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said Mrs。 Markham。 〃They've forgotten nothing。〃
〃But you are a captive！〃 said Eleanor。 〃What does it mean？〃
〃Nothing； my dear。 I gave them a piece of my mind；〃 said Mrs。
Markham； looking； however； as if that mental offering had by no
means exhausted her capital； 〃and I have written six pages to the
Governor at Mazatlan； and a full account to Mr。 Markham。〃
〃And they won't get them in thirty years！〃 said Miss Keene
impetuously。 〃But where is this letter from Senor Perkins。 And；
for Heaven's sake； tell me if you had the least suspicion before of
anything that has happened。〃
〃Not in the least。 The man is mad； my dear； and I really believe
driven so by that absurd Illinois woman's poetry。 Did you ever see
anything so ridiculousand shameful； tooas the 'Ulricardo'
business？ I don't wonder he colored so。〃
Miss Keene winced with annoyance。 Was everybody going crazy； or
was there anything more in this catastrophe that had only enfeebled
the minds of her countrywomen！ For here was the severe； strong…
minded Mrs。 Markham actually preoccupied； like Mrs。 Brimmer； with
utterly irrelevant particulars； and apparently powerless to grasp
the fact that they were abandoned on a half hostile strand； and cut
off by half a century from the rest of the world。
〃As to the letter；〃 said Mrs。 Markham； quietly； 〃there it is。
There's nothing in it that might not have been written by a
friend。〃
Miss Keene took the letter。 It was written in a delicate； almost
feminine hand。 She could not help noticing that in one or two
instances corrections had been made and blots carefully removed
with an eraser。
〃Midnight； on the Excelsior。
〃MY FRIEND： When you receive this I shall probably be once more on
the bosom of that mysterious and mighty element whose majesty has
impressed us； whose poetry we have loved； and whose moral lessons；
I trust； have not been entirely thrown away upon us。 I go to the
deliverance of one of those oppressed nations whose history I have
often recited to you； and in whose destiny you have from time to
time expressed a womanly sympathy。 While it is probable；
therefore； that my MOTIVES may not be misunderstood by you； or even
other dear friends of the Excelsior； it is by no means impossible
that the celerity and unexpectedness of my ACTION may not be
perfectly appreciated by the careless mind； and may seem to require
some explanation。 Let me then briefly say that the idea of
debarking your goods and chattels； and parting from your delightful
company at Todos Santos； only occurred to me on our unexpected
shall I say PROVIDENTIAL？arrival at that spot； and the necessity
of expedition forbade me either inviting your cooperation or
soliciting your confidence。 Human intelligence is variously
constitutedor； to use a more homely phrase； 'many men have many
minds'and it is not impossible that a premature disclosure of my
plans might have jeopardized that harmony which you know it has
been my desire to promote。 It was my original intention to have
landed you at Mazatlan； a place really inferior in climate and
natural attractions to Todo Santos； although； perhaps； more easy of
access and egress； but the presence of an American steamer in the
offing would have invested my enterprise with a certain publicity
foreign； I think； to all our tastes。 Taking advantage； therefore；
of my knowledge of the peninsular coast； and the pardonable
ignorance of Captain Bunker； I endeavored； through my faithful
subordinates； to reach a less known port； and a coast rarely
frequented by reason of its prevailing fog。 Here occurred one of
those dispensations of an overruling power which； dear friend； we
have so often discussed。 We fell in with an unknown current； and
were guided by a mysterious hand into the bay of Todos Santos！
〃You know of my belief in the infinite wisdom and benignity of
events； you have； dear friend； with certain feminine limitations；
shared it with me。 Could there have been a more perfect
illustration of it than the power that led us here？ On a shore；
historic in interest； beautiful in climate； hospitable in its
people； utterly freed from external influences； and absolutely
without a compromising future； you are landed； my dear friend； with
your youthful companions。 From the crumbling ruins of a decaying
Past you are called to construct an Arcadia of your own； the
rudiments of a new civilization are within your grasp； the cost of
existence is comparatively trifling； the various sums you have with
you； which even in the chaos of revolution I have succeeded in
keeping intact； will more than suffice to your natural wants for
years to come。 Were I not already devoted to the task of freeing
Quinquinambo； I should willingly share this Elysium with you all。
But； to use the glowing words of Mrs。 M'Corkle； slightly altering
the refrain
'Ah； stay me not！ With flying feet
O'er desert sands； I rush to greet
My fate； my love； my life； my sweet
Quinquinambo！'
〃I venture to intrust to your care two unpublished manuscripts of
that gifted woman。 The dangers that may environ my present
mission； the vicissitudes of battle by sea or land； forbid my
imperiling their natural descent to posterity。 You； my dear
friend； will preserve them for the ages to come； occasionally
refreshing yourself； from time to time； from that Parnassian
spring。
〃Adieu！ my friend。 I look around the familiar cabin； and miss your
gentle faces。 I feel as Jason might have felt； alone on the deck
of the Argo when his companions were ashore； except that I know of
no Circean influences to mar their destiny。 In examining the
state…rooms to see if my orders for the complete restoration of
passengers' property had been carried out； I allowed myself to look
into yours。 Lying alone； forgotten and overlooked； I saw a
peculiar jet hair…pin which I think I have observed in the coils of
your tresses。 May I venture to keep this gentle instrument as a
reminder of the superior intellect it has so often crowned？ Adieu；
my friend。
〃Ever yours； LEONIDAS BOLIVAR PERKINS。〃
〃Well？〃 said Mrs。 Markham impatiently； as Miss Keene remained
motionless with the letter in her hand。
〃It seems like a ridiculous nightmare！ I can't understand it at
all。 The man that wrote this letter may be madbut he is neither
a pirate nor a thiefand yet〃
〃He a pirate？〃 echoed Mrs。 Markham indignantly； 〃He's nothing of
the kind！ It's not even his FAULT！〃
〃Not his fault？〃 repeated Miss Keene； 〃are you mad； too？〃
〃Nonor a fool； my dear！ Don't you see？ It's all the fault of
Banks and Brimmer for compromising the vessel： of that stupid；
drunken captain for permitting it。 Senor Perkins is a liberator； a
patriot； who has periled himself and his country to treat us
magnanimously。 Don't you see it？ It's like that Banks and that
Mrs。 Brimmer to call HIM a pirate！ I've a good mind to give the
Commander my opinion of THEM。〃
〃Hush！〃 said Miss Keene； with a sudden recollection of the
Commander's suspicions； 〃for Heaven's sake； you do not know what
you are saying。 Look！ they were talking with that strange man； and
now they are coming this way。〃
The Commander and his secretary approached them。 They were both
more than usually grave； but the look of inquiry and suspicion with
which they regarded the two women was gone from their eyes。
〃The Senor Comandante says you are free； Senoras； and begs you will
only decide whether you will remain his guests or the guests of the
Alcalde。 But for the present he cannot allow you any communication
with the prisoners of San Antonio。〃
〃There is further news？〃 said Miss Keene faintly； with a presentiment
of worse complications。
〃There is！ A body from the Excelsior has been washed on shore。〃
The two women turned pale。
〃In the pocket of the murdered man is an accusation against one
Senor Hurlstone； who was concealed on the ship； who came not ashore
openly with the other passengers； but who escaped in secret； and is
now hiding somewhere in Todos Santos。〃
〃And you suspect him of this infamous act？〃 said Eleanor；
forgetting all prudence in her indignation。 〃You are deceiving
yourself。 He is as innocent as I am！〃
The Commander and the secretary smiled sapiently； but gently。
〃The Senor Comandante believes you； Dona Leonora： the Senor
Hurlstone is innocent of the piracy。 He is； of a surety； the
leader of the Opposition。〃
CHAPTER VIII。
IN SANCTUARY。
When James Hurlstone reached the shelter of the shrubbery he leaned
exhaustedly against the adobe wall； and looked back upon the garden
he had just traversed。 At its lower extremity a tall hedge of
cactus reinforced the crumbling wall with a cheval de frise of
bristling thorns； it was through a gap in this green barrier that
he had found his way a f