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〃And I dare say they've guarded the pass in the road lower down；〃
said Winslow。
〃We ought to be able to hold our own here until night；〃 said Brace；
〃and then make a dash into Todos Santos； get hold of some arms； and
join the ladies。〃
〃The women are all right；〃 said Crosby impatiently； 〃and are better
treated than if we were with them。 Suppose； instead of maundering
over them； we reconnoitre and see what WE can do here。 I'm getting
devilishly hungry； they can't mean to starve us； and if they do； I
don't intend to be starved as long as there is anything to be had
by buying or stealing。 Come along。 There's sure to be fruit near
that old chapel； and I saw some chickens in the bush near those
huts。 First； let's see if there's any one about。 I don't see a
soul。〃
The little plateau； indeed； seemed deserted。 In vain they shouted；
their voices were lost in the echoless air。 They examined one by
one the few thatched huts： they were open； contained one or two
rude articles of furniturea bed； a bench； and tablewere
scrupulously cleanand empty。 They next inspected the chapel； it
was tawdry and barbaric in ornament； but the candlesticks and
crucifix and the basin for holy water were of heavily beaten
silver。 The same thought crossed their mindsthe abandoned mine
at the roadside！
Bananas； oranges； and prickly…pears growing within the cactus…hedge
of the chapel partly mollified their thirst and hunger； and they
turned their steps towards the long； rambling； barrack…looking
building； with its low windows and red…tiled roof； which they had
first noticed。 Here； too； the tenement was deserted and abandoned；
but there was evidence of some previous and more ambitious
preparation： in a long dormitory off the corridor a number of
scrupulously clean beds were ranged against the whitewashed walls；
with spotless benches and tables。 To the complete astonishment and
bewilderment of the party another room； fitted up as a kitchen；
with the simpler appliances of housekeeping； revealed a larder
filled with provisions and meal。 A shout from Winslow； who had
penetrated the inner courtyard； however； drew them to a more
remarkable spectacle。 Their luggage and effects from the cabins of
the Excelsior were there； carefully piled in the antique ox…cart
that had evidently that morning brought them from Todos Santos！
〃There's no mistake；〃 said Brace； with a relieved look； after a
hurried survey of the trunks。 〃They have only brought our baggage。
The ladies have evidently had the opportunity of selecting their
own things。〃
〃Crosby told you they'd be all right；〃 said Banks； 〃and as for
ourselves； I don't see why we can't be pretty comfortable here； and
all the better for our being alone。 I shall take an opportunity of
looking around a bit。 It strikes me that there are some resources
in this country that might pay to develop。〃
〃And I shall have a look at that played…out mine；〃 said Crosby； 〃if
it's been worked as they work the land； they've left about as much
in it as they've taken out。〃
〃That's all well enough；〃 said Brace； drawing a dull vermilion…
colored stone from his pocket； 〃but here's something I picked up
just now that ain't 'played out；' nor even the value of it
suspected by those fellows。 That's cinnabarquicksilver oreand
a big per cent。 of it too； and if there's as much of it here as the
indications show； you could buy up all your SILVER mines in the
country with it。〃
〃If I were you； I'd put up a notice on a post somewhere； as they do
in California； and claim discovery；〃 said Banks seriously。
〃There's no knowing how this thing may end。 We may not get away
from here for some time yet； and if the Government will sell the
place cheap； it wouldn't be a bad spec' to buy it。 Form a kind of
'Excelsior Company' among ourselves； you know； and go shares。〃
The four men looked earnestly at each other。 Already the lost
Excelsior and her mutinous crew were forgotten； even the incidents
of the morningtheir arrest； the uncertainty of their fate； and
the fact that they were in the hands of a hostile community
appeared but as trivial preliminaries to the new life that opened
before them！ They suddenly became graver than they had ever been
even in the moment of peril。
〃I don't see why we shouldn't；〃 said Brace quickly。 〃We started
out to do that sort of thing in California； and I reckon if we'd
found such a spot as this on the Sacramento or American River we'd
have been content。 We can take turns at housekeeping； prospect a
little； and enter into negotiations with the Government。 I'm for
offering them a fair sum for this ridge and all it contains at
once。〃
〃The only thing against that；〃 said Crosby slowly； 〃is the
probability that it is already devoted to some other use by the
Government。 Ever since we've been here I've been thinkingI don't
know whythat we've been put in a sort of quarantine。 The
desertion of the place； the half hospital arrangements of this
building； and the means they have taken to isolate us from
themselves； must mean something。 I've read somewhere that in these
out…of…the…way spots in the tropics they have a place where they
put the fellows with malarious or contagious diseases。 I don't
want to frighten you boys： but I've an idea that we're in a sort of
lazaretto； and the people outside won't trouble us often。〃
CHAPTER X。
TODOS SANTOS SOLVES THE MYSTERY。
Notwithstanding his promise； and the summons of the Council； Father
Esteban； on parting with the Excelsior prisoners in the San Antonio
Road； did not proceed immediately to the presence of the
Comandante。 Partly anxious to inform himself more thoroughly
regarding Hurlstone's antecedents before entering upon legislative
functions that might concern him； partly uneasy at Brace's allusion
to any possible ungentleness in the treatment of the fair
Americanas； and partly apprehensive that Mrs。 Brimmer might seek
him at the Mission in the present emergency； the good Father turned
his steps towards the Alcalde's house。
Mrs。 Brimmer； in a becoming morning wrapper； half reclining in an
Indian hammock in the corridor； supported by Miss Chubb； started at
his approach。 So did the young Alcalde； sympathetically seated at
her side。 Padre Esteban for an instant was himself embarrassed；
Mrs。 Brimmer quickly recovered her usual bewildering naivete。
〃I knew you would come； but if you hadn't； I should have mustered
courage enough to go with Miss Chubb to find you at the Mission；〃
she said； half coquettishly。 〃Not but that Don Ramon has been all
kindness and consideration； but you know one always clings to one's
spiritual adviser in such an emergency； and although there are
differences of opinion between us； I think I may speak to you as
freely as I would speak to my dear friend Dr。 Potts； of Trinity
Chapel。 Of course you don't know HIM； but you couldn't have helped
liking him； he's s