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a spot where the crumbling wall and its fallen debris afforded an
easy descent into the ditch。 Following the ditch； he turned an
angle； and came upon the beach； and the low sound of oars in the
invisible offing。 A whistle brought the boat to his feet； and
without a word he stepped into the stern sheets。 A few strokes of
the oars showed him that the fog had lifted slightly from the
water； and a green light hanging from the side of the Excelsior
could be plainly seen。 Ten minutes' more steady pulling placed him
on her deck； where the second officer stood with a number of the
sailors listlessly grouped around him。
〃The landing has been completed？〃 said Senor Perkins interrogatively。
〃All except one boat…load more； which waits to take your final
instructions；〃 said the mate。 〃The men have growled a little about
it；〃 he added； in a lower tone。 〃They don't want to lose anything；
it seems；〃 he continued； with a half sarcastic laugh。
Senor Perkins smiled peculiarly。
〃I am sorry to disappoint them。 Who's that in the boat？〃 he asked
suddenly。
The mate followed the Senor's glance。
〃It is Yoto。 He says he is going ashore； and you will not forbid
him。〃
Senor Perkins approached the ship's side。
〃Come here；〃 he said to the man。
The Peruvian sailor rose； but did not make the slightest movement
to obey the command。
〃You say you are going ashore？〃 said Perkins blandly。
〃Yes； Patrono。〃
〃What for？〃
〃To follow himthe thief； the assassinwho struck me here；〃 he
pointed to his head。 〃He has escaped again with his booty。〃
〃You are very foolish； my Yoto； he is no thief； and has no booty。
They will put YOU in prison； not him。〃
〃YOU say so；〃 said the man surlily。 〃Perhaps they will hear me
for other things；〃 he added significantly。
〃And for this you would abandon the cause？〃
The man shrugged his shoulders。
〃Why not？〃 he glanced meaningly at two of his companions； who had
approached the side； 〃perhaps others would。 Who is sending the
booty ashore； eh？〃
〃Come out of that boat；〃 said the Senor； leaning over the bulwarks
with folded arms； and his eyes firmly fixed on the man。
The man did not move。 But the Senor's hand suddenly flew to the
back of his neck； smote violently downwards； and sent eighteen
inches of glittering steel hurtling through the air。 The bowie…
knife entered the upturned throat of the man and buried itself
halfway to the hilt。 Without a gasp or groan he staggered forward；
caught wildly at the side of the ship； and disappeared between the
boat and the vessel。
〃My lads；〃 said Senor Perkins； turning with a gentle smile towards
the faces that in the light of the swinging lantern formed a
ghastly circle around him； 〃when I boarded this ship that had
brought aid and succor to our oppressors at Callao； I determined to
take possession of it peacefully； without imperiling the peace and
property of the innocent passengers who were intrusted to its care；
and without endangering your own lives or freedom。 But I made no
allowance for TRAITORS。 The blood that has been shed to…night has
not been spilt in obedience to my orders； nor to the cause that we
serve； it was from DEFIANCE of it； and the real and only culprit
has just atoned for it。〃
He stopped； and then stepped back from the gangway； as if to leave
it open to the men。
〃What I have done；〃 he continued calmly； 〃I do not ask you to
consider either as an example or a warning。 You are free to do
what HE would have done；〃 he repeated； with a wave of his hand
towards the open gangway and the empty boat。 〃You are free to
break your contract and leave the ship； and I give you my word that
I will not lift a hand to prevent it。 But if you stay with me；〃 he
said； suddenly turning upon them a face as livid as their own； 〃I
swear by the living God； that； if between this and the
accomplishment of my design； you as much as shirk or question any
order given by me； you shall die the death of that dog who went
before you。 Choose as you pleasebut quickly。〃
The mate was the first to move。 Without a word； he crossed over to
the Senor's side。 The men hesitated a moment longer； until one；
with a strange foreign cry； threw himself on his knees before the
Senor； ejaculating； 〃Pardon！ pardon！〃 The others followed； some
impulsively catching at the hand that had just slain their comrade；
and covering it with kisses！
〃Pardon； Patronowe are yours。〃
〃You are the State's；〃 said Senor Perkins coldly； with every
vestige of his former urbanity gone from his colorless face。
〃Enough！ Go back to your duty。〃 He watched them slink away； and
then turned to the mate。 〃Get the last boat…load ready； and report
to me。〃
From that moment another power seemed to dominate the ship。 The
men no longer moved listlessly； or slunk along the deck with
perfunctory limbs； a feverish haste and eagerness possessed them；
the boat was quickly loaded； and the mysterious debarkation
completed in rapidity and silence。 This done； the fog once more
appeared to rise from the water and softly encompass the ship；
until she seemed to be obliterated from its face。 In this vague
obscurity； from time to time； the faint rattling of chains was
heard； the soft creaking of blocks； and later on； the regular rise
and fall of oars。 And then the darkness fell heavier； the sounds
became more and more indistinct and were utterly lost。
Ashore； however； the lanterns still glittered brightly in the
courtyard of the Presidio； the noise of laughter and revel still
came from the supper…room； and； later； the tinkling of guitars and
rhythmical clapping hands showed that the festivities were being
wound up by a characteristic fandango。 Captain Bunker succumbed
early to his potations of fiery aguardiente； and was put to bed in
the room of the Commander； to whom he had sworn eternal friendship
and alliance。 It was long past midnight before the other guests
were disposed of in the various quarters of the Presidio； but to
the ladies were reserved the more ostentatious hospitalities of the
Alcalde himself； the walls of whose ambitious hacienda raised
themselves across the plaza and overlooked the gardens of the
Mission。
It was from one of the deep； quaintly barred windows of the
hacienda that Miss Keene gazed thoughtfully on the night； unable to
compose herself to sleep。 An antique guest…chamber had been
assigned to her in deference to her wish to be alone； for which she
had declined the couch and vivacious prattle of her new friend；
Dona Isabel。 The events of the day had impressed her more deeply
than they had her companions； partly from her peculiar inexperience
of the world； and partly from her singular sensitiveness to
external causes。 The whole quaint story of the forgotten and
isolated settlement； which had seemed to the other passengers as a
trivial and half humorous incident； affected her im