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traveling along the shore； the monotonous chant and jogging motion
gradually dulled her active terror to an apathetic resignation； in
which occasionally her senses seemed to swoon and swim in the
dreamy radiance through which they passed； at times it seemed a
dream or nightmare with which she was hopelessly struggling； at
times she was taking part in an unhallowed pageant； or some heathen
sacrificial procession of which she was the destined victim。
She had no consciousness of how long the hideous journey lasted。
Her benumbed senses were suddenly awakened by a shock； the chant
had ceased； the moving mass in which she was imbedded rolled
forward once more as if by its own elasticity； and then receded
again with a jar that almost unseated her。 Then the inarticulate
murmur was overborne by a voice。 It was HIS！ She turned blindly
towards it； but before she could utter the cry that rose to her
lips； she was again lifted from the saddle； carried forward； and
gently placed upon what seemed to be a moss…grown bank。 Opening
her half swimming eyes she recognized the Indian cross。 The crowd
seemed to recede before her。 Her eyes closed again as a strong arm
passed around her waist。
〃Speak to me； Miss KeeneEleanormy darling！〃 said Hurlstone's
voice。 〃O my God！ they have killed her！〃
With an effort she moved her head and tried to smile。 Their eyes；
and then their lips met； she fainted。
When she struggled to her senses again； she was lying in the stern…
sheets of the Excelsior's boat； supported on Mrs。 Markham's
shoulder。 For an instant the floating veil of fog around her； and
the rhythmical movement of the boat； seemed a part of her
mysterious ride； and she raised her head with a faint cry for
Hurlstone。
〃It's all right； my dear；〃 said Mrs。 Markham； soothingly； 〃he's
ashore with the Padre； and everything else is all right too。 But
it's rather ridiculous to think that those idiotic Indians believed
the only way they could show Mr。 Hurlstone that they meant us no
harm was to drag us all up to THEIR Mission； as they call that half
heathen cross of theirsfor safety againstwho do you think；
dear？the dreadful AMERICANS！ And imagine all the while the Padre
and I were just behind you； bringing up the rear of the procession
only they wouldn't let us join you because they wanted to show you
special honor as〃she sank her voice to a whisper in Eleanor's
ear〃as the future Mrs。 Hurlstone！ It appears they must have
noticed something about you two； the last time you were there； my
dear。 Andto thinkYOU never told me anything about it！〃
When they reached the Excelsior； they found that Mrs。 Brimmer；
having already settled herself in the best cabin； was inclined to
extend the hospitalities of the ship with the air of a hostess。
But the arrival of Hurlstone at midnight with some delegated
authority from Senor Perkins； and the unexpected getting under way
of the ship； disturbed her complacency。
〃We are going through the channel into the bay of Todos Santos；〃
was the brief reply vouchsafed her by Hurlstone。
〃But why can't we remain here and wait for Mr。 Brimmer？〃 she asked
indignantly。
〃Because；〃 responded Hurlstone grimly； 〃the Excelsior is expected
off the Presidio to…morrow morning to aid the insurgents。〃
〃You don't mean to say that Miss Chubb and myself are to be put in
the attitude of arraying ourselves against the constituted
authoritiesand； perhaps； Mr。 Brimmer himself？〃 asked Mrs。
Brimmer； in genuine alarm。
〃It looks so；〃 said Hurlstone； a little maliciously； 〃but； no
doubt； your husband and the Senor will arrange it amicably。〃
To Mrs。 Markham and Miss Keene he explained more satisfactorily
that the unexpected disaffection of the Indians had obliged Perkins
to so far change his plans as to disembark his entire force from
the Excelsior； and leave her with only the complement of men
necessary to navigate her through the channel of Todos Santos；
where she would peacefully await his orders； or receive his men in
case of defeat。
Nevertheless； as the night was nearly spent； Mrs。 Markham and
Eleanor preferred to await the coming day on deck； and watch the
progress of the Excelsior through the mysterious channel。 In a few
moments the barque began to feel the combined influence of the tide
and the slight morning breeze； and； after rounding an invisible
point； she presently rose and fell on the larger ocean swell。 The
pilot； whom Hurlstone recognized as the former third mate of the
Excelsior； appeared to understand the passage perfectly； and even
Hurlstone and the ladies； who had through eight months' experience
become accustomed to the luminous obscurity of Todos Santos； could
detect the faint looming of the headland at the entrance。 The same
soothing silence； even the same lulling of the unseen surf； which
broke in gentle undulations over the bar； and seemed to lift the
barque in rocking buoyancy over the slight obstruction； came back
to them as on the day of their fateful advent。 The low orders of
the pilot； the cry of the leadsman in the chains； were but a part
of the restful past。
Under the combined influence of the hour and the climate； the
conversation fell into monosyllables； and Mrs。 Markham dozed。 The
lovers sat silently together； but the memory of a kiss was between
them。 It spanned the gulf of the past with an airy bridge； over
which their secret thoughts and fancies passed and repassed with a
delicious security； henceforth they could not flee from that
memory； even if they wished； they read it in each other's lightest
glance； they felt it in the passing touch of each other's hands； it
lingered； with vague tenderness； on the most trivial interchange of
thought。 Yet they spoke a little of the future。 Eleanor believed
that her brother would not object to their union； he had spoken of
entering into business at Todos Santos； and perhaps when peace and
security were restored they might live together。 Hurlstone did not
tell her that a brief examination of his wife's papers had shown
him that the property he had set aside for her maintenance； and
from which she had regularly drawn an income； had increased in
value； and left him a rich man。 He only pressed her hand； and
whispered that her wishes should be his。 They had become tenderly
silent again； as the Excelsior； now fairly in the bay； appeared to
be slowly drifting； with listless sails and idle helm； in languid
search of an anchorage。 Suddenly they were startled by a cry from
the lookout。
〃Sail ho！〃
There was an incredulous start on the deck。 The mate sprang into
the fore…rigging with an oath of protestation。 But at the same
moment the tall masts and spars of a vessel suddenly rose like a
phantom out of the fog at their side。 The half disciplined foreign
crew uttered a cry of rage and trepidation； and huddled like sheep
in the waist； with distracted gestures； even the two men at the
wh