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The Crusade of the Excelsior
by Bret Harte
CONTENTS。
PART I。IN BONDS。
CHAPTER I。
A CRUSADER AND A SIGN
CHAPTER II。
ANOTHER PORTENT
CHAPTER III。
〃VIGILANCIA〃
CHAPTER IV。
IN THE FOG
CHAPTER V。
TODOS SANTOS
CHAPTER VI。
〃HAIL AND FAREWELL〃
CHAPTER VII。
THE GENTLE CASTAWAYS
CHAPTER VIII。
IN SANCTUARY
CHAPTER IX。
AN OPEN…AIR PRISON
CHAPTER X。
TODOS SANTOS SOLVES THE MYSTERY
CHAPTER XI。
THE CAPTAIN FOLLOWS HIS SHIP
PART II。FREED。
CHAPTER I。
THE MOURNERS AT SAN FRANCISCO
CHAPTER II。
THE MOURNERS AT TODOS SANTOS
CHAPTER III。
INTERNATIONAL COURTESIES
CHAPTER IV。
A GLEAM OF SUNSHINE
CHAPTER V。
CLOUDS AND CHANGE
CHAPTER VI。
A MORE IMPORTANT ARRIVAL
CHAPTER VII。
THE RETURN OF THE EXCELSIOR
CHAPTER VIII。
HOSTAGE
CHAPTER IX。
LIBERATED
THE CRUSADE OF THE EXCELSIOR
PART I。 IN BONDS。
CHAPTER I。
A CRUSADER AND A SIGN。
It was the 4th of August； 1854； off Cape Corrientes。 Morning was
breaking over a heavy sea； and the closely…reefed topsails of a
barque that ran before it bearing down upon the faint outline of
the Mexican coast。 Already the white peak of Colima showed； ghost…
like； in the east； already the long sweep of the Pacific was
gathering strength and volume as it swept uninterruptedly into the
opening Gulf of California。
As the cold light increased； it could be seen that the vessel
showed evidence of a long voyage and stress of weather。 She had
lost one of her spars； and her starboard davits rolled emptily。
Nevertheless； her rigging was taut and ship…shape； and her decks
scrupulously clean。 Indeed； in that uncertain light； the only
moving figure besides the two motionless shadows at the wheel was
engaged in scrubbing the quarter…deckwhich； with its grated
settees and stacked camp…chairs； seemed to indicate the presence of
cabin passengers。 For the barque Excelsior； from New York to San
Francisco； had discharged the bulk of her cargo at Callao； and had
extended her liberal cabin accommodation to swell the feverish
Californian immigration； still in its height。
Suddenly there was a slight commotion on deck。 An order； issued
from some invisible depth of the cabin； was so unexpected that it
had to be repeated sternly and peremptorily。 A bustle forward
ensued； two or three other shadows sprang up by the bulwarks； then
the two men bent over the wheel； the Excelsior slowly swung round
on her heel； and； with a parting salutation to the coast； bore away
to the northwest and the open sea again。
〃What's up now？〃 growled one of the men at the wheel to his
companion； as they slowly eased up on the helm。
〃'Tain't the skipper's； for he's drunk as a biled owl； and ain't
stirred out of his bunk since eight bells；〃 said the other。 〃It's
the first mate's orders； but； I reckon； it's the Senor's idea。〃
〃Then we ain't goin' on to Mazatlan？〃
〃Not this trip； I reckon；〃 said the third mate； joining them。
〃Why？〃
The third mate turned and pointed to leeward。 The line of coast
had already sunk enough to permit the faint silhouette of a trail
of smoke to define the horizon line of sky。
〃Steamer goin' in； eh？〃
〃Yes。 D'ye seeit might be too hot； in there！〃
〃Then the jig's up？〃
〃No。 Suthin's to be donenorth of St。 Lucas。 Hush！〃
He made a gesture of silence； although the conversation； since he
had joined them； had been carried on in a continuous whisper。 A
figure； evidently a passenger； had appeared on deck。 One or two of
the foreign…looking crew who had drawn near the group； with a
certain undue and irregular familiarity； now slunk away again。
The passenger was a shrewd； exact； rectangular…looking man； who had
evidently never entirely succumbed to the freedom of the sea either
in his appearance or habits。 He had not even his sea legs yet； and
as the barque； with the full swell of the Pacific now on her
weather bow； was plunging uncomfortably； he was fain to cling to
the stanchions。 This did not； however； prevent him from noticing
the change in her position； and captiously resenting it。
〃Look hereyou； I say！ What have we turned round for？ We're
going away from the land！ Ain't we going on to Mazatlan？〃
The two men at the wheel looked silently forward； with that
exasperating unconcern of any landsman's interest peculiar to
marine officials。 The passenger turned impatiently to the third
mate。
〃But this ain't right； you know。 It was understood that we were
going into Mazatlan。 I've got business there。〃
〃My orders； sir；〃 said the mate curtly； turning away。
The practical passenger had been observant enough of sea…going
rules to recognize that this reason was final； and that it was
equally futile to demand an interview with the captain when that
gentleman was not visibly on duty。 He turned angrily to the cabin
again。
〃You look disturbed； my dear Banks。 I trust you haven't slept
badly；〃 said a very gentle voice from the quarter…rail near him；
〃or； perhaps； the ship's going about has upset you。 It's a little
rougher on this tack。〃
〃That's just it；〃 returned Banks sharply。 〃We HAVE gone about； and
we're not going into Mazatlan at all。 It's scandalous！ I'll speak
to the captainI'll complain to the consigneesI've got business
at MazatlanI expect lettersI〃
〃Business； my dear fellow？〃 continued the voice； in gentle protest。
〃You'll have time for business when you get to San Francisco。 And
as for lettersthey'll follow you there soon enough。 Come over
here； my boy； and say hail and farewell to the Mexican coastto
the land of Montezuma and Pizarro。 Come here and see the mountain
range from which Balboa feasted his eyes on the broad Pacific。
Come！〃
The speaker； though apparently more at his ease at sea； was in
dress and appearance fully as unnautical as Banks。 As he leaned
over the railing； his white； close…fitting trousers and small
patent…leather boots gave him a jaunty； half…military air； which
continued up to the second button of his black frock…coat； and then
so utterly changed its character that it was doubtful if a greater
contrast could be conceived than that offered by the widely spread
lapels of his coat； his low turned…down collar； loosely knotted
silk handkerchief； and the round； smooth…shaven； gentle； pacific
face above them。 His straight long black hair； shining as if from
recent immersion； was tucked carefully behind his ears； and hung in
a heavy； even； semicircular fringe around the back of his neck
where his tall hat usually rested； as if to leave his forehead
meekly exposed to celestial criticism。 When he had joined the ship
at Callao； his fellow…passengers； rashly trusting to the momentary
suggestion of his legs on the gang…plank； had pronounced him
military； meeting him later at dinner； they had regarded the mild
Methodistic contour of his breast and shoulders above the table；
and entertained the wild idea of asking him to evoke a blessing。
To complete the confusion of his appearance； he was called 〃Senor〃
Perkins； for no other reason； apparently； than his occasional； but
masterful； use of the Spanish vernacular。
Steadying himself by one of the quarter stanchions； he waved his
right hand oratorically towards the sinking coast。
〃Look at it； sir。 One of the finest countries that ever came from
the hand of the Creator； a land overflowing with milk and honey；
containing； sir； in that one mountain range； the products of the
three zonesand yet the abode of the oppressed and down…trodden；
the land of faction； superstition； tyranny； and political
revolution。〃
〃That's all very well；〃 said Banks irritably； 〃but Mazatlan is a
well…known commercial port； and has English and American
correspondents。 There's a branch of that Boston firmPotter；
Potts & Potterthere。 The new line of steamers is going to stop
there regularly。〃
Senor Perkins' soft black eyes fell for an instant； as if
accidentally； on the third mate； but the next moment he laughed；
and； throwing back his head； inhaled； with evident relish； a long
breath of the sharp； salt air。
〃Ah！〃 he said enthusiastically； 〃THAT'S better than all the
business you can pick up along a malarious coast。 Open your mouth
and try to take in the free breath of the glorious North Pacific。
Ah！ isn't it glorious？〃
〃Where's the captain？〃 said Banks； with despairing irritation。 〃I
want to see him。〃
〃The captain；〃 said Senor Perkins； with a bland； forgiving smile
and a slight lowering of his voice； 〃is； I fear； suffering from an
accident of hospitality； and keeps