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！
that they were led away by the vague representations of Martinez；
Brace； and Winslow。〃
〃Pardonpardon me；〃 said Senor Perkins deprecatingly； 〃you are
mistaken。 My general instructions； no doubt； justified these young
gentlemen in taking； I shall not say extreme； but injudicious
measures。〃 He glanced meaningly in the direction of the Commander；
as if to warn Hurlstone from continuing； and said gently； 〃But let
us talk of something else。 I thank you for your gracious
intentions； but you remember that we agreed only yesterday that you
knew nothing of politics； and did not concern yourself with them。
I do not know but you are wise。 Politics and the science of self…
government； although dealing with general principles； are apt to be
defined by the individual limitations of the enthusiast。 What is
good for HIMSELF he too often deems is applicable to the general
public； instead of wisely understanding that what is good for THEM
must be good for himself。 But；〃 said the Senor lightly； 〃we are
again transgressing。 We were to choose another topic。 Let it be
yourself； Mr。 Hurlstone。 You are looking well； sir； indeed； I may
say I never saw you looking so well！ Let me congratulate you。
Health is the right of youth。 May you keep both！〃
He shook Hurlstone's hand again with singular fervor。
There was a slight bustle and commotion at the door of the guard…
room； and the Commander's attention was called in that direction。
Hurlstone profited by the opportunity to say in a hurried whisper：
〃Tell me what I can do for you；〃 and he hesitated to voice his
renewed uneasiness〃tell me ififif your case isurgent！〃
Senor Perkins lifted his shoulders and smiled with grateful
benevolence。
〃You have already promised me to deliver those papers and
manuscripts of my deceased friend； and to endeavor to find her
relations。 I do not think it is urgent； however。〃
〃I do not mean that；〃 said Hurlstone eagerly。 〃I〃but Perkins
stopped him with a sign that the Commander was returning。
Don Miguel approached them with disturbed and anxious looks。
〃I have yielded to the persuasions of two ladies； Dona Leonor and
the Senora Markham； to ask you to see them for a moment；〃 he said
to Senor Perkins。 〃Shall it be so？ I have told them the hour is
nearly spent。〃
〃You have told themNOTHING MORE？〃 asked the Senor； in a whisper
unheard by Hurlstone。
〃No。〃
〃Let them come； then。〃
The Commander made a gesture to the sentries at the guard…room； who
drew back to allow Mrs。 Markham and Eleanor to pass。 A little
child； one of Eleanor's old Presidio pupils； who； recognizing her；
had followed her into the guard…room； now emerged with her； and
momentarily disconcerted at the presence of the Commander； ran；
with the unerring instinct of childhood； to the Senor for
protection。 The filibuster smiled； and lifting the child with a
paternal gesture to his shoulder by one hand； he extended the other
to the ladies。
〃The Commander；〃 said Mrs。 Markham briskly； 〃says it's against the
rules； that visiting time is up； and you've already got a friend
with you； and all that sort of thing； but I told him that I was
bound to see you； if only to say that if there's any meanness going
on； Susannah and James Markham ain't in it！ No！ But we're going
to see you put right and square in the matter； and if we can't do
it here； we'll do it； if we have to follow you to Mexico！that's
all！〃
〃And I；〃 said Eleanor； grasping the Senor's hand； and half blushing
as she glanced at Hurlstone； 〃see that I have already a friend here
who will help me to put in action all the sympathy I feel。〃
Senor Perkins drew himself up； and cast a faint look of pride
towards the Commander。
〃To HEAR such assurances from beautiful and eloquent lips like
those before me；〃 he said； with his old oratorical wave of the
hand； but a passing shadow across his mild eyes； 〃is more than
sufficient。 In my experience of life I have been favored； at
various emergencies； by the sympathy and outspoken counsel of your
noble sex； the last time by Mrs。 Euphemia M'Corkle； of Peoria；
Illinois； a lady of whom you have heard me speakalas！ now lately
deceased。 A few lines at present lying on yonder tablea tribute
to her geniuswill be forwarded to you； dear Mrs。 Markham。 But
let us change the theme。 You are looking welland you； too； Miss
Keene。 From the roses that bloom on your cheeksnourished by the
humid air of Todos SantosI am gratified in thinking you have
forgiven me your enforced detention here。〃
At a gesture from the Commander he ceased； stepped back； bowed
gravely； and the ladies recognized that their brief audience had
terminated。 As they passed through the gateway； looking back they
saw Perkins still standing with the child on his shoulder and
smiling affably upon them。 Then the two massive doors of the
gateway swung to with a crash； the bolts were shot； and the
courtyard was impenetrable。
。 。 。 。 。 。
A few moments later； the three friends had passed the outermost
angle of the fortifications； and were descending towards the beach。
By the time they had reached the sands they had fallen into a vague
silence。
A noise like the cracking and fall of some slight scaffolding
behind them arrested their attention。 Hurlstone turned quickly。 A
light smoke； drifting from the courtyard； was mingling with the
fog。 A faint cry of 〃Dios y Libertad！〃 rose with it。
With a hurried excuse to his companions； Hurlstone ran rapidly
back； and reached the gate as it slowly rolled upon its hinges to a
file of men that issued from the courtyard。 The first object that
met his eyes was the hat of Senor Perkins lying on the ground near
the wall； with a terrible suggestion in its helpless and pathetic
vacuity。 A few paces further lay its late owner； with twenty
Mexican bullets in his breast； his benevolent forehead bared meekly
to the sky； as if even then mutely appealing to the higher
judgment。 He was dead！ The soul of the Liberator of Quinquinambo；
and of various other peoples more or less distressed and more or
less ungrateful； was itself liberated！
。 。 。 。 。 。
With the death of Senor Perkins ended the Crusade of the Excelsior。
Under charge of Captain Bunker the vessel was sent to Mazatlan by
the authorities； bearing the banished and proscribed Americans；
Banks； Brace； Winslow； and Crosby； and； by permission of the
Council； also their friends； Markham and Brimmer； and the ladies；
Mrs。 Brimmer； Chubb； and Markham。 Hurlstone and Miss Keene alone
were invited to remain； but； on later representations； the Council
graciously included Richard Keene in the invitation； with the
concession of the right to work the mines and control the ranches
he and Hurlstone had purchased from their proscribed countrymen。
The complacency of the Council of Todos Santo