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body； and that bleeding him is more than folly。〃
〃The man's veins are in a burning fever and delirium from
aguardiente；〃 said the little doctor excitedly； 〃and the fire must
first be put out by the lancet。〃
〃He is only crazy with remorse for having lost his ship through his
own carelessness and the treachery of others；〃 said Miss Keene
doughtily。
〃He is a maniac and will kill himself； unless his fever is
subdued；〃 persisted the doctor。
〃And you would surely kill him by your way of subduing it；〃 said
the young girl boldly。 〃Better for him； a disgraced man of honor；
to die by his own hand； than to be bled like a calf into a feeble
and helpless dissolution。 I would； if I were in his placeif I
had to do it by tearing off the bandages。〃
She made a swift； half unconscious gesture of her little hand； and
stopped； her beautiful eyes sparkling； her thin pink nostrils
dilated； her red lips parted； her round throat lifted in the air；
and one small foot advanced before her。 The men glanced hurriedly
at each other； and then fixed their eyes upon her with a rapt yet
frightened admiration。 To their simple minds it was Anarchy and
Revolution personified； beautiful； and victorious。
〃Ah！〃 said the secretary to Padre Esteban； in Spanish； 〃it is true！
she knows not fear！ She was in the room alone with the madman； he
would let none approach but her！ She took a knife from himelse
the medico had suffered！〃
〃He recognized her； you see！ Ah！ they know her power；〃 said the
Comandante； joining the group。
〃You will help me； Father Esteban？〃 said the young girl； letting
the fire of her dark eyes soften to a look of almost childish
appeal〃you will help me to intercede for him？ It is the
restraint only that is killing himthat is goading him to madness！
Think of him； Fatherthink of him： ruined and disgraced； dying to
retrieve himself by any reckless action； any desperate chance of
recovery； and yet locked up where he can do nothingattempt
nothingnot even lift a hand to pursue the man who has helped to
bring him to this！〃
〃But he CAN do nothing！ The ship is gone！〃 remonstrated the
Comandante。
〃Yes； the ship is gone； but the ocean is still there；〃 said Miss
Keene。
〃But he has no boat。〃
〃He will find or make one。〃
〃And the fog conceals the channel。〃
〃He can go where THEY have gone； or meet their fate。 You do not
know my countrymen； Senor Comandante；〃 she said proudly。
〃Ah； yespardon！ They are at San Antoniothe baker； the buffoon；
the two young men who dig。 They are already baking and digging and
joking。 We have it from my officer； who has just returned。〃
Miss Keene bit her pretty lips。
〃They think it is a mistake； they cannot believe that any intentional
indignity is offered them；〃 she said quietly。 〃Perhaps it is well
they do not。〃
〃They desired me to express their condolences to the Senora；〃 said
the Padre； with exasperating gentleness； 〃and were relieved to be
assured by me of your perfect security in the hands of these
gentlemen。〃
Miss Keene raised her clear eyes to the ecclesiastic。 That
accomplished diplomat of Todos Santos absolutely felt confused
under the cool scrutiny of this girl's unbiased and unsophisticated
intelligence。
〃Then you HAVE seen them；〃 she said； 〃and you know their innocence；
and the utter absurdity of this surveillance？〃
〃I have not seen them ALL；〃 said the priest softly。 〃There is
still anothera Senor Hurlstonewho is missing？ Is he not？〃
It was not in the possibility of Eleanor Keene's truthful blood to
do other than respond with a slight color to this question。 She
had already concealed from every one the fact of having seen the
missing man in the Mission garden the evening before。 It did not；
however； prevent her the next moment from calmly meeting the glance
of the priest as she answered gravely；
〃I believe so。 But I cannot see what that has to do with the
detention of the others。〃
〃Much； perhaps。 It has been said that you alone； my child； were in
the confidence of this man。〃
〃Who dared say that？〃 exclaimed Miss Keene in English； forgetting
herself in her indignation。
〃If it's anything meanit's Mrs。 Brimmer； I'll bet a cooky；〃 said
Mrs。 Markham； whose linguistic deficiencies had debarred her from
the previous conversation。
〃You have only；〃 continued the priest； without noticing the
interruption； 〃to tell us what you know of this Hurlstone's plans；
of his complicity with Senor Perkins； or；〃 he added significantly；
〃his opposition to themto insure that perfect justice shall be
done to all。〃
Relieved that the question involved no disclosure of her only
secret regarding Hurlstone； Miss Keene was about to repeat the
truth that she had no confidential knowledge of him； or of his
absurd alleged connection with Senor Perkins； when； with an
instinct of tact； she hesitated。 Might she not serve them all
even Hurlstone himselfby saying nothing； and leaving the burden
of proof to their idiotic accusers？ Was she altogether sure that
Hurlstone was entirely ignorant of Senor Perkins' plans； or might
he not have refused； at the last moment； to join in the conspiracy；
and so left the ship？
〃I will not press you for your answer now；〃 said the priest gently。
〃But you will not； I know； keep back anything that may throw a
light on this sad affair； and perhaps help to reinstate your friend
Mr。 Hurlstone in his REAL position。〃
〃If you ask me if I believe that Mr。 Hurlstone had anything to do
with this conspiracy； I should say； unhesitatingly； that I do NOT。
And more； I believe that he would have jumped overboard rather than
assent to so infamous an act；〃 said the young girl boldly。
〃Then you think he had no other motive for leaving the ship？〃 said
the priest slowly。
〃Decidedly not。〃 She stopped； a curious anxious look in the
Padre's persistent eyes both annoyed and frightened her。 〃What
other motive could he have？〃 she said coldly。
Father Esteban's face lightened。
〃I only ask because I think you would have known it。 Thank you for
the assurance all the same； and in return I promise you I will use
my best endeavors with the Comandante for your friend the Captain
Bunker。 Adieu； my daughter。 Adieu； Madame Markham；〃 he said； as；
taking the arm of Don Miguel； he turned with him and the doctor
towards the guard…room。 The secretary lingered behind for a
moment。
〃Fear nothing；〃 he said； in whispered English to Miss Keene。 〃I；
Ruy Sanchez； shall make you free of Capitano Bunker's cell；〃 and
passed on。
〃Well；〃 said Mrs。 Markham； when the two women were alone again。 〃I
don't pretend to fathom the befogged brains of Todos Santos； but as
far as I can understand their grown…up child's play； they are
making believe this unfortunate Mr。 Hurlstone； who may be dead for
all we know； is in revolt against the United States Government；
which is s