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〃For fifty years the Presidio and the Mission of Todos Santos have
had but this communication with the outer world；〃 he said blandly。
〃Hidden by impenetrable fogs from the ocean pathway at their door；
cut off by burning and sterile deserts from the surrounding
country； they have preserved a trust and propagated a faith in
enforced but not unhappy seclusion。 The wars that have shaken
mankind； the dissensions that have even disturbed the serenity of
their own nation on the mainland； have never reached them here。
Left to themselves； they have created a blameless Arcadia and an
ideal community within an extent of twenty square leagues。 Why
should we disturb their innocent complacency and tranquil enjoyment
by information which cannot increase and might impair their present
felicity？ Why should we dwell upon a late political and
international episode which； while it has been a benefit to us； has
been a humiliation to them as a nation； and which might not only
imperil our position as guests； but interrupt our practical
relations to the wood and water； with which the country abounds？〃
He paused； and before the captain could speak； turned to the silent
Commander； addressed him in a dozen phrases of fluent and courteous
Spanish； and once more turned to Captain Bunker。
〃I have told him you are touched to the heart with his courtesy；
which you recognize as coming from the fit representative of the
great Mexican nation。 He reciprocates your fraternal emotion； and
begs you to consider the Presidio and all that it contains； at your
disposition and the disposition of your friendsthe passengers；
particularly those fair ladies；〃 said Senor Perkins； turning with
graceful promptitude towards the group of lady passengers； and
slightly elevating himself on the tips of his neat boots； 〃whose
white hands he kisses； and at whose feet he lays the devotion of a
Mexican caballero and officer。〃
He waved his hand towards the Comandante； who； stepping forward；
swept the deck with his plumed hat before each of the ladies in
solemn succession。 Recovering himself； he bowed more stiffly to
the male passengers； picked his handkerchief out of the hilt of his
sword； gracefully wiped his lips； pulled the end of his long gray
moustache； and became again rigid。
〃The reverend father；〃 continued Senor Perkins； turning towards the
priest； 〃regrets that the rules of his order prevent his extending
the same courtesy to these ladies at the Mission。 But he hopes to
meet them at the Presidio； and they will avail themselves of his
aid and counsel there and everywhere。〃
Father Esteban； following the speaker's words with a gracious and
ready smile； at once moved forward among the passengers； offering
an antique snuff…box to the gentlemen； or passing before the ladies
with slightly uplifted benedictory palms and a caressing paternal
gesture。 Mrs。 Brimmer； having essayed a French sentence； was
delighted and half frightened to receive a response from the
ecclesiastic； and speedily monopolized him until he was summoned by
the Commander to the returning boat。
〃A most accomplished man； my dear；〃 said Mrs。 Brimmer； as the
Excelsior's cannon again thundered after the retiring oars； 〃like
all of his order。 He says； although Don Miguel does not speak
French； that his secretary does； and we shall have no difficulty in
making ourselves understood。〃
〃Then you really intend to go ashore？〃 said Miss Keene timidly。
〃Decidedly；〃 returned Mrs。 Brimmer potentially。 〃It would be most
unpolite； not to say insulting； if we did not accept the
invitation。 You have no idea of the strictness of Spanish
etiquette。 Besides； he may have heard of Mr。 Brimmer。〃
〃As his last information was only up to 1792； he might have
forgotten it；〃 said Crosby gravely。 〃So perhaps it would be safer
to go on the general invitation。〃
〃As Mr。 Brimmer's ancestors came over on the Mayflower； long before
1792； it doesn't seem so very impossible； if it comes to that；〃
said Mrs。 Brimmer； with her usual unanswerable naivete； 〃provided
always that you are not joking； Mr。 Crosby。 One never knows when
you are serious。〃
〃Mrs。 Brimmer is quite right； we must all go。 This is no mere
formality；〃 said Senor Perkins； who had returned to the ladies。
〃Indeed； I have myself promised the Comandante to bring YOU；〃 he
turned towards Miss Keene； 〃if you will permit Mrs。 Markham and
myself to act as your escort。 It was Don Miguel's express
request。〃
A slight flush of pride suffused the cheek of the young girl； but
the next moment she turned diffidently towards Mrs。 Brimmer。
〃We must all go together；〃 she said； 〃shall we not？〃
〃You see your triumphs have begun already；〃 said Brace； with a
nervous smile。 〃You need no longer laugh at me for predicting your
fate in San Francisco。〃
Miss Keene cast a hurried glance around her； in the faint hopeshe
scarcely knew whythat Mr。 Hurlstone had overheard the Senor's
invitation； nor could she tell why she was disappointed at not
seeing him。 But he had not appeared on deck during the presence of
their strange visitors； nor was he in the boat which half an hour
later conveyed her to the shore。 He must have either gone in one
of the other boats； or fulfilled his strange threat of remaining on
the ship。
The boats pulled away together towards the invisible shore； piloted
by Captain Bunker； the first officer； and Senor Perkins in the
foremost boat。 It had grown warmer； and the fog that stole softly
over them touched their faces with the tenderness of caressing
fingers。 Miss Keene； wrapped up in the stern sheets of the boat；
gave way to the dreamy influence of this weird procession through
the water； retaining only perception enough to be conscious of the
singular illusions of the mist that alternately thickened and
lightened before their bow。 At times it seemed as if they were
driving full upon a vast pier or breakwater of cold gray granite；
that； opening to let the foremost boat pass； closed again before
them； at times it seemed as if they had diverged from their course；
and were once more upon the open sea； the horizon a far…off line of
vanishing color； at times； faint lights seemed to pierce the
gathering darkness； or to move like will…o'…wisps across the smooth
surface； when suddenly the keel grated on the sand。 A narrow but
perfectly well defined strip of palpable strand appeared before
them； they could faintly discern the moving lower limbs of figures
whose bodies were still hidden in the mist； then they were lifted
from the boats； the first few steps on dry land carried them out of
the fog that seemed to rise like a sloping roof from the water's
edge； leaving them under its canopy in the full light of actual
torches held by a group of picturesquely dressed people before the
vista of a faintly lit； narrow； ascending street。 The dim twilight
of the closing day lingered under this roof of fog； which seemed to
hang scarcely a hundred feet above them； and showed a wall or
rampart of brown adobe on their right that extended nearly to the
water； to the left； at the distance of a few hundred yards； another
low brown wall appeared； above it rose a fringe of foliage； and；
more distant and indistinct； two white towers； that were lost in
the nebulous gray。
One of the figures dressed in green jackets； who seemed to be in
authority； now advanced； and； after a moment's parley with Senor
Perkins while the Excelsior's passengers were being collected from
the different boats； courteously led the way along the wall of the
fortification。 Presently a low opening or gateway appeared；
followed by the challenge of a green…jacketed sentry； and the
sentence； 〃Dios y Libertad〃 It was repeated in the interior of a
dusky courtyard； surrounded by a low corridor； where a dozen green…
jacketed men of aboriginal type and complexion； carrying antique
flintlocks； were drawn up as a guard of honor。
〃The Comandante；〃 said Senor Perkins； 〃directs me to extend his
apologies to the Senor Capitano Bunker for withholding the salute
which is due alike to his country； himself； and his fair company；
but fifty years of uninterrupted peace and fog have left his cannon
inadequate to polite emergencies； and firmly fixed the tampion of
his saluting gun。 But he places the Presidio at your disposition；
you will be pleased to make its acquaintance while it is still
light； and he will await you in the guard…room。〃
Left to themselves； the party dispersed like dismissed school…
children through the courtyard and corridors； and in the enjoyment
of their release from a month's confinement on shipboard stretched
their cramped limbs over the ditches； walls； and parapets； to the
edge of the glacis。
Everywhere a ruin that was picturesque； a decay that was refined
and gentle； a neglect that was graceful； met the eye； the sharp
exterior and reentering an