友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
热门书库 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

the crusade of the excelsior-第61章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




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
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!