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spiritual challenge from the vast and intangible void around them
had scarcely subsided when the captain turned to Senor Perkins with
a look of surly interrogation。 The Senor brushed his hat further
back on his head； wiped his brow； and became thoughtful。
〃It's too far south for Rosario；〃 he said deprecatingly； 〃and the
only other mission I know of is San Carlos； and that's far inland。
But that is the Angelus； and those are mission bells； surely。〃
The captain turned to Mr。 Brooks。 The voice of invisible command
again passed along the deck； and； with a splash in the water and
the rattling of chains； the Excelsior swung slowly round on her
anchor on the bosom of what seemed a placid bay。
Miss Keene； who； in her complete absorption； had listened to the
phantom bells with an almost superstitious exaltation； had
forgotten the presence of her companion； and now turned towards
him。 But he was gone。 The imminent danger he had spoken of； half
slightingly； he evidently considered as past。 He had taken the
opportunity offered by the slight bustle made by the lowering of
the quarter…boat and the departure of the mate on a voyage of
discovery to mingle with the crowd； and regain his state…room。
With the anchoring of the vessel； the momentary restraint was
relaxed； the passengers were allowed to pervade the deck； and Mrs。
Markham and Mr。 Brace simultaneously rushed to Miss Keene's side。
〃We were awfully alarmed for you； my dear；〃 said Mrs。 Markham；
〃until we saw you had a protector。 Do tell mewhat DID he say？
He must have thought the danger great to have broken the Senor's
orders and come upon deck？ What did he talk about？〃
With a vivid recollection in her mind of Mr。 Hurlstone's
contemptuous ignoring of the other ladies； Miss Keene became
slightly embarrassed。 Her confusion was not removed by the
consciousness that the jealous eyes of Brace were fixed upon her。
〃Perhaps he thought it was night； and walked upon deck in his
sleep；〃 remarked Brace sarcastically。 〃He's probably gone back to
bed。〃
〃He offered me his protection very politely； and begged to remain
to put me in the boat in case of danger；〃 said Miss Keene；
recovering herself； and directing her reply to Mrs。 Markham。 〃I
think that others have made me the same kind of offerwho were
wide awake；〃 she added mischievously to Brace。
〃I wouldn't be too sure that they were not foolishly dreaming too；〃
returned Brace； in a lower voice。
〃I should think we all were asleep or dreaming here；〃 said Mrs。
Markham briskly。 〃Nobody seems to know where we are； and the only
man who might guess itSenor Perkinshas gone off in the boat
with the mate。〃
〃We're not a mile from shore and a Catholic church；〃 said Crosby；
who had joined them。 〃I just left Mrs。 Brimmer； who is very High
Church； you know； quite overcome by these Angelus bells。 She's
been entreating the captain to let her go ashore for vespers。 It
wouldn't be a bad idea； if we could only see what sort of a place
we've got to。 It wouldn't do to go feeling round the settlement in
the darkwould it？ Hallo！ what's that？ Oh； by Jove； that'll
finish Mrs。 Brimmer； sure！〃
〃Hush！〃 said Miss Keene impulsively。
He stopped。 The long…drawn cadence of a chant in thin clear
soprano voices swept through the fog from the invisible shore； rose
high above the ship； and then fell； dying away with immeasurable
sweetness and melancholy。 Even when it had passed； a lingering
melody seemed to fill the deck。 Two or three of the foreign
sailors crossed themselves devoutly； the other passengers withheld
their speech； and looked at each other。 Afraid to break the charm
by speech； they listened again； but in vain an infinite repose
followed that seemed to pervade everything。
It was broken； at last； by the sound of oars in their rowlocks； the
boat was returning。 But it was noticed that the fog had slightly
lifted from the surface of the water； for the boat was distinctly
visible two cables' length from the ship as she approached； and it
was seen that besides the first officer and Senor Perkins there
were two strangers in the boat。 Everybody rushed to the side for a
nearer view of those strange inhabitants of the unknown shore； but
the boat's crew suddenly ceased rowing； and lay on their oars until
an indistinct hail and reply passed between the boat and ship。
There was a bustle forward； an unexpected thunder from the
Excelsior's eight…pounder at the bow port； Captain Bunker and the
second mate ranged themselves at the companionway； and the
passengers for the first time became aware that they were
participating at the reception of visitors of distinction； as two
strange and bizarre figures stepped upon the deck。
CHAPTER V。
TODOS SANTOS。
It was evident that the two strangers represented some exalted
military and ecclesiastical authority。 This was shown in their
dressa long…forgotten； half mediaeval costume； that to the
imaginative spectator was perfectly in keeping with their
mysterious advent； and to the more practical as startling as a
masquerade。 The foremost figure wore a broad…brimmed hat of soft
felt； with tarnished gold lace； and a dark feather tucked in its
recurved flap； a short cloak of fine black cloth thrown over one
shoulder left a buff leathern jacket and breeches； ornamented with
large round silver buttons； exposed until they were met by high
boots of untanned yellow buckskin that reached halfway up the
thigh。 A broad baldric of green silk hung from his shoulder across
his breast； and supported at his side a long sword with an enormous
basket hilt； through which somewhat coquettishly peeped a white
lace handkerchief。 Tall and erect； in spite of the grizzled hair
and iron…gray moustaches and wrinkled face of a man of sixty； he
suddenly halted on the deck with a military precision that made the
jingling chains and bits of silver on his enormous spurs ring
again。 He was followed by an ecclesiastic of apparently his own
age； but smoothly shaven； clad in a black silk sotana and sash； and
wearing the old…fashioned oblong； curl…brimmed hat sacred to 〃Don
Basilo；〃 of the modern opera。 Behind him appeared the genial face
of Senor Perkins； shining with the benignant courtesy of a master
of ceremonies。
〃If this is a fair sample of the circus ashore； I'll take two
tickets；〃 whispered Crosby； who had recovered his audacity。
〃I have the inexpressible honor；〃 said Senor Perkins to Captain
Bunker； with a gracious wave of his hand towards the extraordinary
figures； 〃to present you to the illustrious Don Miguel Briones；
Comandante of the Presidio of Todos Santos； at present hidden in
the fog； and the very reverend and pious Padre Esteban； of the
Mission of Todos Santos； likewise invisible。 When I state to you；〃
he continued； with a slight lifting of his voice； so as to include
the curious passengers in his explanation； 〃that； with very few
exceptions； this is the usual condition of the atmosphere at the
entrance to the Mission and Presidio of Todos Santos； and that the
last exception took place thirty…five years ago； when a ship
entered the harbor； you will understand why these distinguished
gentlemen have been willing to waive the formality of your waiting
upon them first； and have taken the initiative。 The illustrious
Comandante has been generous to exempt you from the usual port
regulations； and to permit you to wood and to water〃
〃What port regulation is he talking of？〃 asked Captain Bunker
testily。
〃The Mexican regulations forbidding any foreign vessel to
communicate with the shore；〃 returned Senor Perkins deprecatingly。
〃Never heard of 'em。 When were they given？〃
The Senor turned and addressed a few words to the commander； who
stood apart in silent dignity。
〃In 1792。〃
〃In what？Is he mad？〃 said Bunker。 〃Does he know what year this
is？〃
〃The illustrious commander believes it to be the year of grace
1854；〃 answered Senor Perkins quietly。 〃In the case of the only
two vessels who have touched here since 1792 the order was not
carried out because they were Mexican coasters。 The illustrious
Comandante explains that the order he speaks of as on record
distinctly referred to the ship 'Columbia； which belonged to the
General Washington。'〃
〃General Washington！〃 echoed Bunker； angrily staring at the Senor。
〃What's this stuff？ Do you mean to say they don't know any history
later than our old Revolutionary War？ Haven't they heard of the
United States among them？ Nor Californiathat we took from them
during the late war？〃
〃Nor how we licked 'em out of their boots； and that's saying a good
deal；〃 whispered Crosby； glancing at the Comandante's feet。
Senor Perkins raised a gentle； deprecating hand。
〃For fifty years the Presidio and the Mission of Todos Santos have
had but this communication with the outer world；〃