the crusade of the excelsior-第36章

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〃Dirge；〃　had　been　crossed　out　for　the　substituted　〃In　Memoriam。〃

He　read　carelessly：





　　　　　〃O　Muse　unmetbut　not　unwept

　　　　　　　　I　seek　thy　sacred　haunt　in　vain。

　　　　　　Too　late；　alas！　the　tryst　is　kept

　　　　　　　　We　may　not　meet　again！



　　　　　〃I　sought　thee　'midst　the　orange　bloom；

　　　　　　　　To　find　that　thou　hadst　grasped　the　palm

　　　　　　Of　martyr；　and　the　silent　tomb

　　　　　　　　Had　hid　thee　in　its　calm。



　　　　　〃By　fever　racked；　thou　languishest

　　　　　　　　On　Nicaragua's〃





Hurlstone　threw　the　paper　aside。　　Although　he　had　not　forgotten　the

Senor's　reputation　for　sentimental　extravagance；　and　on　another

occasion　might　have　laughed　at　it；　there　was　something　so　monstrous

in　this　hysterical；　morbid　composition　of　the　man　who　was　even　then

contemplating　bloodshed　and　crime；　that　he　was　disgusted。　　Like

most　sentimental　egotists；　Hurlstone　was　exceedingly　intolerant　of

that　quality　in　others；　and　he　turned　for　relief　to　his　own

thoughts　of　Eleanor　Keene　and　his　own　unfortunate　passion。　　HE

could　not　have　written　poetry　at　such　a　moment！



But　the　cabin…door　opened；　and　Senor　Perkins　appeared。　　Whatever

might　have　been　the　excited　condition　of　his　unknown　visitor；　the

Senor's　round；　clean…shaven　face　was　smiling　and　undisturbed　by

emotion。　　As　his　eye　fell　on　the　page　of　manuscript　Hurlstone　had

just　cast　down；　a　slight　shadow　crossed　his　beneficent　expanse　of

forehead；　and　deepened　in　his　soft　dark　eyes；　but　the　next　moment

it　was　chased　away　by　his　quick　recurring　smile。　　Even　thus

transient　and　superficial　was　his　feeling；　thought　Hurlstone。



〃I　have　some　news　for　you；〃　said　Perkins　affably；　〃which　may　alter

your　decision　about　returning。　　My　friends　ashore；〃　he　continued；

〃judging　from　the　ingenuous　specimen　which　has　just　visited　me；　are

more　remarkable　for　their　temporary　zeal　and　spasmodic　devotion

than　for　prudent　reserve　or　lasting　discretion。　　They　have

submitted　a　list　to　me　of　those　whom　they　consider　dangerous　to

Mexican　liberty；　and　whom　they　are　desirous　of　hanging。　　I　regret

to　say　that　the　list　is　illogical；　and　the　request　inopportune。

Our　friend　Mr。　Banks　is　put　down　as　an　ally　of　the　Government　and

an　objectionable　business　rival　of　that　eminent　patriot　and　well…

known　drover；　Senor　Martinez；　who　just　called　upon　me。　　Mr。

Crosby's　humor　is　considered　subversive　of　a　proper　respect　for　all

patriotism；　but　I　cannot　understand　why　they　have　added　YOUR　name

as　especially　'dangerous。'〃



Hurlstone　made　a　gesture　of　contempt。



〃I　suppose　they　pay　me　the　respect　of　considering　me　a　friend　of

the　old　priest。　　So　be　it！　　I　hope　they　will　let　the　responsibility

fall　on　me　alone。〃



〃The　Padre　is　already　proscribed　as　one　of　the　Council；〃　said　Senor

Perkins　quietly。



〃Do　you　mean　to　say；〃　said　Hurlstone　impetuously；　〃that　you　will

permit　a　hair　of　that　innocent　old　man's　head　to　be　harmed　by　those

wretches？〃



〃You　are　generous　but　hasty；　my　friend；〃　said　Senor　Perkins；　in

gentle　deprecation。　　〃Allow　me　to　put　your　question　in　another　way。

Ask　me　if　I　intend　to　perpetuate　the　Catholic　Church　in　Todos

Santos　by　adding　another　martyr　to　its　roll；　and　I　will　tell　you

No！　　I　need　not　say　that　I　am　equally　opposed　to　any　proceedings

against　Banks；　Crosby；　and　yourself；　for　diplomatic　reasons；　apart

from　the　kindly　memories　of　our　old　associations　on　this　ship。　　I

have　therefore　been　obliged　to　return　to　the　excellent　Martinez　his

little　list；　with　the　remark　that　I　should　hold　HIM　personally

responsible　if　any　of　you　are　molested。　　There　is；　however；　no

danger。　　Messrs。　Banks　and　Crosby　are　with　the　other　Americans；

whom　we　have　guaranteed　to　protect；　at　the　Mission；　in　the　care　of

your　friend　the　Padre。　　You　are　surprised！　　Equally　so　was　the

Padre。　　Had　you　delayed　your　departure　an　hour　you　would　have　met

them；　and　I　should　have　been　debarred　the　pleasure　of　your　company。



〃By　to…morrow；〃　continued　Perkins；　placing　the　tips　of　his　fingers

together　reflectively；　〃the　Government　of　Todos　Santos　will　have

changed　hands；　and　without　bloodshed。　　You　look　incredulous！　　My

dear　young　friend；　it　has　been　a　part　of　my　professional　pride　to

show　the　world　that　these　revolutions　can　be　accomplished　as

peacefully　as　our　own　changes　of　administration。　　But　for　a　few

infelicitous　accidents；　this　would　have　been　the　case　of　the　late

liberation　of　Quinquinambo。　　The　only　risk　run　is　to　myselfthe

leader；　and　that　is　as　it　should　be。　　But　all　this　personal

explanation　is；　doubtless；　uninteresting　to　you；　my　young　friend。

I　meant　only　to　say　that；　if　you　prefer　not　to　remain　here；　you　can

accompany　me　when　I　leave　the　ship　at　nine　o'clock　with　a　small

reconnoitring　party；　and　I　will　give　you　safe　escort　back　to　your

friends　at　the　Mission。〃



This　amicable　proposition　produced　a　sudden　revulsion　of　feeling　in

Hurlstone。　　To　return　to　those　people　from　whom　he　was　fleeing；　in

what　was　scarcely　yet　a　serious　emergency；　was　not　to　be　thought

of！　　Yet；　where　could　he　go？　　How　could　he　be　near　enough　to　assist

HER　without　again　openly　casting　his　lot　among　them？　　And　would

they　not　consider　his　return　an　act　of　cowardice？　　He　could　not

restrain　a　gesture　of　irritation　as　he　rose　impatiently　to　his

feet。



〃You　are　agitated；　my　dear　fellow。　　It　is　not　unworthy　of　your

youth；　but；　believe　me；　it　is　unnecessary；〃　said　Perkins；　in　his

most　soothing　manner。　　〃Sit　down。　　You　have　an　hour　yet　to　make

your　decision。　　If　you　prefer　to　remain；　you　will　accompany　the

ship　to　Todos　Santos　and　join　me。〃



〃I　don't　comprehend　you；〃　interrupted　Hurlstone　suspiciously。



〃I　forgot；〃　said　Perkins；　with　a　bland　smile；　〃that　you　are　unaware

of　our　plan　of　campaign。　　After　communicating　with　the　insurgents；

I　land　here　with　a　small　force　to　assist　them。　　I　do　this　to

anticipate　any　action　and　prevent　the　interference　of　the　Mexican

coaster；　now　due；　which　always　touches　here　through　ignorance　of

the　channel　leading　to　the　Bay　of　Todos　Santos　and　the　Presidio。　　I

then　send　the　Excelsior；　that　does　know　the　channel；　to　Todos

Santos；　to　appear　before　the　Presidio；　take　the　enemy　in　flank；　and

cooperate　with　us。　　The　arrival　of　the　Excelsior　there　is　the　last

move　of　this　little　game；　if　I　may　so　call　it：　it　is　'checkmate　to

the　King；'　the　clerical　Government　of　Todos　Santos。〃



A　little　impressed；　in　spite　of　himself；　with　the　calm　forethought

and　masterful　security　of　the　Senor；　Hurlstone　thanked　him　with　a

greater　show　of　respect　than　he　had　hitherto　evinced。　　The　Senor

looked　gratified；　but　unfortunately　placed　that　respect　the　next

moment　in　peril。



〃You　were　possibly　glancing　over　these　verses；〃　he　said；　with　a

hesitating　and　almost　awkward　diffidence；　indicating　the　manuscript

Hurlstone　had　just　thrown　aside。　　〃It　is　merely　the　first　rough

draft　of　a　little　tribute　I　had　begun　to　a　charming　friend。　　I

sometimes；〃　he　interpolated；　with　an　apologetic　smile；　〃trifle　with

the　Muse。　　Perhaps　I　ought　not　to　use　the　word　'trifle'　in

connection　with　a　composition　of　a　threnodial　and　dirge…like

character；〃　he　continued　deprecatingly。　　〃Certainly　not　in　the

presence　of　a　gentleman　as　accomplished　and　educated　as　yourself；

to　whom　recreation　of　this　kind　is　undoubtedly　familiar。　　My

occupations　have　been；　unfortunately；　of　a　nature　not　favorable　to

the　indulgence　of　verse。　　As　a　college　man　yourself；　my　dear　sir；

you　will　probably　forgive　the　lucubrations　of　an　old　graduate　of

William　and　Mary's；　who　has　forgotten　his　'ars　poetica。'　　The

verses　you　have　possibly　glanced　at　are　crude；　I　am　aware；　and

perhaps　show　the　difficulty　of　expressing　at　once　the　dictates　of

the　heart　and　the　brain。　　They　refer　to　a　dear　friend　now　at　peace。

You　have　perhaps；　in　happier　and　more　careless　hours；　heard　me

speak　of　Mrs。　Euphemia　M'Corkle；　of　Illinois？〃



Hurlstone　remembered　indistinctly　to　have　heard；　even　in　his

reserved　exclusiveness　on　the　Excelsior；　the　current　badinage　of

the　passengers　concerning　Senor　Perkins'　extravagant　adulation　of

this　unknown　poetess。　　As　a　part　of　the　staple　monotonous　humor　of

the　voyage；　it　had　only　disgusted　him。　　With　a　feeling　that　he　was

unconsciously　sharing　the　burlesque　relief　of　the　passengers；　he

said；　with　a　polite　attempt　at　interest；



〃Then　the　lady　isno　more？〃



〃If　that　term　can　be　applied　to　one　whose　work　is　immortal；〃

corrected　Senor　Perkins　gently。　　〃All　that　was　finite　of　this

gifted　woman　was　lately　forwarded　by　Adams's　Express　Company　from

San　Juan；　to　receive　sepulture　among　her　kindred　at　Keokuk；　Iowa。〃



〃Did　she　say　she　was　from　that　place？〃　asked　Hurlstone；　with　half

automatic　interest。



〃The　Consul　says　she　gave　that　request　to　the　priest。〃



〃Then　you　were　not　with　her　when　she　died？〃　said　Hurlstone

absently。



〃I　was　NEVER　with　her；　neither　then　nor　before；〃　returned　Senor

Perkins　gravely。　　Seeing　Hurlstone's　momentary　surprise；　he　went

on；　〃The　late　Mrs。　M'Corkle　and　I　never　metwe　were　personally

unknown　to　each　other。　　You　may　have　observed　the　epithet　'unmet'

in　the　first　line　of　the　first　stanza；　you　will　then　understand

that　the　privation　of　actual　contact　with　this　magnetic　soul　would

naturally　impart　more　difficulty　into　elegiac　expression。〃



〃Then　you　never　really　saw　the　lady　you　admire？〃　said　Hurlstone

vacantly。



〃Never。　　The　story　is　a　romantic　one；〃　said　Perkins；　with　a　smile

that　was　half　complacent　and　yet　half　embarrassed。　　〃May　I　tell　it

to　you？　　Thanks。　　Some　three　years　ago　I　contributed　some　verses　to

the　columns　of　a　Western　paper　edited　by　a　friend　of　mine。　　The

subject　chosen　was　my　favorite　one；　'The　Liberation　of　Mankind；'　in

which　I　may　possibly　have　expressed　myself　with　some　poetic　fervor

on　a　theme　so　dear　to　my　heart。　　I　may　remark　without　vanity；　that

it　received　high　encomiumsperhaps　at　some　more　opportune　moment

you　may　be　induced　to　cast　your　eyes　over　a　copy　I　still　retain

but　no　praise　touched　me　as　deeply　as　a　tribute　in　verse　in　another

journal　from　a　gifted　unknown；　who　signed　herself　'Euphemia。'　　The

subject　of　the　poem；　which　was　dedicated　to　myself；　was　on　the

liberation　of　womenfromerI　may　say　certain　domestic　shackles；

treated　perhaps　vaguely；　but　with　grace　and　vigor。　　I　replied　a

week　later　in　a　larger　poem；　recording　more　fully　my　theories　and

aspirations　regarding　a　struggling　Central　American　confederacy；

addressed　to　'Euphemia。'　　She　rejoined　with　equal　elaboration　and

detail；　referring　to　a　more　definite　form　of　tyranny　in　the

relations　of　marriage；　and　alluding　with　some　feeling　to

uncongenial　experiences　of　her　own。　　An　instinct　of　natural

delicacy；　veiled　under　the　hyperbole　of　'want　of　space；'　prevented

my　editorial　friend　from　encouraging　the　repetition　of　this

charming　interchange　of　thought　and　feeling。　　But　I　procured　the

fair　stranger's　address；　we　began　a　correspondence；　at　once

imaginative　and　sympa