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forecastle among live men as it does in the cabin with a lot of
women。 You'll more likely find that he's been some sort of steward
on a steamer； and he's working his passage with us。 That's where
he gets that smooth； equally…attentive…to…anybody sort of style。
The way he skirmished around Mrs。 Brimmer and Mrs。 Markham with a
basin the other day when it was so rough convinced ME。 It was a
little too professional to suit my style。〃
〃I suppose that was the reason why you went below so suddenly；〃
rejoined Brace； whose too sensitive blood was beginning to burn in
his cheeks and eyes。
〃It's a shame to stay below this morning；〃 said Miss Keene；
instinctively recognizing the cause of the discord and its remedy。
〃I'm going on deck againif I can manage to get there。〃
The three gentlemen sprang to accompany her； and； in their efforts
to keep their physical balance and hers equally； the social
equilibrium was restored。
By noon； however； the heavy cross…sea had abated； and the Excelsior
bore west。 When she once more rose and fell regularly on the long
rhythmical swell of the Pacific； most of the passengers regained
the deck。 Even Mrs。 Brimmer and Miss Chubb ventured from their
staterooms； and were conveyed to and installed in some state on a
temporary divan of cushions and shawls on the lee side。 For even
in this small republic of equal cabin passengers the undemocratic
and distinction…loving sex had managed to create a sham
exclusiveness。 Mrs。 Brimmer； as the daughter of a rich Bostonian；
the sister of a prominent lawyer； and the wife of a successful San
Francisco merchant； who was popularly supposed to be part…owner of
the Excelsior； was recognized； and alternately caressed and hated
as their superior。 A majority of the male passengers； owning no
actual or prospective matrimonial subjection to those charming
toad…eaters； I am afraid continued to enjoy a mild and debasing
equality among themselves； mitigated only by the concessions of
occasional gallantry。 To them； Mrs。 Brimmer was a rather pretty；
refined； well…dressed woman； whose languid pallor； aristocratic
spareness； and utter fastidiousness did not； however； preclude a
certain nervous intensity which occasionally lit up her weary eyes
with a dangerous phosphorescence； under their brown fringes。
Equally acceptable was Miss Chubb； her friend and traveling
companion； a tall； well…bred girl； with faint salmon…pink hair and
complexion； that darkened to a fiery brown in her shortsighted
eyes。
Between these ladies and Mrs。 Markham and Miss Keene existed an
enthusiastic tolerance； which； however； could never be mistaken for
a generous rivalry。 Of the greater popularity of Miss Keene as the
recognized belle of the Excelsior there could be no question； nor
was there any from Mrs。 Brimmer and her friend。 The intellectual
preeminence of Mrs。 Markham was equally； and no less ostentatiously；
granted。 〃Mrs。 Markham is so clever； I delight to hear you converse
together；〃 Mrs。 Brimmer would say to Senor Perkins； 〃though I'm sure
I hardly dare talk to her myself。 She might easily go into the
lecture…fieldperhaps she expects to do so in California。 My dear
Clarissa〃to Miss Chubb〃don't she remind you a little of Aunt
Jane Winthrop's governess； whom we came so near taking to Paris with
us； but couldn't on account of her defective French？〃
When 〃The Excelsior Banner and South Sea Bubble〃 was published in
lat。 15 N。 and long。 105 W。； to which Mrs。 Markham contributed the
editorials and essays； and Senor Perkins three columns of
sentimental poetry； Mrs。 Brimmer did not withhold her praise of the
fair editor。 When the Excelsior 〃Recrossed the Line；〃 with a
suitable tableau vivant and pageant； and Miss Keene as California；
in white and blue； welcomed from the hands of Neptune （Senor
Perkins） and Amphitrite （Mrs。 Markham） her fair sister；
Massachusetts （Mrs。 Brimmer）； and New York （Miss Chubb）； Mrs。
Brimmer was most enthusiastic of the beauty of Miss Keene。
On the present morning Mr。 Banks found his disappointment at not
going into Mazatlan languidly shared by Mrs。 Brimmer。 That lady
even made a place for him on the cushions beside her； as she
pensively expressed her belief that her husband would be still more
disappointed。
〃Mr。 Brimmer； you know； has correspondents at Mazatlan； and no
doubt he has made particular arrangements for our reception and
entertainment while there。 I should not wonder if he was very
indignant。 And if； as I fear； the officials of the place； knowing
Mr。 Brimmer's positionand my own connectionshave prepared to
show us social courtesies； it may be a graver affair。 I shouldn't
be surprised if our Government were obliged to take notice of it。
There is a Captain…General of portisn't there？ I think my
husband spoke of him。〃
〃Oh； he's probably been shot long ago；〃 broke in Mr。 Crosby
cheerfully。 〃They put in a new man every revolution。 If the wrong
party's got in； they've likely shipped your husband's correspondent
too； and might be waiting to get a reception for you with nigger
soldiers and ball cartridges。 Shouldn't wonder if the skipper got
wind of something of the kind； and that's why he didn't put in。 If
your husband hadn't been so well known； you see； we might have
slipped in all right。〃
Mrs。 Brimmer received this speech with the languid obliviousness of
perception she usually meted out to this chartered jester。
〃Do you really think so； Mr。 Crosby？ And would you have been
afraid to leave your cabinor are you joking？ You know I never
know when you are。 It is very dreadful； either way。〃
But here Miss Chubb； with ready tact； interrupted any possible
retort from Mr。 Crosby。
〃Look；〃 she said； pointing to some of the other passengers； who； at
a little distance； had grouped about the first mate in animated
discussion。 〃I wonder what those gentlemen are so interested
about。 Do go and see。〃
Before he could reply； Mr。 Winslow； detaching himself from the
group； hurried towards them。
〃Here's a row： Hurlstone is missing！ Can't be found anywhere！
They think he's fallen overboard！〃
The two frightened exclamations from Miss Chubb and Mrs。 Brimmer
diverted attention from the sudden paleness of Miss Keene； who had
impulsively approached them。
〃Impossible！〃 she said hurriedly。
〃I fear it is so；〃 said Brace； who had followed Winslow； 〃although；〃
he added in a lower tone； with an angry glance at the latter； 〃that
brute need not have blustered it out to frighten everybody。 They're
searching the ship again； but there seems no hope。 He hasn't been
seen since last night。 He was supposed to be in his state…roombut
as nobody missed himyou know how odd and reserved he wasit was
only when the steward couldn't find him； and began to inquire； that
everybody remembered they hadn't seen him all day。 You are
frightened； Miss Keene； pray sit down。 That fellow Winslow ought to
have had more sense。〃
〃It seems so horrible that nobody knew it；〃 said the young girl；
shuddering； 〃that we sat here laughing and talking； while perhaps
he was Good heavens！ what's that？〃
A gruff order had been given： in the bustle that ensued the ship
began to fall off to leeward； a number of the crew had sprung to
the davits of the quarter boat。
〃We're going about； and they're lowering a boat； that's all； but
it's as good as hopeless；〃 said Brace。 〃The accident must have
happened before daylight； or it would have been seen by the watch。
It was probably long before we came on deck；〃 he added gently； 〃so
comfort yourself； Miss Keene； you could have seen nothing。〃
〃It seems so dreadful；〃 murmured the young girl； 〃that he wasn't
even missed。 Why；〃 she said； suddenly raising her soft eyes to
Brace； 〃YOU must have noticed his absence； why； even I〃 She
stopped with a slight confusion； that was； however； luckily
diverted by the irrepressible Winslow。
〃The skipper's been routed out at last； and is giving orders。 He
don't look as if his hat fitted him any too comfortably this
morning； does he？〃 he laughed； as a stout； grizzled man； with
congested face and eyes； and a peremptory voice husky with
alcoholic irritation； suddenly appeared among the group by the
wheel。 〃I reckon he's cursing his luck at having to heave…to and
lose this wind。〃
〃But for a human creature's life！〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Markham in
horror。
〃That's just it。 Laying…to now ain't going to save anybody's life；
and he knows it。 He's doin' it for show； just for a clean record
in the log； and to satisfy you people here； who'd kick up a row if
he didn't。〃
〃Then you believe he's lost？〃 said Miss Keene； with glistening
eyes。
〃There ain't a doubt of it；〃 returned Winslow shortly。
〃I don't agree with you；〃 said a gentle voice。
They turned quickly towards the benevolent face of Senor Perkins；
who had just joined them。