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making believe this unfortunate Mr。 Hurlstone； who may be dead for
all we know； is in revolt against the United States Government；
which is supposed to be represented by Senor Perkins and the
Excelsiorthink of that！〃
〃But Perkins signed himself of the Quinquinambo navy！〃 said Miss
Keene wonderingly。
〃That is firmly believed by those idiots to be one of OUR States。
Remember they know nothing of what has happened anywhere in the
last fifty years。 I dare say they never heard of filibusters like
Perkins； and they couldn't comprehend him if they had。 I've given
up trying to enlighten them； and I think they're grateful for it。
It makes their poor dear heads ache。〃
〃And it is turning mine！ But； for Heaven's sake； tell me what part
I am supposed to act in this farce！〃 said Miss Keene。
〃You are the friend and colleague of Hurlstone； don't you see？〃
said Mrs。 Markham。 〃You are two beautiful young patriotsdon't
blush； my dear！endeared to each other and a common cause； and
ready to die for your country in opposition to Perkins； and the
faint…heartedness of such neutrals as Mrs。 Brimmer； Miss Chubb； the
poor Captain； and all the men whom they have packed off to San
Antonio。〃
〃Impossible！〃 said Miss Keene； yet with an uneasy feeling that it
not only was possible； but that she herself had contributed
something to the delusion。 〃But how do they account for my
friendship with YOUyou； who are supposed to be a correspondent
an accomplice of Perkins？〃
〃No； no；〃 returned Mrs。 Markham； with a half serious smile； 〃I am
not allowed that honor。 I am presumed to be only the disconsolate
Dulcinea of Perkins； abandoned by HIM； pitied by you； and converted
to the true faithat least； that is what I make out from the
broken English of that little secretary of the Commander。〃
Miss Keene winced。
〃That's all my fault； dear；〃 she said； suddenly entwining her arms
round Mrs。 Markham； and hiding her half embarrassed smile on the
shoulder of her strong…minded friend； 〃they suggested it to me； and
I half assented； to save you。 Please forgive me。〃
〃Don't think I am blaming you； my dear Eleanor；〃 said Mrs。 Markham。
〃For Heaven's sake assent to the wildest and most extravagant
hypothesis they can offer； if it will leave us free to arrange our
own plans for getting away。 I begin to think we were not a very
harmonious party on the Excelsior； and most of our troubles here
are owing to that。 We forget we have fallen among a lot of
original saints； as guileless and as unsophisticated as our first
parents； who know nothing of our customs and antecedents。 They
have accepted us on what they believe to be our own showing。 From
first to last we've underrated them； forgetting they are in the
majority。 We can't expect to correct the ignorance of fifty years
in twenty…four hours； and I； for one； sha'n't attempt it。 I'd much
rather trust to the character those people would conceive of me
from their own consciousness than to one Mrs。 Brimmer or Mr。
Winslow would give of me。 From this moment I've taken a firm
resolve to leave my reputation and the reputation of my friends
entirely in their hands。 If you are wise you will do the same。
They are inclined to worship youdon't hinder them。 My belief is；
if we only take things quietly； we might find worse places to be
stranded on than Todos Santos。 If Mrs。 Brimmer and those men of
ours； who； I dare say； have acted as silly as the Mexicans
themselves； will only be quiet； we can have our own way here yet。〃
〃And poor Captain Bunker？〃 said Miss Keene。
〃It seems hard to say it； but； in my opinion； he is better under
lock and key； for everybody's good； at present。 He'd be a
firebrand in the town if he got away。 Meantime； let us go to our
room。 It is about the time when everybody is taking a siesta； and
for two hours； thank Heaven！ we're certain nothing more can
happen。〃
〃I'll join you in a moment；〃 said Miss Keene。
Her quick ear had caught the sound of voices approaching。 As Mrs。
Markham disappeared in the passage； the Commander and his party
reappeared from the guard…room； taking leave of Padre Esteban。 The
secretary； as he passed Miss Keene； managed to add to his formal
salutation the whispered words；〃When the Angelus rings I will
await you before the grating of his prison。〃
Padre Esteban was too preoccupied to observe this incident。 As
soon as he quitted the Presidio； he hastened to the Mission with a
disquieting fear that his strange guest might have vanished。 But；
crossing the silent refectory； and opening the door of the little
apartment； he was relieved to find him stretched on the pallet in a
profound slumber。 The peacefulness of the venerable walls had laid
a gentle finger on his weary eyelids。
The Padre glanced round the little cell； and back again at the
handsome suffering face that seemed to have found surcease and rest
in the narrow walls； with a stirring of regret。 But the next
moment he awakened the sleeper； and in the briefest； almost frigid；
sentences； related the events of the morning。
The young man rose to his feet with a bitter laugh。
〃You see；〃 he said； 〃God is against me！ And yet a few hours ago I
dared to think that He had guided me to a haven of rest and
forgetfulness！
〃Have you told the truth to him and to me？〃 said the priest
sternly； 〃or have youa mere political refugeetaken advantage of
an old man's weakness to forge a foolish lie of sentimental
passion？〃
〃What do you mean？〃 said Hurlstone； turning upon him almost
fiercely。
The priest rose； and drawing a folded paper from his bosom； opened
it before the eyes of his indignant guest。
〃Remember what you told me last night in the sacred confidences of
yonder holy church； and hear what you really are from the lips of
the Council of Todos Santos。〃
Smoothing out the paper； he read slowly as follows：
〃Whereas； it being presented to an Emergency Council； held at the
Presidio of Todos Santos； that the foreign barque Excelsior had
mutinied； discharged her captain and passengers； and escaped from
the waters of the bay； it was； on examination； found and decreed
that the said barque was a vessel primarily owned by a foreign
Power； then and there confessed and admitted to be at war with
Mexico and equipped to invade one of her northern provinces。 But
that the God of Liberty and Justice awakening in the breasts of
certain patriotsto wit； the heroic Senor Diego Hurlstone and the
invincible Dona Leonorthe courage and discretion to resist the
tyranny and injustice of their oppressors； caused them to mutiny
and abandon the vessel rather than become accomplices； in the
company of certain neutral and non…combatant traders and artisans；
severally known as Brace； Banks； Winslow； and Crosby； and certain
aristocrats； known as Senoras Brimmer and Chubb。 In consideration
thereof； it is decreed by the Council of Todos Santos that asylum；