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meekly exposed to celestial criticism。 When he had joined the ship
at Callao； his fellow…passengers； rashly trusting to the momentary
suggestion of his legs on the gang…plank； had pronounced him
military； meeting him later at dinner； they had regarded the mild
Methodistic contour of his breast and shoulders above the table；
and entertained the wild idea of asking him to evoke a blessing。
To complete the confusion of his appearance； he was called 〃Senor〃
Perkins； for no other reason； apparently； than his occasional； but
masterful； use of the Spanish vernacular。
Steadying himself by one of the quarter stanchions； he waved his
right hand oratorically towards the sinking coast。
〃Look at it； sir。 One of the finest countries that ever came from
the hand of the Creator； a land overflowing with milk and honey；
containing； sir； in that one mountain range； the products of the
three zonesand yet the abode of the oppressed and down…trodden；
the land of faction； superstition； tyranny； and political
revolution。〃
〃That's all very well；〃 said Banks irritably； 〃but Mazatlan is a
well…known commercial port； and has English and American
correspondents。 There's a branch of that Boston firmPotter；
Potts & Potterthere。 The new line of steamers is going to stop
there regularly。〃
Senor Perkins' soft black eyes fell for an instant； as if
accidentally； on the third mate； but the next moment he laughed；
and； throwing back his head； inhaled； with evident relish； a long
breath of the sharp； salt air。
〃Ah！〃 he said enthusiastically； 〃THAT'S better than all the
business you can pick up along a malarious coast。 Open your mouth
and try to take in the free breath of the glorious North Pacific。
Ah！ isn't it glorious？〃
〃Where's the captain？〃 said Banks； with despairing irritation。 〃I
want to see him。〃
〃The captain；〃 said Senor Perkins； with a bland； forgiving smile
and a slight lowering of his voice； 〃is； I fear； suffering from an
accident of hospitality； and keeps his state…room。 The captain is
a good fellow；〃 continued Perkins； with gentle enthusiasm； 〃a good
sailor and careful navigator； and exceedingly attentive to his
passengers。 I shall certainly propose getting up some testimonial
for him。〃
〃But if he's shut up in his state…room； who's giving the orders？〃
began Banks angrily。
Senor Perkins put up a small； well…kept hand deprecatingly。
〃Really； my dear boy； I suppose the captain cannot be omnipresent。
Some discretion must be left to the other officers。 They probably
know his ideas and what is to be done better than we do。 You
business men trouble yourselves too much about these things。 You
should take them more philosophically。 For my part I always
confide myself trustingly to these people。 I enter a ship or
railroad car with perfect faith。 I say to myself； 'This captain；
or this conductor； is a responsible man； selected with a view to my
safety and comfort； he understands how to procure that safety and
that comfort better than I do。 He worries himself； he spends hours
and nights of vigil to look after me and carry me to my
destination。 Why should I worry myself； who can only assist him by
passive obedience？ Why'〃 But here he was interrupted by a
headlong plunge of the Excelsior； a feminine shriek that was half a
laugh； the rapid patter of small feet and sweep of flying skirts
down the slanting deck； and the sudden and violent contact of a
pretty figure。
The next moment he had forgotten his philosophy； and his companion
his business。 Both flew to the assistance of the fair intruder；
who； albeit the least injured of the trio； clung breathlessly to
the bulwarks。
〃Miss Keene！〃 ejaculated both gentlemen。
〃Oh dear！ I beg your pardon；〃 said the young lady； reddening； with
a naive mingling of hilarity and embarrassment。 〃But it seemed so
stuffy in the cabin； and it seemed so easy to get out on deck and
pull myself up by the railings； and just as I got up here； I
suddenly seemed to be sliding down the roof of a house。〃
〃And now that you're here； your courage should be rewarded；〃 said
the Senor； gallantly assisting her to a settee； which he lashed
securely。 〃You are perfectly safe now；〃 he added； holding the end
of the rope in his hand to allow a slight sliding movement of the
seat as the vessel rolled。 〃And here is a glorious spectacle for
you。 Look！ the sun is just rising。〃
The young girl glanced over the vast expanse before her with
sparkling eyes and a suddenly awakened fancy that checked her
embarrassed smile； and fixed her pretty； parted lips with wonder。
The level rays of the rising sun striking the white crests of the
lifted waves had suffused the whole ocean with a pinkish opal
color： the darker parts of each wave seemed broken into facets
instead of curves； and glittered sharply。 The sea seemed to have
lost its fluidity； and become vitreous； so much so； that it was
difficult to believe that the waves which splintered across the
Excelsior's bow did not fall upon her deck with the ring of
shattered glass。
〃Sindbad's Valley of Diamonds！〃 said the young girl； in an awed
whisper。
〃It's a cross sea in the Gulf of California； so the mate says；〃
said Banks practically； 〃but I don't see why we〃 。 。 。
〃The Gulf of California？〃 repeated the young girl； while a slight
shade of disappointment passed over her bright face； 〃are we then
so near〃
〃Not the California you mean； my dear young lady；〃 broke in Senor
Perkins； 〃but the old peninsula of California； which is still a
part of Mexico。 It terminates in Cape St。 Lucas； a hundred miles
from here； but it's still a far cry to San Francisco； which is in
Upper California。 But I fancy you don't seem as anxious as our
friend Mr。 Banks to get to your journey's end；〃 he added； with
paternal blandness。
The look of relief which had passed over Miss Keene's truthful face
gave way to one of slight embarrassment。
〃It hasn't seemed long；〃 she said hastily； and then added； as if to
turn the conversation； 〃What is this peninsula？ I remember it on
our map at school。〃
〃It's not of much account；〃 interrupted Banks positively。 〃There
ain't a place on it you ever heard of。 It's a kind of wilderness。〃
〃I differ from you；〃 said Senor Perkins gravely。 〃There are； I
have been told； some old Mexican settlements along the coast； and
there is no reason why the country shouldn't be fruitful。 But you
may have a chance to judge for yourself；〃 he continued beamingly。
Since we are not going into Mazatlan； we may drop in at some of
those places for water。 It's all on our way； and we shall save the
three days we would have lost had we touched Mazatlan。 That；〃 he
added； answering an impatient interrogation in Banks' eye； 〃at
least； is the captain's idea； I reckon。〃 He laughed； and went on
still gayly；〃But what's the use of anticipating？ Why should we
spoil any little surprise that our ga