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Markham's feebleness had never reached this absurdity。 In the
midst of his uneasiness there was a knock at the door； he opened it
himself nervously and sharply。 Markham's self…satisfied face drew
back in alarm and embarrassment at the unexpected apparition。 The
sight restored Brimmer's coolness and satirical self…possession。
〃IIdidn't know you were here；〃 stammered Markham。 〃I left
Keene in your room。〃
〃Then why didn't you bring him along with you？〃 said Brimmer
maliciously。 〃Go and fetch him。〃
〃Yes； but he said you were to meet him there；〃 continued Markham；
glancing around the empty room with a slight expression of relief。
〃My watch was twenty minutes fast； and I had given him up；〃 said
Brimmer； with mendacious effrontery。 〃Miss Montgomery is dressing。
You can bring him here before she returns。〃
Markham flew uneasily down the corridor and quickly returned with a
handsome young fellow of five…and…twenty； whose frank face was
beaming with excitement and youthful energy。 The two elder men
could not help regarding him with a mingled feeling of envy and
compassion。
〃Did you tell Brimmer yet？〃 said Keene； with animation。
〃I haven't had time；〃 hesitated Markham。 〃The fact is； Brimmer； I
think of going with Keene on this expedition。〃
〃Indeed！〃 said Brimmer superciliously。
〃Yes；〃 said Markham； coloring slightly。 〃You see； we've got news。
Tell him； Dick。〃
〃The Storm Cloud got in yesterday from Valparaiso and Central
American ports；〃 said Keene； with glowing cheeks。 〃I boarded her；
as usual； last night； for information。 The mate says there is a
story of a man picked up crazy； in an open fishing…boat； somewhere
off the peninsula； and brought into hospital at San Juan last
August。 He recovered enough lately to tell his story and claim to
be Captain Bunker of the Excelsior； whose crew mutinied and ran her
ashore in a fog。 But the boat in which he was picked up was a
Mexican fishing…boat； and there was something revolutionary and
political about the story； so that the authorities detained him。
The consul has just been informed of the circumstances； and has
taken the matter in hand。〃
〃It's a queer story；〃 said Brimmer； gazing from the one to the
other； 〃and I will look into it also to…morrow。 If it is true；〃 he
added slowly； 〃I will go with you。〃
Richard Keene extended his hand impulsively to his two elders。
〃You'll excuse me for saying it； Brimmerand you； too； Markham
but this is just what I've been looking forward to。 Not but what
I'd have found Nell without your assistance； but you see； boys； it
DID look mighty mean in me to make more fuss about a sister than
you would for your wives！ But now that it's all settled〃
〃We'll go to supper；〃 said Miss Montgomery theatrically； appearing
at the door。 〃Dick will give me his arm。〃
CHAPTER II。
THE MOURNERS AT TODOS SANTOS。
There was a breath of spring in the soft morning air of Todos
Santosa breath so subtle and odorous that it penetrated the veil
of fog beyond the bay； and for a moment lingered on the deck of a
passing steamer like an arresting memory。 But only for an instant；
the Ometepe； bound from San Francisco to San Juan del Norte； with
its four seekers of the Excelsior； rolled and plunged on its way
unconsciously。
Within the bay and over the restful pueblo still dwelt the golden
haze of its perpetual summer； the two towers of the old Mission
church seemed to dissolve softly into the mellow upper twilight；
and the undulating valleys rolled their green waves up to the
wooded heights of San Antonio； that still smiled down upon the
arid； pallid desert。 But although Nature had not changed in the
months that had passed since the advent of the Excelsior； there
appeared some strange mutations in the town and its inhabitants。
On the beach below the Presidio was the unfinished skeleton of a
small sea…going vessel on rude stocks； on the plaza rose the framed
walls and roofless rafters of a wooden building； near the
Embarcadero was the tall adobe chimney of some inchoate manufactory
whose walls had half risen from their foundations； but all of these
objects had evidently succumbed to the drowsy influence of the
climate； and already had taken the appearances of later and less
picturesque ruins of the past。 There were singular innovations in
the costumes： one or two umbrellas； used as sunshades； were seen
upon the square； a few small chip hats had taken the place of the
stiff sombreros； with an occasional tall white beaver； while linen
coat and nankeen trousers had； at times； usurped the short velvet
jacket and loose calzas of the national costume。
At San Antonio the change was still more perceptible。 Beside the
yawning pit of the abandoned silver mine a straggling building
arose； filled with rude machinery； bearing the legend； painted in
glowing letters； 〃Excelsior Silver Mining Co。； J。 Crosby；
Superintendent；〃 and in the midst of certain excavations assailing
the integrity of the cliff itself was another small building；
scarcely larger than a sentry…box； with the inscription； 〃Office：
Eleanor Quicksilver Smelting Works。〃
Basking in that yellow morning sunlight； with his back against his
office； Mr。 Brace was seated on the ground； rolling a cigarette。 A
few feet from him Crosby； extended on his back on the ground； was
lazily puffing rings of smoke into the still air。 Both of these
young gentlemen were dressed in exaggerated Mexican costumes； the
silver buttons fringing the edge of Crosby's calza； open from the
knee down to show a glimpse of the snowy under…trouser； were richer
and heavier than those usually worn； while Brace； in addition to
the crimson silk sash round his waist； wore a crimson handkerchief
around his head； under his sombrero。
〃Pepe's falling off in his tobacco；〃 said Brace。 〃I think I'll
have to try some other Fonda。〃
〃How's Banks getting on with his crop？〃 asked Crosby。 〃You know he
was going to revolutionize the business； and cut out Cuba on that
hillside。〃
〃Oh； the usual luck！ He couldn't get proper cultivators； and the
Injins wouldn't work regular。 I must try and get hold of some of
the Comandante's stock； but I'm out of favor with the old man since
Winslow and I wrecked that fishing…boat on the rocks off yonder。
He always believed we were trying to run off； like Captain Bunker。
That's why he stopped our shipbuilding； I really believe。〃
〃All the same； we might have had it built and ready now but for our
laziness。 We might have worked on it nights without their knowing
it； and slipped off some morning in the fog。〃
〃And we wouldn't have got one of the women to go with us！ If we
are getting shiftless hereand I don't say we're notthese women
have just planted themselves and have taken root。 But that ain't
all： there's the influence of that infernal sneak Hurlstone！ He's
set the Comandante against us； you know； he； and the priest； the
Comandante； and Nelly Keene make up the real Council of Todos
Santos。 Between them they've shoved out the poor little Alcalde；
who's ready to give up everything to dance attendance on Mrs。
Brimmer。 They run the whole concern； and they give out that it's
owing to them that we're given parole of the town； and the
privilege of spending our money and working these mines。 Who'd
have thought that sneak Hurlstone would have played his cards so
well？ It makes me regularly sick to hear him called 'Don Diego。'〃
〃Yet you're mightily tickled when that black…eyed sister of the
Alcalde calls you 'Don Carlos；'〃 said Crosby； yawning。
〃Dona Isabel；〃 said Brace； with some empressement； 〃is a lady of
position； and these are only her national courtesies。〃
〃She just worships Miss Keene； and I reckon she knows by this time
all about your old attentions to her friend；〃 said Crosby； with
lazy mischief。
〃My attentions to Miss Keene were simply those of an ordinary
acquaintance； and were never as strongly marked as yours to Mrs。
Brimmer。〃
〃Who has deserted ME as Miss Keene did YOU；〃 rejoined Crosby。
Brace's quick color had risen again； and he would have made some
sharp retort； but the jingling of spurs caught his ear。 They both
turned quickly； and saw Banks approaching。 He was dressed as a
vaquero； but with his companions' like exaggeration of detail； yet；
while his spurs were enormous； and his sombrero unusually
expansive； he still clung to his high shirt…collars and accurately
tied check cravat。
〃Well？〃 he said； approaching them。
〃Well？〃 said Crosby。
〃Well？〃 repeated Brace。
After this national salutation； the three Americans regarded each
other silently。
〃Knocked off cultivating to…day？〃 queried Crosby； lighting a fresh
cigarette。
〃The peons have；〃 said Banks； 〃it's another saint's day。 That's
the fourth in two weeks。 Leaves about two clear working days in
e