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not remember to have met the lady before。 The fact is； she does
not move in our circlein the upper classes。〃
The Alcalde exchanged a glance with the Padre。
〃Ah！ you have classes？ and she is of a distinct class； perhaps？〃
〃Decidedly；〃 said Mrs。 Brimmer promptly。
〃Pardon me；〃 said Padre Esteban； with gentle persuasiveness； 〃but
you are speaking of your fellow…passengers。 Know you not； then； of
one Hurlstone； who is believed to be still in the ship Excelsior；
and perhaps of the party who seized it？〃
〃Mr。 Hurlstone？it is possible； but I know really nothing of him；〃
said Mrs。 Brimmer carelessly。 〃I don't think Clarissa did； either
did you； dear？ Even in our enforced companionship we had to use
some reserve； and we may have drawn the line at him！ He was a
friend of Miss Keene's； indeed； she was the only one who seemed to
know him。〃
〃And she is now here？〃 asked the Padre eagerly。
〃No。 She is with her friend the Senora Markham； at the Presidio。
The Comandante has given her the disposition of his house；〃 said
Don Ramon； with a glance of grave archness at Mrs。 Brimmer； 〃it is
not known which is the most favored； the eloquent orator or the
beautiful and daring leader！〃
〃Mrs。 Markham is a married woman；〃 said Mrs。 Brimmer severely；
〃and； of course； she can do as she pleases； but it is far different
with Miss Keene。 I should scarcely consider it proper to expose
Miss Chubb to the hospitality of a single man； without other women；
and I cannot understand how she could leave the companionship and
protection of your lovely sisters。〃
The priest here rose； and； with formal politeness； excused himself；
urging the peremptory summons of the Council。
〃I scarcely expected； indeed； to have had the pleasure of seeing my
colleague here；〃 he added with quiet suavity； turning to the
Alcalde。
〃I have already expressed my views to the Comandante；〃 said the
official； with some embarrassment； 〃and my attendance will hardly
be required。〃
The occasional misleading phosphorescence of Mrs。 Brimmer's quiet
eyes； early alluded to in these pages； did not escape Father
Esteban's quick perception at that moment； however； he preferred to
leave his companion to follow its aberrations rather than to permit
that fair ignis fatuus to light him on his way by it。
〃But my visit to you； Father Esteban；〃 she began sweetly； 〃is only
postponed。〃
〃Until I have the pleasure of anticipating it here；〃 said the
priest； with paternal politeness bending before the two ladies；
〃but for the present； au revoir！〃
〃It would be an easy victory to win this discreetly emotional
Americana to the Church；〃 said Father Esteban to himself； as he
crossed the plaza； 〃but； if I mistake not； she would not cease to
be a disturbing element even there。 However； she is not such as
would give this Hurlstone any trouble。 It seems I must look
elsewhere for the brains of this party； and to find a solution of
this young man's mystery； and； if I judge correctly； it is with
this beautiful young agitator of revolutions and her oratorical
duenna I must deal。〃
He entered the low gateway of the Presidio unchallenged； and even
traversed the courtyard without meeting a soul。 The guard and
sentries had evidently withdrawn to their habitual peaceful
vocations； and the former mediaeval repose of the venerable
building had returned。 There was no one in the guard…room； but as
the priest turned back to the corridor； his quick ear was suddenly
startled by the unhallowed and inconsistent sounds of a guitar。 A
monotonous voice alsothe Comandante's evidentlywas raised in a
thin； high recitative。
The Padre passed hastily through the guard…room； and opened the
door of the passage leading to the garden slope。 Here an
extraordinary group presented itself to his astonished eyes。 In
the shadow of a palm…tree； Mrs。 Markham； seated on her Saratoga
trunk as on a throne； was gazing blandly down upon the earnest
features of the Commander； who； at her feet； guitar in hand； was
evidently repeating some musical composition。 His subaltern sat
near him； divided in admiration of his chief and the guest。 Miss
Keene； at a little distance； aided by the secretary； was holding an
animated conversation with a short； stout； Sancho Panza…looking
man； whom the Padre recognized as the doctor of Todos Santos。
At the apparition of the reverend Father； the Commander started；
the subaltern stared； and even the secretary and the doctor looked
discomposed。
〃I am decidedly de trop this morning；〃 soliloquized the
ecclesiastic； but Miss Keene cut short his reflection by running to
him frankly； with outstretched hand。
〃I am so glad that you have come；〃 she said； with a youthful；
unrestrained earnestness that was as convincing as it was
fascinating； 〃for you will help me to persuade this gentleman that
poor Captain Bunker is suffering more from excitement of mind than
body； and that bleeding him is more than folly。〃
〃The man's veins are in a burning fever and delirium from
aguardiente；〃 said the little doctor excitedly； 〃and the fire must
first be put out by the lancet。〃
〃He is only crazy with remorse for having lost his ship through his
own carelessness and the treachery of others；〃 said Miss Keene
doughtily。
〃He is a maniac and will kill himself； unless his fever is
subdued；〃 persisted the doctor。
〃And you would surely kill him by your way of subduing it；〃 said
the young girl boldly。 〃Better for him； a disgraced man of honor；
to die by his own hand； than to be bled like a calf into a feeble
and helpless dissolution。 I would； if I were in his placeif I
had to do it by tearing off the bandages。〃
She made a swift； half unconscious gesture of her little hand； and
stopped； her beautiful eyes sparkling； her thin pink nostrils
dilated； her red lips parted； her round throat lifted in the air；
and one small foot advanced before her。 The men glanced hurriedly
at each other； and then fixed their eyes upon her with a rapt yet
frightened admiration。 To their simple minds it was Anarchy and
Revolution personified； beautiful； and victorious。
〃Ah！〃 said the secretary to Padre Esteban； in Spanish； 〃it is true！
she knows not fear！ She was in the room alone with the madman； he
would let none approach but her！ She took a knife from himelse
the medico had suffered！〃
〃He recognized her； you see！ Ah！ they know her power；〃 said the
Comandante； joining the group。
〃You will help me； Father Esteban？〃 said the young girl； letting
the fire of her dark eyes soften to a look of almost childish
appeal〃you will help me to intercede for him？ It is the
restraint only that is killing himthat is goading him to madness！
Think of him； Fatherthink of him： ruined and disgraced； dying to
retrieve himself by any reckless action； any desperate chance of
recovery； and yet locked up where he can do nothingattempt
nothingnot even lift a hand to pursue the man who has helped to
bring him to this！〃
〃But he CAN do nothing！ The ship is gone！〃 remonstrated the
Comandante。
〃Yes； the ship is gone； but the ocean is still there；〃 said Miss
Keene。
〃But he has no boat。〃
〃He will find or make one。〃
〃And the fog conceals the channel。〃
〃He can go where THEY have gone； or meet their fate。 You do not
know my countrymen； Senor Comandante；〃 she said proudly。
〃Ah； yespardon！ They are at San Antoniothe baker； the buffoon；
the two young men who dig。 They are already baking and digging and
joking。 We have it from my officer； who has just returned。〃
Miss Keene bit her pretty lips。
〃They think it is a mistake； they cannot believe that any intentional
indignity is offered them；〃 she said quietly。 〃Perhaps it is well
they do not。〃
〃They desired me to express their condolences to the Senora；〃 said
the Padre； with exasperating gentleness； 〃and were relieved to be
assured by me of your perfect security in the hands of these
gentlemen。〃
Miss Keene raised her clear eyes to the ecclesiastic。 That
accomplished diplomat of Todos Santos absolutely felt confused
under the cool scrutiny of this girl's unbiased and unsophisticated
intelligence。
〃Then you HAVE seen them；〃 she said； 〃and you know their innocence；
and the utter absurdity of this surveillance？〃
〃I have not seen them ALL；〃 said the priest softly。 〃There is
still anothera Senor Hurlstonewho is missing？ Is he not？〃
It was not in the possibility of Eleanor Keene's truthful blood to
do other than respond with a slight color to this question。 She
had already concealed from every one the fact of having seen the
missing man in the Mission garden the evening before。 It did not；
however； prevent her the next moment from calmly meeting the glance
of the priest as she answered gravely；
〃I believe so。 But I cannot see what that has to do with the
d