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fair stranger's address； we began a correspondence； at once
imaginative and sympathetic in expression； if not always poetical
in form。 I was called to South America by the Macedonian cry of
'Quinquinambo！' I still corresponded with her。 When I returned to
Quinquinambo I received letters from her； dated from San Francisco。
I feel that my words could only fail； my dear Hurlstone； to convey
to you the strength and support I derived from those impassioned
breathings of aid and sympathy at that time。 Enough for me to
confess that it was mainly due to the deep womanly interest that
SHE took in the fortunes of the passengers of the Excelsior that I
gave the Mexican authorities early notice of their whereabouts。
But； pardon me；〃he stopped hesitatingly； with a slight flush； as
he noticed the utterly inattentive face and attitude of Hurlstone；
〃I am boring you。 I am forgetting that this is only important to
myself；〃 he added； with a sigh。 〃I only intended to ask your
advice in regard to the disposition of certain manuscripts and
effects of hers； which are unconnected with our acquaintance。 I
thought； perhaps； I might entrust them to your delicacy and
consideration。 They are here； if you choose to look them over； and
here is also what I believe to be a daguerreotype of the lady
herself； but in which I fail to recognize her soul and genius。〃
He laid a bundle of letters and a morocco case on the table with a
carelessness that was intended to hide a slight shade of
disappointment in his faceand rose。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said Hurlstone； in confused and remorseful
apology； 〃but I frankly confess that my thoughts WERE preoccupied。
Pray forgive me。 If you will leave these papers with me； I promise
to devote myself to them another time。〃
〃As you please；〃 said the Senor； with a slight return of his old
affability。 〃But don't bore yourself now。 Let us go on deck。〃
He passed out of the cabin as Hurlstone glanced； half mechanically；
at the package before him。 Suddenly his cheek reddened； he
stopped； looked hurriedly at the retreating form of Perkins； and
picked up a manuscript from the packet。 It was in his wife's
handwriting。 A sudden idea flashed across his mind； and seemed to
illuminate the obscure monotony of the story he had just heard。 He
turned hurriedly to the morocco case； and opened it with trembling
fingers。 It was a daguerreotype； faded and silvered； but the
features were those of his wife！
CHAPTER VIII。
HOSTAGE。
The revolution of Todos Santos had to all appearances been effected
as peacefully as the gentle Liberator of Quinquinambo could have
wished。 Two pronunciamientos； rudely printed and posted in the
Plaza； and saluted by the fickle garrison of one hundred men； who
had； however； immediately reappointed their old commander as
Generalissimo under the new regime； seemed to leave nothing to be
desired。 A surging mob of vacant and wondering peons； bearing a
singular resemblance to the wild cattle and horses which
intermingled with them in blind and unceasing movement across the
Plaza and up the hilly street； and seemingly as incapable of self…
government； were alternately dispersed and stampeded or allowed to
gather again as occasion required。 Some of these heterogeneous
bands were afterwards foundthe revolution accomplishedgazing
stupidly on the sea； or ruminating in bovine wantonness on the
glacis before the Presidio。
Eleanor Keene； who with her countrywomen had been hurried to the
refuge of the Mission； was more disturbed and excited at the
prospect of meeting Hurlstone again than by any terror of the
insurrection。 But Hurlstone was not there； and Father Esteban
received her with a coldness she could not attribute entirely to
her countrymen's supposed sympathy with the insurgents。 When
Richard Keene； who would not leave his sister until he had seen her
safe under the Mission walls； ventured at her suggestion to ask
after the American recluse； Father Esteban replied dryly that；
being a Christian gentleman； Hurlstone was the only one who had the
boldness to seek out the American filibuster Perkins； on his own
ship； and remonstrate with him for his unholy crusade。 For the old
priest had already become aware of Hurlstone's blunder； and he
hated Eleanor as the primary cause of the trouble。 But for her；
Diego would be still with him in this emergency。
〃Never mind； Nell；〃 said Dick； noticing the disappointed eyes of
his sister as they parted； 〃you'll all be safe here until we
return。 Between you and me； Banks； Brimmer； and I think that Brace
and Winslow have gone too far in this matter； and we're going to
stop it； unless the whole thing is over now； as they say。〃
〃Don't believe that；〃 said Crosby。 〃It's like their infernal
earthquakes； there's always a second shock； and a tidal wave to
follow。 I pity Brace； Winslow； and Perkins if they get caught in
it。〃
There seemed to be some reason for his skepticism； for later the
calm of the Mission Garden was broken upon by the monotonous tread
of banded men on the shell…strewn walks； and the door of the
refectory opened to the figure of Senor Perkins。 A green silk sash
across his breast； a gold…laced belt； supporting a light dress…
sword and a pair of pistols； buckled around the jaunty waist of his
ordinary black frock…coat； were his scant martial suggestions。 But
his hat； albeit exchanged for a soft felt one； still reposed on the
back of his benevolent head； and seemed to accent more than ever
the contrast between his peaceful shoulders and the military
smartness of his lower figure。 He bowed with easy politeness to
the assembled fugitives； but before he could address them； Father
Esteban had risen to his feet；
〃I thought that this house； at least； was free from the desecrating
footsteps of lawlessness and impiety；〃 said the priest sternly。
〃How dare YOU enter here？〃
〃Nothing but the desire to lend my assistance to the claims of
beauty； innocence； helplessness； andif you will allow me to add；〃
with a low bow to the priest〃sanctity； caused this intrusion。
For I regret to say that； through the ill…advised counsels of some
of my fellow…patriots； the Indian tribes attached to this Mission
are in revolt； and threaten even this sacred building。〃
〃It is false！〃 said Father Esteban indignantly。 〃Even under the
accursed manipulation of your emissaries； the miserable heathen
would not dare to raise a parricidal hand against the Church that
fostered him！〃
Senor Perkins smiled gently； but sadly。
〃Your belief； reverend sir； does you infinite credit。 But； to save
time； let me give way to a gentleman who； I believe； possesses your
confidence。 He will confirm my statement。〃
He drew aside； and allowed Hurlstone； who had been standing
unperceived behind； to step forward。 The Padre uttered an
exclamation of pleasure。 Miss Keene colored quickly。 Hurlstone
cast a long and lingering glance at her； which seemed to the
embarrassed girl full of a new； strange meaning； and then advanced
quickly with outstretched hands towards Father Esteban。
〃He speaks truly；〃 he said； hurriedly； 〃and in the interests of
humanity alone。 The Indians have been tampered with treacherously；
against his knowledge and consent。 He only seeks now to prevent
the consequences of this folly by placing you and these ladies out
of reach of harm aboard of the Excelsior。〃
〃A very proper and excellent idea；〃 broke in Mrs。 Brimmer； with
genteel precision。 〃You see these people evidently recognize the
fact of Mr。 Brimmer's previous ownership of the Excelsior； and the
respect that is due to him。 I； for one； shall accept the offer；
and insist upon Miss Chubb accompanying me。〃
〃I shall be charmed to extend the hospitality of the Excelsior to
you on any pretext；〃 said the Senor gallantly； 〃and； indeed； should
insist upon personally accompanying you and my dear friends Mrs。
Markham and Miss Keene； but； alas！ I am required elsewhere。 I
leave；〃 he continued； turning towards Hurlstone； who was already
absorbed in a whispered consultation with Padre Esteban〃I leave a
sufficient escort with you to protect your party to the boats which
have brought us here。 You will take them to the Excelsior； and
join me with the ship off Todos Santos in the morning。 Adieu； my
friends！ Good…night； and farewell！〃
The priest made a vehement movement of protestation； but he was
checked by Hurlstone； as； with a low bow； Senor Perkins passed out
into the darkness。 The next moment his voice was heard raised in
command； and the measured tramp of his men gradually receded and
was lost in the distance。
〃Does he think；〃 said the priest indignantly； 〃that I； Padre
Esteban； would desert my sacred trust； and leave His Holy Temple a
prey to sacrilegious trespass？ Never； while I live； Diego！ Call
him back and tell him so！〃
〃Rather listen to