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gateway swung to with a crash； the bolts were shot； and the
courtyard was impenetrable。
。 。 。 。 。 。
A few moments later； the three friends had passed the outermost
angle of the fortifications； and were descending towards the beach。
By the time they had reached the sands they had fallen into a vague
silence。
A noise like the cracking and fall of some slight scaffolding
behind them arrested their attention。 Hurlstone turned quickly。 A
light smoke； drifting from the courtyard； was mingling with the
fog。 A faint cry of 〃Dios y Libertad！〃 rose with it。
With a hurried excuse to his companions； Hurlstone ran rapidly
back； and reached the gate as it slowly rolled upon its hinges to a
file of men that issued from the courtyard。 The first object that
met his eyes was the hat of Senor Perkins lying on the ground near
the wall； with a terrible suggestion in its helpless and pathetic
vacuity。 A few paces further lay its late owner； with twenty
Mexican bullets in his breast； his benevolent forehead bared meekly
to the sky； as if even then mutely appealing to the higher
judgment。 He was dead！ The soul of the Liberator of Quinquinambo；
and of various other peoples more or less distressed and more or
less ungrateful； was itself liberated！
。 。 。 。 。 。
With the death of Senor Perkins ended the Crusade of the Excelsior。
Under charge of Captain Bunker the vessel was sent to Mazatlan by
the authorities； bearing the banished and proscribed Americans；
Banks； Brace； Winslow； and Crosby； and； by permission of the
Council； also their friends； Markham and Brimmer； and the ladies；
Mrs。 Brimmer； Chubb； and Markham。 Hurlstone and Miss Keene alone
were invited to remain； but； on later representations； the Council
graciously included Richard Keene in the invitation； with the
concession of the right to work the mines and control the ranches
he and Hurlstone had purchased from their proscribed countrymen。
The complacency of the Council of Todos Santos may be accounted for
when it is understood that on the day the firm of Hurlstone & Keene
was really begun under the title of Mr。 and Mrs。 Hurlstone； Richard
had prevailed upon the Alcalde to allow him to add the piquant Dona
Isabel also to the firm under the title of Mrs。 Keene。 Although
the port of Todos Santos was henceforth open to all commerce； the
firm of Hurlstone & Keene long retained the monopoly of trade； and
was a recognized power of intelligent civilization and honest
progress on the Pacific coast。 And none contributed more to that
result than the clever and beautiful hostess of Excelsior Lodge；
the charming country home of James Hurlstone； Esq。； senior partner
of the firm。 Under the truly catholic shelter of its veranda Padre
Esteban and the heretic stranger mingled harmoniously； and the
dissensions of local and central Government were forgotten。
〃I said that you were a dama de grandeza； you remember；〃 said the
youthful Mrs。 Keene to Mrs。 Hurlstone； 〃and； you see； you are！〃
End