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words。 I will fetch you from yonder slope in time for the evening
refection。〃
Hurlstone bowed his head and turned his irresolute feet towards the
upper extremity of the garden； indicated by the priest； which
seemed to offer more seclusion and security than the avenue of
pear…trees。 He was dazed and benumbed。 The old dogged impulses of
self…destructionrevived by the priest's reproaches； but checked
by the vision of his dead and forgotten father； which the priest's
words had called upgave way； in turn； to his former despair。
With it came a craving for peace and rest so insidious that in some
vague fear of yielding to it he quickened his pace； as if to
increase his distance from the church and its apostle。 He was
almost out of breath when he reached the summit； and turned to look
back upon the Mission buildings and the straggling street of the
pueblo； which now for the first time he saw skirted the wall of the
garden in its descent towards the sea。 He had not known the full
extent of Todos Santos before； when he swam ashore he had landed
under a crumbling outwork of the fort； he gazed now with curious
interest over the hamlet that might have been his home。 He looked
over the red…tiled roofs； and further on to the shining bay； shut
in by the impenetrable rampart of fog。 He might have found rest
and oblivion here but for the intrusion of those fellow…passengers
to share his exile and make it intolerable。 How he hated and
loathed them all！ Yet the next moment he found himself
scrutinizing the street and plaza below him for a glimpse of his
countrywomen； whom he knew were still in the town or vainly
endeavoring to locate their habitation among the red…tiled roofs。
And that frank； clear…eyed girlMiss Keene！she who had seemed to
vaguely pity himshe was somewhere here tooselected by the irony
of fate to be his confederate！ He could not help thinking of her
beauty and kindness now； with a vague curiosity that was half an
uneasiness。 It had not struck him before； but if he were to accept
the ridiculous attitude forced upon him by Todos Santos； its
absurdity； as well as its responsibility； would become less odious
by sharing it with another。 Perhaps it might be to HER advantage
and if so； would he be justified in exposing its absurdity？ He
would have to see her firstand if he did； how would he explain
his real position？ A returning wave of bitterness threw him back
into his old despair。
The twilight had slowly gathered over the view as he gazedor；
rather a luminous concentration above the pueblo and bay had left
the outer circle of fog denser and darker。 Emboldened by the
apparent desertion of the Embarcadero； he began to retrace his
steps down the slope； keeping close to the wall so as to avoid
passing before the church again； or a closer contact with the
gardener among the vines。 In this way he reached the path he had
skirted the night before； and stopped almost under the shadow of
the Alcalde's house。 It was here he had rested and hidden；here
he had tasted the first sweets of isolation and oblivion in the
dreamy garden；here he had looked forward to peace with the
passing of the ship；and now？ The sound of voices and laughter
suddenly grated upon his ear。 He had heard those voices before。
Their distinctness startled him until he became aware that he was
standing before a broken； half…rotting door that permitted a
glimpse of the courtyard of the neighboring house。 He glided
quickly past it without pausing； but in that glimpse beheld Mrs。
Brimmer and Miss Chubb half reclining in the corridorin the
attitude he had often seen them on the deck of the shiptalking
and laughing with a group of Mexican gallants。 A feeling of
inconceivable loathing and aversion took possession of him。 Was it
to THIS he was returning after his despairing search for oblivion？
Their empty； idle laughter seemed to ring mockingly in his ears as
he hurried on； scarce knowing whither； until he paused before the
broken cactus hedge and crumbling wall that faced the Embarcadero。
A glance over the hedge showed him that the strip of beach was
deserted。 He looked up the narrow street； it was empty。 A few
rapid strides across it gained him the shadow of the sea…wall of
the Presidio； unchecked and unhindered。 The ebbing tide had left a
foot or two of narrow shingle between the sea and the wall。 He
crept along this until； a hundred yards distant； the sea…wall
reentered inland around a bastion at the entrance of a moat half
filled at high tide by the waters of the bay； but now a ditch of
shallow pools； sand； and debris。 He leaned against the bastion；
and looked over the softly darkening water。
How quiet it looked； and； under that vaporous veil； how profound
and inscrutable！ How easy to slip into its all…embracing arms； and
sink into its yielding bosom； leaving behind no stain； trace； or
record！ A surer oblivion than the Church； which could not absolve
memory； grant forgetfulness； nor even hide the ghastly footprints
of its occupants。 Here was obliteration。 But was he sure of that？
He thought of the body of the murdered Peruvian； laid out at the
feet of the Council by this same fickle and uncertain sea； he
thought of his own distorted face subjected to the cold curiosity
of these aliens or the contemptuous pity of his countrymen。 But
that could be avoided。 It was easy for hima good swimmerto
reach a point far enough out in the channel for the ebbing tides to
carry him past that barrier of fog into the open and obliterating
ocean。 And then； at least； it might seem as if he had attempted to
ESCAPEindeed； if he cared； he might be able to keep afloat until
he was picked up by some passing vessel； bound to a distant land！
The self…delusion pleased him； and seemed to add the clinching
argument to his resolution。 It was not suicide； it was escape
certainly no more than escapehe intended！ And this miserable
sophism of self…apology； the last flashes of expiring conscience；
helped to light up his pale； determined face with satisfaction。 He
began coolly to divest himself of his coat。
What was that？the sound of some dislodged stones splashing in one
of the pools further up！ He glanced hurriedly round the wall of
the bastion。 A figure crouching against the side of the ditch； as
if concealing itself from observation on the glacis above； was
slowly approaching the sea。 Suddenly； when within a hundred yards
of Hurlstone； it turned； crossed the ditch； rapidly mounted its
crumbling sides； and disappeared over the crest。 But in that
hurried glimpse he had recognized Captain Bunker！
The sudden and mysterious apparition of this man produced on
Hurlstone an effect that the most violent opposition could not have
created。 Without a thought of the terrible purpose it had
interrupted； and obeying some stronger instinct that had seized
him； he dashed down into the ditch and up to the crest again after
Captain Bunker。 But he had c