the crusade of the excelsior-第40章
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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 Santos may be accounted for
when it is understood that on the day the firm of Hurlstone & Keene
was really begun under the title of Mr。 and Mrs。 Hurlstone； Richard
had prevailed upon the Alcalde to allow him to add the piquant Dona
Isabel also to the firm under the title of Mrs。 Keene。 Although
the port of Todos Santos was henceforth open to all commerce； the
firm of Hurlstone & Keene long retained the monopoly of trade； and
was a recognized power of intelligent civilization and honest
progress on the Pacific coast。 And none contributed more to that
result than the clever and beautiful hostess of Excelsior Lodge；
the charming country home of James Hurlstone； Esq。； senior partner
of the firm。 Under the truly catholic shelter of its veranda Padre
Esteban and the heretic stranger mingled harmoniously； and the
dissensions of local and central Government were forgotten。
〃I said that you were a dama de grandeza； you remember；〃 said the
youthful Mrs。 Keene to Mrs。 Hurlstone； 〃and； you see； you are！〃
End
