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the crusade of the excelsior-第25章

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〃Whereas; it being presented to an Emergency Council; held at the

Presidio of Todos Santos; that the foreign barque Excelsior had

mutinied; discharged her captain and passengers; and escaped from

the waters of the bay; it was; on examination; found and decreed

that the said barque was a vessel primarily owned by a foreign

Power; then and there confessed and admitted to be at war with

Mexico and equipped to invade one of her northern provinces。  But

that the God of Liberty and Justice awakening in the breasts of

certain patriotsto wit; the heroic Senor Diego Hurlstone and the

invincible Dona Leonorthe courage and discretion to resist the

tyranny and injustice of their oppressors; caused them to mutiny

and abandon the vessel rather than become accomplices; in the

company of certain neutral and non…combatant traders and artisans;

severally known as Brace; Banks; Winslow; and Crosby; and certain

aristocrats; known as Senoras Brimmer and Chubb。  In consideration

thereof; it is decreed by the Council of Todos Santos that asylum;

refuge; hospitality; protection; amity; and alliance be offered and

extended to the patriots; Senor Diego Hurlstone; Dona Leonor; and a

certain Duenna Susana Markham; particularly attached to Dona

Leonor's person; and that war; reprisal; banishment; and death be

declared against Senor Perkins; his unknown aiders and abettors。

And that for the purposes of probation; and in the interests of

clemency; provisional parole shall be extended to the alleged

neutralsBrace; Banks; Crosby; and Winslowwithin the limits and

boundaries of the lazaretto of San Antonio; until their neutrality

shall be established; and pending the further pleasure of the

Council。  And it is further decreed and declared that one Capitano

Bunker; formerly of the Excelsior; but now a maniac and lunatic

being irresponsible and visited of God; shall be exempted from the

ordinances of this decree until his reason shall be restored; and

during that interval subjected to the ordinary remedial and

beneficent restraint of civilization and humanity。  By order of the

Council;



〃The signatures and rubrics of



〃DON MIGUEL BRIONES;



   Comandante。



〃PADRE ESTEBAN;



   of the Order of San Francisco d'Assisis。



〃DON RAMON RAMIREZ;



   Alcalde of the Pueblo of Todos Santos。〃





CHAPTER XI。



THE CAPTAIN FOLLOWS HIS SHIP。





When Padre Esteban had finished reading the document he laid it

down and fixed his eyes on the young man。  Hurlstone met his look

with a glance of impatient disdain。



〃What have you to say to this?〃 asked the ecclesiastic; a little

impressed by his manner。



〃That as far as it concerns myself it is a farrago of absurdity。

If I were the person described there; why should I have sought you

with what you call a lie of 'sentimental passion;' when I could

have claimed protection openly with my SISTER PATRIOT;〃 he added;

with a bitter laugh。



〃Because you did not know THEN the sympathy of the people nor the

decision of the Council;〃 said the priest。



〃But I know it NOW; and I refuse to accept it。〃



〃You refusetoto accept it?〃 echoed the priest。



〃I do。〃  He walked towards the door。  〃Before I go; let me thank

you for the few hours' rest and security that you have given to one

who may be a cursed man; yet is no impostor。  But I do not blame

you for doubting one who talks like a desperate man; yet lacks the

courage of desperation。  Good…by!〃



〃Where are you going?〃



〃What matters?  There is a safer protection and security to be

found than even that offered by the Council of Todos Santos。〃



His eyes were averted; but not before the priest had seen them

glaze again with the same gloomy absorption that had horrified him

in the church the evening before。  Father Esteban stepped forward

and placed his soft hand on Hurlstone's shoulder。



〃Look at me。  Don't turn your face aside; but hear me; for I

believe your story。〃



Without raising his eyes; the young man lifted Father Esteban's

hand from his shoulder; pressed it lightly; and put it quietly

aside。



〃I thank you;〃 he said; 〃for keeping at least that unstained memory

of me。  But it matters little now。  Good…by!〃



He had his hand upon the door; but the priest again withheld him。



〃When I tell you I believe your story; it is only to tell you more。

I believe that God has directed your wayward; wandering feet here

to His house; that you may lay down the burden of your weak and

suffering manhood before His altar; and become once more a child of

His。  I stand here to offer you; not a refuge of a day or a night;

but for all time; not a hiding…place from man or woman; but from

yourself; my sonyourself; your weak and mortal self; more fatal

to you than all。  I stand here to open for you not only the door of

this humble cell; but that of His yonder blessed mansion。  You

shall share my life with me; you shall be one of my disciples; you

shall help me strive for other souls as I have striven for yours;

the protection of the Church; which is all…powerful; shall be

around you if you wish to be known; you shall hide yourself in its

mysteries if you wish to be forgotten。  You shall be my child; my

companion; my friend; all that my age can give you shall be yours

while I live; and it shall be your place one day to take up my

unfinished work when it falls from these palsied hands forever。〃



〃You are mistaken;〃 said the young man coldly。  〃I came to you for

human aid; and thank you for what you have granted me: I have not

been presumptuous enough to ask more; nor to believe myself a

fitting subject for conversion。  I am weak; but not weak enough to

take advantage of the mistaken kindness of either the temporal

Council of Todos Santos or its spiritual head。〃  He opened the door

leading into the garden。  〃Forget and forgive me; Father Esteban;

and let me say farewell。〃



〃Stop!〃 said the ecclesiastic; raising himself to his full height

and stepping before Hurlstone。  〃Then if you will not hear me in

the name of your Father who lives; in the name of your father who

is dead I command you to stay!  I stand here to…day in the place of

that man I never knewto hold back his son from madness and crime。

Think of me as of him whom you loved; and grant to an old man who

might have had a son as old as you the right of throwing a father's

protecting arm around you。〃



There was a moment's silence。



〃What do you want me to do?〃 said Hurlstone; suddenly lifting his

now moist and glistening eyes upon the old man。



〃Give me your word of honor that for twenty…four hours you will

remain as you arepledging yourself to nothingonly promising to

commit no act; take no step; without consulting me。  You will not

be sought here; nor yet need you keep yourself a prisoner in these

gloomy wallsexcept that; by exposing yourself to the people now;

you might be compromised to some course that you are not ready to

take。〃



〃I promise;〃 said Hurlstone。



He turned and held out both his hands; but Father Esteban

anticipated him with a paternal gesture of uplifted and opened

arms; and for an instant the young man's forehead was bowed on the

priest's shoulder。



Father Esteban gently raised the young man's head。



〃You will take a pasear in the garden until the Angelus rings; my

son; while the air is sweet and wholesome; and think this over。

Remember that you may accept the hospitality of the Council without

sin of deception。  You were not in sympathy with either the captors

of the Excelsior or their defeated party; for you would have flown

from both。  You; of all your party now in Todos Santos; are most in

sympathy with us。  You have no cause to love your own people; you

have abandoned them for us。  Go; my son; and meditate upon my

words。  I will fetch you from yonder slope in time for the evening

refection。〃



Hurlstone bowed his head and turned his irresolute feet towards the

upper extremity of the garden; indicated by the priest; which

seemed to offer more seclusion and security than the avenue of

pear…trees。  He was dazed and benumbed。  The old dogged impulses of

self…destructionrevived by the priest's reproaches; but checked

by the vision of his dead and forgotten father; which the priest's

words had called upgave way; in turn; to his former despair。

With it came a craving for peace and rest so insidious that in some

vague fear of yielding to it he quickened his pace; as if to

increase his distance from the church and its apostle。  He was

almost out of breath when he reached the summit; and turned to look

back upon the Mission buildings and the straggling street of the

pueblo; which now for the first time he saw skirted the wall of the

garden in its descent towards the sea。  He had not known the full

extent of Todos Santos before; when he swam ashore he had landed

under a crumbling outwork of the fort; he gazed now wi
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