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through the singular； fatuous mist that veiled them。
〃My friend；〃 he said cheerfully； after a moment's pause； 〃you have
just had a providential escape。 I repeat ita most providential
escape。 Indeed； if I were inclined to prophesy； I would say you
were a man reserved for some special good fortune。〃
The prisoner stared at him with angry amazement。
〃You are a confirmed somnambulist。 Excuse me；〃 continued the
Senor； with a soft； deprecating gesture； 〃you are； of course；
unaware of itmost victims of that singular complaint are； or at
least fail to recognize the extent of their aberration。 In your
case it has only been indicated by a profound melancholy and
natural shunning of society。 In a paroxysm of your disorder； you
rise in the night； fully dress yourself； and glide as unconsciously
along the deck in pursuance of some vague fancy。 You pass the
honest but energetic sailor who has just left us； who thinks you
are a phantom； and fails to give the alarm； you are precipitated by
a lurch of the ship through an open hatchway： the shock renders you
insensible until you are discovered and restored。〃
〃And who will believe this pretty story？〃 said the young man
scornfully。
〃The honest sailor who picked you up； who has related it in his own
picturesque tongue to ME； who will in turn interpret it to the
captain and the other passengers；〃 replied Senor Perkins blandly。
〃And what of the two mates who were here？〃 said the prisoner
hesitatingly。
〃They are two competent officers； who are quite content to carry
out the orders of their superiors； and who understand their duty
too well to interfere with the reports of their subordinates； on
which these orders are based。 Mr。 Brooks； the first officer；
though fairly intelligent and a good reader of history； is only
imperfectly acquainted with the languages； and Mr。 M'Carthy's
knowledge of Spanish is confined to a few objurgations which
generally preclude extended conversation。〃
〃And who are you；〃 said Hurlstone； more calmly； 〃who are willing to
do this for a stranger？〃
〃A friendequally of yours； the captain's； and the other
passengers'；〃 replied Senor Perkins pleasantly。 〃A man who
believes you； my dear sir； and； even if he did not； sees no reason
to interrupt the harmony that has obtained in our little community
during our delightful passage。 Were any scandal to occur； were you
to carry out your idea of throwing yourself overboard； it would； to
say nothing of my personal regret； produce a discord for which
there is no necessity； and from which no personal good can be
derived。 Here at least your secret is secure； for even I do not
ask what it is； we meet here on an equality； based on our own
conduct and courtesy to each other； limited by no antecedent
prejudice； and restrained by no thought of the future。 In a little
while we shall be separatedwhy should it not be as friends？ Why
should we not look back upon our little world of this ship as a
happy one？〃
Hurlstone gazed at the speaker with a troubled air。 It was once
more the quaint benevolent figure whom he had vaguely noted among
the other passengers； and as vaguely despised。 He hesitated a
moment； and then； half timidly； half reservedly； extended his hand。
〃I thank you；〃 he said； 〃at least for not asking my secret。
Perhaps； if it was only〃
〃Your ownyou might tell it；〃 interrupted the Senor； gayly。 〃I
understand。 I see you recognize my principle。 There is no
necessity of your putting yourself to that pain； or another to that
risk。 And now； my young friend； time presses。 I must say a word
to our friends above； who are waiting； and I shall see that you are
taken privately to your state…room while most of the other
passengers are still on deck。 If you would permit yourself the
weakness of allowing the steward to carry or assist you it would be
better。 Let me advise you that the excitement of the last three
hours has not left you in your full strength。 You must really give
ME the pleasure of spreading the glad tidings of your safety among
the passengers； who have been so terribly alarmed。〃
〃They will undoubtedly be relieved；〃 said Hurlstone； with ironical
bitterness。
〃You wrong them；〃 returned the Senor； with gentle reproach；
〃especially the ladies。〃
The voice of the first mate from above here checked his further
speech； and； perhaps； prevented him； as he quickly reascended the
upper deck； from noticing the slight embarrassment of his prisoner。
The Senor's explanations to the mate were evidently explicit and
brief。 In a few moments he reappeared with the steward and his
assistant。
〃Lean on these men；〃 he said to Hurlstone significantly； 〃and do
not overestimate your strength。 Thank Heaven； no bones are broken；
and you are only bruised by the fall。 With a little rest； I think
we can get along without laying the captain's medicine…chest under
contribution。 Our kind friend Mr。 Brooks has had the lower deck
cleared； so that you may gain your state…room without alarming the
passengers or fatiguing yourself。〃
He pressed Hurlstone's hand as the latter resigned himself to the
steward； and was half led； half supported； through the gloom of the
lower deck。 Senor Perkins remained for an instant gazing after him
with even more than his usual benevolence。 Suddenly his arm was
touched almost rudely。 He turned； and encountered the lowering
eyes of the Peruvian sailor。
〃And what is to be done for me？〃 said the man roughly； in Spanish。
〃You？〃
〃Yes。 Who's to pay for this？〃 he pointed to his bandaged head。
Without changing his bland expression； Senor Perkins apparently
allowed his soft black eyes to rest； as if fondly； on the angry
pupils of the Peruvian。 The eyes of the latter presently sought
the ground。
〃My dear Yoto；〃 said Senor Perkins softly； 〃I scarcely think that
this question of personal damage can be referred to the State。 I
will； however； look into it。 Meantime； let me advise you to
control your enthusiasm。 Too much zeal in a subordinate is even
more fatal than laxity。 For the rest； son； be vigilantand
peaceful。 Thou hast meant well； much shall beforgiven thee。 For
the present； vamos！〃
He turned on his heel； and ascended to the upper deck。 Here he
found the passengers thrilling with a vague excitement。 A few
brief orders； a few briefer explanations； dropped by the officers；
had already whetted curiosity to the keenest point。 The Senor was
instantly beset with interrogations。 Gentle； compassionate； with
well…rounded periods； he related the singular accident that had
befallen Mr。 Hurlstone； and his providential escape from almost
certain death。 〃At the most； he has now only the exhaustion of the
shock； from which a day of perfect rest will recover him； but；〃 he
added deprecatingly； 〃at present he ought not to be disturbed or
excited。〃
The story was received by those fellow…passengers