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crew uttered a cry of rage and trepidation; and huddled like sheep
in the waist; with distracted gestures; even the two men at the
wheel forsook their post to run in dazed terror to the taffrail。
Before the mate could restore order to this chaos; the Excelsior
had drifted; with a scarcely perceptible concussion; against the
counter of the strange vessel。 In an instant a dozen figures
appeared on its bulwarks; and dropped unimpeded upon the
Excelsior's deck。 As the foremost one approached the mate; the
latter shrank back in consternation。
〃Captain Bunker!〃
〃Yes;〃 said the figure; advancing with a mocking laugh; 〃Captain
Bunker it is。 Captain Bunker; formerly of this American barque
Excelsior; and now of the Mexican ship La Trinidad。 Captain Bunker
ez larnt every foot of that passage in an open boat last August;
and didn't forget it yesterday in a big ship! Captain Bunker ez
has just landed a company of dragoons to relieve the Presidio。
What d'ye say to that; Mr。 M'Carthyeh?〃
〃I say;〃 answered M'Carthy; raising his voice with a desperate
effort to recover his calmness; 〃I say that Perkins landed with
double that number of men yesterday around that point; and that
he'll be aboard here in half an hour to make you answer for this
insult to his ship and his Government。〃
〃His Government!〃 echoed Bunker; with a hoarser laugh; 〃hear him!
HIS Government! His Government died at four o'clock this morning;
when his own ringleaders gave him up to the authorities。 Ha! Why;
this yer revolution is played out; old man; and Generalissimo
Leonidas Perkins is locked up in the Presidio。〃
CHAPTER IX。
LIBERATED。
The revolution was; indeed; ended。 The unexpected arrival of a
relieving garrison in the bay of Todos Santos had completed what
the dissensions in the insurgents' councils had begun; the
discontents; led by Brace and Winslow; had united with the
Government against Perkins and his aliens; but a compromise had
been effected by the treacherous giving up of the Liberator himself
in return for an amnesty granted to his followers。 The part that
Bunker had played in bringing about this moral catastrophe was;
however; purely adventitious。 When he had recovered his health;
and subsequent events had corroborated the truth of his story; the
Mexican Government; who had compromised with Quinquinambo; was
obliged to recognize his claims by offering him command of the
missionary ship; and permission to rediscover the channel; the
secret of which had been lost for half a century to the Government。
He had arrived at the crucial moment when Perkins' command were
scattered along the seashore; and the dragoons had invested Todos
Santos without opposition。
Such was the story substantially told to Hurlstone and confirmed on
his debarkation with the ladies at Todos Santos; the Excelsior
being now in the hands of the authorities。 Hurlstone did not
hesitate to express to Padre Esteban his disgust at the treachery
which had made a scapegoat of Senor Perkins。 But to his surprise
the cautious priest only shrugged his shoulders as he took a
complacent pinch of snuff。
〃Have a care; Diego! You are of necessity grateful to this man for
the news he has broughtnay; more; for possibly being the
instrument elected by Providence to precipitate the denouement of
that miserable woman's lifebut let it not close your eyes to his
infamous political career。 I admit that he was opposed to the
revolt of the heathen against us; but it was his emissaries and his
doctrines that poisoned with heresy the fountains from which they
drank。 Enough! Be grateful! but do not expect ME to intercede for
Baal and Ashtaroth!〃
〃Intercede!〃 echoed Hurlstone; alarmed at the sudden sacerdotal
hardness that had overspread the old priest's face。 〃Surely the
Council will not be severe with the man who was betrayed into their
power by others equally guilty?〃
Padre Esteban avoided Hurlstone's eyes as he answered with affected
coolness;〃Quien sabe? There will be expulsados; no doubt。 The
Excelsior; which is confiscated; will be sent to Mexico with them。〃
〃I must see Senor Perkins;〃 said Hurlstone suddenly。
The priest hesitated。
〃When?〃 he asked cautiously。
〃At once。〃
〃Good。〃 He wrote a hurried line on a piece of paper; folded it;
sealed it; and gave it to Hurlstone。 〃You will hand that to the
Comandante。 He will give you access to the prisoner。〃
In less than half an hour Hurlstone presented himself before the
Commander。 The events of the last twenty…four hours had evidently
affected Don Miguel; for although he received Hurlstone courteously;
there was a singular reflection of the priest's harshness in his
face as he glanced over the missive。 He took out his watch。
〃I give you ten minutes with the prisoner; Don Diego。 More; I
cannot。〃
A little awed by the manner of the Commander; Hurlstone bowed and
followed him across the courtyard。 It was filled with soldiers;
and near the gateway a double file of dragoons; with loaded
carbines; were standing at ease。 Two sentries were ranged on each
side of an open door which gave upon the courtyard。 The Commander
paused before it; and with a gesture invited him to enter。 It was
a large square apartment; lighted only by the open door and a
grated enclosure above it。 Seated in his shirtsleeves; before a
rude table; Senor Perkins was quietly writing。 The shadow of
Hurlstone's figure falling across his paper caused him to look up。
Whatever anxiety Hurlstone had begun to feel; it was quickly
dissipated by the hearty; affable; and even happy greeting of the
prisoner。
〃Ah! what! my young friend Hurlstone! Again an unexpected
pleasure;〃 he said; extending his white hands。 〃And again you find
me wooing the Muse; in; I fear; hesitating numbers。〃 He pointed to
the sheet of paper before him; which showed some attempts at
versification。 〃But I confess to a singular fascination in the
exercise of poetic composition; in instants of leisure like thisa
fascination which; as a man of imagination yourself; you can
appreciate。〃
〃And I am sorry to find you here; Senor Perkins;〃 began Hurlstone
frankly; 〃but I believe it will not be for long。〃
〃My opinion;〃 said the Senor; with a glance of gentle contemplation
at the distant Comandante; 〃as far as I may express it; coincides
with your own。〃
〃I have come;〃 continued Hurlstone earnestly; 〃to offer you my
services。 I am ready;〃 he raised his voice; with a view of being
overheard; 〃to bear testimony that you had no complicity in the
baser part of the late conspiracy;the revolt of the savages; and
that you did your best to counteract the evil; although in doing so
you have sacrificed yourself。 I shall claim the right to speak
from my own knowledge of the Indians and from their admission to me
that they were led away by the vague representations of Martinez;
Brace; and Wi