a man of sixty； he
suddenly halted on the deck with a military precision that made the
jingling chains and bits of silver on his enormous spurs ring
again。 He was followed by an ecclesiastic of apparently his own
age； but smoothly shaven； clad in a black silk sotana and sash； and
wearing the old…fashioned oblong； curl…brimmed hat sacred to 〃Don
Basilo；〃 of the modern opera。 Behind him appeared the genial face
of Senor Perkins； shining with the benignant courtesy of a master
of ceremonies。
〃If this is a fair sample of the circus ashore； I'll take two
tickets；〃 whispered Crosby； who had recovered his audacity。
〃I have the inexpressible honor；〃 said Senor Perkins to Captain
Bunker； with a gracious wave of his hand towards the extraordinary
figures； 〃to present you to the illustrious Don Miguel Briones；
Comandante of the Presidio of Todos Santos； at present hidden in
the fog； and the very reverend and pious Padre Esteban； of the
Mission of Todos Santos； likewise invisible。 When I state to you；〃
he continued； with a slight lifting of his voice； so as to include
the curious passengers in his explanation； 〃that； with very few
exceptions； this is the usual condition of the atmosphere at the
entrance to the Mission and Presidio of Todos Santos； and that the
last exception took place thirty…five years ago； when a ship
entered the harbor； you will understand why these distinguished
gentlemen have been willing to waive the formality of your waiting
upon them first； and have taken the initiative。 The illustrious
Comandante has been generous to exempt you from the usual port
regulations； and to permit you to wood and to water〃
〃What port regulation is he talking of？〃 asked Captain Bunker
testily。
〃The Mexican regulations forbidding any foreign vessel to
communicate with the shore；〃 returned Senor Perkins deprecatingly。
〃Never heard of 'em。 When were they given？〃
The Senor turned and addressed a few words to the commander； who
stood apart in silent dignity。
〃In 1792。〃
〃In what？Is he mad？〃 said Bunker。 〃Does he know what year this
is？〃
〃The illustrious commander believes it to be the year of grace
1854；〃 answered Senor Perkins quietly。 〃In the case of the only
two vessels who have touched here since 1792 the order was not
carried out because they were Mexican coasters。 The illustrious
Comandante explains that the order he speaks of as on record
distinctly referred to the ship 'Columbia； which belonged to the
General Washington。'〃
〃General Washington！〃 echoed Bunker； angrily staring at the Senor。
〃What's this stuff？ Do you mean to say they don't know any history
later than our old Revolutionary War？ Haven't they heard of the
United States among them？ Nor Californiathat we took from them
during the late war？〃
〃Nor how we licked 'em out of their boots； and that's saying a good
deal；〃 whispered Crosby； glancing at the Comandante's feet。
Senor Perkins raised a gentle； deprecating hand。
〃For fifty years the Presidio and the Mission of Todos Santos have
had but this communication with the outer world；〃 he said blandly。
〃Hidden by impenetrable fogs from the ocean pathway at their door；
cut off by burning and sterile deserts from the surrounding
country； they have preserved a trust and propagated a faith in
enforced but not unhappy seclusion。 The wars that have shaken
mankind； the dissensions that have even disturbed the serenity of
their own nation on the mainland； have never reached them here。
Left to themselves； they have created a blameless Arcadia and an
ideal community within an extent of twenty square leagues。 Why
should we disturb their innocent complacency and tranquil enjoyment
by information which cannot increase and might impair their present
felicity？ Why should we dwell upon a late political and
international episode which； while it has been a benefit to us； has
been a humiliation to them as a nation； and which might not only
imperil our position as guests； but interrupt our practical
relations to the wood and water； with which the country abounds？〃