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of his questions were so simple and incompatible with his apparent
intelligence that she unconsciously lowered her voice in answering
them； in dread of the ridicule of her companions。 She could not
resist the impression； which repeatedly obtruded upon her
imagination； that the entire population of Todos Santos were a
party of lost children； forgotten by their parents； and grown to
man and womanhood in utter ignorance of the world。
The Commander had； half informally； drunk the health of Captain
Bunker； without rising from his seat； when； to Miss Keene's alarm；
Captain Bunker staggered to his feet。 He had been drinking freely；
as usual； but he was bent on indulging a loquacity which his
discipline on shipboard had hitherto precluded； and which had；
perhaps； strengthened his solitary habit。 His speech was voluble
and incoherent； complimentary and tactless； kindly and aggressive；
courteous and dogmatic。 It was left to Senor Perkins to translate
it to the eye and ear of his host without incongruity or offense。
This he did so admirably as to elicit not only the applause of the
foreigners who did not understand English； but of his own
countrymen who did not understand Spanish。
〃I feel；〃 said Senor Perkins； in graceful peroration； 〃that I have
done poor justice to the eloquence of this gallant sailor。 My
unhappy translation cannot offer you that voice； at times trembling
with generous emotion； and again inaudible from excessive modesty
in the presence of this illustrious assemblythose limbs that
waver and bend under the undulations of the chivalrous sentiment
which carries him away as if he were still on that powerful element
he daily battles with and conquers。〃
But when coffee and sweets were reached； the crowning triumph of
Senor Perkins' oratory was achieved。 After an impassioned burst of
enthusiasm towards his hosts in their own tongue； he turned towards
his own party with bland felicity。
〃And how is it with us； dear friends？ We find ourselves not in the
port we were seeking； not in the goal of our ambition； the haven of
our hopes； but on the shores of the decaying past。 'Ever drifting'
on one of those
'Shifting
Currents of the restless main；'
if our fascinating friend Mrs。 Brimmer will permit us to use the
words of her accomplished fellow…townsman； H。 W。 Longfellow； of
Bostonwe find ourselves borne not to the busy hum and clatter of
modern progress； but to the soft cadences of a dying crusade； and
the hush of ecclesiastical repose。 In place of the busy marts of
commerce and the towering chimneys of labor； we have the ruined
embattlements of a warlike age； and the crumbling church of an
ancient Mission。 Towards the close of an eventful voyage； during
which we have been guided by the skillful hand and watchful eye of
that gallant navigator Captain Bunker； we have turned aside from
our onward course of progress to look back for a moment upon the
faded footprints of those who have so long preceded us； who have
lived according to their lights； and whose record is now before us。
As I have just stated； our journey is near its end； and we may； in
some sense； look upon this occasion； with its sumptuous
entertainment； and its goodly company of gallant men and fair
women； as a parting banquet。 Our voyage has been a successful one。
I do not now especially speak of the daring speculations of the
distinguished husband of a beautiful lady whose delightful society
is known to us allneed I say I refer to Quincy Brimmer； Esq。； of
Boston〃 （loud applause）〃whose successful fulfillment of a
contract with the Peruvian Government； and the landing of munitions
of war at Callao； has checked the uprising of the Quinquinambo
insurgents？ I do not refer especially to our keen…sighted business
friend Mr。 Banks〃 （applause）； 〃who； by buying up all the flour in
Callao； and shipping it to California； has virtually starved into
submission the revolutionary party of AriquipaI do not refer to
these admirable illustrations of the relations of commerce and
politics； for this； my friendsthis is history； and beyond my
feeble praise。 Let me rather speak of the social and literary
triumphs of our little community； of our floating Arcadiamay I
say Olympus？ Where shall we find another Minerva like Mrs。
Markham； another Thalia like Miss Chubb； another Juno like Mrs。
Brimmer； worthy of the Jove…like Quincy Brimmer； another Queen of
Love and Beauty likelike〃continued the gallant Senor； with an
effective oratorical pause； and a profound obeisance to Miss Keene；
〃like one whose mantling maiden blushes forbid me to name？〃
（Prolonged applause。） 〃Where shall we find more worthy mortals to
worship them than our young friends； the handsome Brace； the
energetic Winslow； the humorous Crosby？ When we look back upon our
concerts and plays； our minstrel entertainments； with the
incomparable performances of our friend Crosby as Brother Bones；
our recitations； to which the genius of Mrs。 M'Corkle； of Peoria；
Illinois； has lent her charm and her manuscript〃 （a burlesque start
of terror from Crosby）； 〃I am forcibly impelled to quote the
impassioned words from that gifted woman；
'When idly Life's barque on the billows of Time；
Drifts hither and yon by eternity's sea；
On the swift feet of verse and the pinions of rhyme
My thoughts； Ulricardo； fly ever to thee！'〃
〃Who's Ulricardo？〃 interrupted Crosby； with assumed eagerness；
followed by a 〃hush！〃 from the ladies。
〃Perhaps I should have anticipated our friend's humorous question；〃
said Senor Perkins； with unassailable good…humor。 〃Ulricardo；
though not my own name； is a poetical substitute for it； and a mere
figure of apostrophe。 The poem is personal to myself；〃 he
continued； with a slight increase of color in his smooth cheek
which did not escape the attention of the ladies；〃purely as an
exigency of verse； and that the inspired authoress might more
easily express herself to a friend。 My acquaintance with Mrs。
M'Corkle has been only epistolary。 Pardon this digression； my
friends； but an allusion to the muse of poetry did not seem to me
to be inconsistent with our gathering here。 Let me briefly
conclude by saying that the occasion is a happy and memorable one；
I think I echo the sentiment of all present when I add that it is
one which will not be easily forgotten by either the grateful
guests； whose feelings I have tried to express； or the chivalrous
hosts； whose kindness I have already so feebly translated。〃
In the applause that followed； and the clicking of glasses； Senor
Perkins slipped away。 He mingled a moment with some of the other
guests who had already withdrawn to the corridor； lit a cigar； and
then passed through a narrow doorway on to the ramparts。 Here he
strolled to some distance； as if in deep thought； until he reached
a spot where the crumbling wall and its fallen debris afford