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the pirate Perkins？〃 returned the secretary。
Miss Keene hesitated。 Had Mrs。 Markham any previous knowledge of
the Senor's real character？
〃Why don't you arrest the men？〃 she said scornfully。 〃There is Mr。
Banks； Mr。 Crosby； Mr。 Winslow； and Mr。 Brace。〃 She uttered the
last name more contemptuously； as she thought of that young
gentleman's protestations and her present unprotected isolation。
〃They are already arrested and removed to San Antonio； a league
hence；〃 returned the secretary。 〃It is fact enough that they have
confessed that their Government has seized the Mexican province of
California； and that they were on their way to take possession of
it。〃
Miss Keene's heart sank。
〃But you knew all this yesterday；〃 she faltered； 〃and our war with
Mexico is all over years ago。〃
〃We did not know it last night at the banquet； Senora； nor would we
have known it but for this treason and division in your own party。〃
A sudden light flashed upon Miss Keene's mind。 She now
comprehended the advances of Dona Isabel。 Extravagant and
monstrous as it seemed； these people evidently believed that a
revolution had taken place in the United States； that the two
opposing parties had been represented by the passengers of the
Excelsior； and that one party had succeeded； headed by the
indomitable Perkins。 If she could be able to convince them of
their blunder； would it be wise to do so？ She thought of Mrs。
Brimmer's supplication to be ranged 〃on her side；〃 and realized
with feminine quickness that the situation might be turned to her
countrymen's advantage。 But which side had Todos Santos favored？
It was left to her woman's wit to discover this； and conceive a
plan to rescue her helpless companions。
Her suspense was quickly relieved。 The Commander and his secretary
exchanged a few words。
〃The Comandante will grant Dona Leonora's request；〃 said the
secretary； 〃if she will answer a question。〃
〃What is it？〃 responded Miss Keene； with inward trepidation。
〃The Senora Markham is perhaps beloved by the Pirate Perkins？〃
In spite of her danger； in spite of the uncertain fate hanging over
her party； Miss Keene could with difficulty repress a half
hysterical inclination to laugh。 Even then； it escaped in a sudden
twinkle of her eye； which both the Commander and his subordinate
were quick to notice； as she replied demurely； 〃Perhaps。〃
It was enough for the Commander。 A gleam of antique archness and
venerable raillery lit up his murky； tobacco…colored pupils； a
spasm of gallantry crossed the face of the secretary。
〃Ahwhat would you？it is the way of the world；〃 said the
Commander。 〃We comprehend。 Come！〃
He led the way across the corridor； and suddenly opened a small
barred door。 Whatever preconceived idea Miss Keene may have had of
her unfortunate country…woman immured in a noisome cell； and
guarded by a stern jailer； was quite dissipated by the soft misty
sunshine that flowed in through the open door。 The prison of Mrs。
Markham was a part of the old glacis which had been allowed to
lapse into a wild garden that stretched to the edge of the sea。
There was a summer…house built onand partly froma crumbling
bastion； and here； under the shade of tropical creepers； the
melancholy captive was comfortably writing； with her portable desk
on her knee； and a traveling…bag at her feet。 A Saratoga trunk of
obtrusive proportions stood in the centre of the peaceful
vegetation； like a newly raised altar to an unknown deity。 The
only suggestion of martial surveillance was an Indian soldier；
whose musket； reposing on the ground near Mrs。 Markham； he had
exchanged for the rude mattock with which he was quietly digging。
The two women； with a cry of relief； flew into each other's arms。
The Commander and his secretary discreetly retired to an angle of
the wall。
〃I find everything as I left it； my dear； even to my slipper…bag；〃
said Mrs。 Markham。 〃They've forgotten nothing。〃
〃But you are a captive！〃 said Eleanor。 〃What does it mean？〃
〃Nothing； my dear。 I gave them a piece of my mind；〃 said Mrs。
Markham； looking； however； as if that mental offering had by no
means exhausted her capital； 〃and I have written six pages to the
Governor at Mazatlan； and a full account to Mr。 Markham。〃
〃And they won't get them in thirty years！〃 said Miss Keene
impetuously。 〃But where is this letter from Senor Perkins。 And；
for Heaven's sake； tell me if you had the least suspicion before of
anything that has happened。〃
〃Not in the least。 The man is mad； my dear； and I really believe
driven so by that absurd Illinois woman's poetry。 Did you ever see
anything so ridiculousand shameful； tooas the 'Ulricardo'
business？ I don't wonder he colored so。〃
Miss Keene winced with annoyance。 Was everybody going crazy； or
was there anything more in this catastrophe that had only enfeebled
the minds of her countrywomen！ For here was the severe； strong…
minded Mrs。 Markham actually preoccupied； like Mrs。 Brimmer； with
utterly irrelevant particulars； and apparently powerless to grasp
the fact that they were abandoned on a half hostile strand； and cut
off by half a century from the rest of the world。
〃As to the letter；〃 said Mrs。 Markham； quietly； 〃there it is。
There's nothing in it that might not have been written by a
friend。〃
Miss Keene took the letter。 It was written in a delicate； almost
feminine hand。 She could not help noticing that in one or two
instances corrections had been made and blots carefully removed
with an eraser。
〃Midnight； on the Excelsior。
〃MY FRIEND： When you receive this I shall probably be once more on
the bosom of that mysterious and mighty element whose majesty has
impressed us； whose poetry we have loved； and whose moral lessons；
I trust； have not been entirely thrown away upon us。 I go to the
deliverance of one of those oppressed nations whose history I have
often recited to you； and in whose destiny you have from time to
time expressed a womanly sympathy。 While it is probable；
therefore； that my MOTIVES may not be misunderstood by you； or even
other dear friends of the Excelsior； it is by no means impossible
that the celerity and unexpectedness of my ACTION may not be
perfectly appreciated by the careless mind； and may seem to require
some explanation。 Let me then briefly say that the idea of
debarking your goods and chattels； and parting from your delightful
company at Todos Santos； only occurred to me on our unexpected
shall I say PROVIDENTIAL？arrival at that spot； and the necessity
of expedition forbade me either inviting your cooperation or
soliciting your confidence。 Human intelligence is variously
constitutedor； to use a more homely phrase； 'many men have many
minds'and it is not impossible that a premature disclosure of my
plans might have jeopardized that harmony which you know it has
been my desire to promote。 It w