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They turned quickly towards the benevolent face of Senor Perkins；
who had just joined them。
〃I differ from my young friend；〃 continued the Senor courteously；
〃because the accident must have happened at about daybreak； when we
were close inshore。 It would not be impossible for a good swimmer
to reach the land； or even；〃 continued Senor Perkins； in answer to
the ray of hope that gleamed in Miss Keene's soft eyes； 〃for him to
have been picked up by some passing vessel。 The smoke of a large
steamer was sighted between us and the land at about that time。〃
〃A steamer！〃 ejaculated Banks eagerly； 〃that was one of the new
line with the mails。 How provoking！〃
He was thinking of his lost letters。 Miss Keene turned； heart…
sick； away。 Worse than the ghastly interruption to their easy
idyllic life was this grim revelation of selfishness。 She began to
doubt if even the hysterical excitement of her sister passengers
was not merely a pleasant titillation of their bored and inactive
nerves。
〃I believe the Senor is right； Miss Keene；〃 said Brace； taking her
aside； 〃and I'll tell you why。〃 He stopped； looked around him； and
went on in a lower voice； 〃There are some circumstances about the
affair which look more like deliberation than an accident。 He has
left nothing behind him of any value or that gives any clue。 If it
was a suicide he would have left some letter behind for somebody
people always do； you know； at such timesand he would have chosen
the open sea。 It seems more probable that he threw himself
overboard with the intention of reaching the shore。〃
〃But why should he want to leave the ship？〃 echoed the young girl
simply。
〃Perhaps he found out that we were NOT going to Mazatlan； and this
was his only chance； it must have happened just as the ship went
about and stood off from shore again。〃
〃But I don't understand；〃 continued Miss Keene； with a pretty
knitting of her brows； 〃why he should be so dreadfully anxious to
get ashore now。〃
The young fellow looked at her with the superior smile of youthful
sagacity。
〃Suppose he had particular reasons for not going to San Francisco；
where our laws could reach him！ Suppose he had committed some
offense！ Suppose he was afraid of being questioned or recognized！〃
The young girl rose indignantly。
〃This is really too shameful！ Who dare talk like that？〃
Brace colored quickly。
〃Who？ Why； everybody；〃 he stammered； for a moment abandoning his
attitude of individual acumen； 〃it's the talk of the ship。〃
〃Is it？ And before they know whether he's alive or deadperhaps
even while he is still struggling with deathall they can do is to
take his character away！〃 she repeated； with flashing eyes。
〃And I'm even worse than they are；〃 he returned； his temper rising
with his color。 〃I ought to have known I was talking to one of HIS
friends； instead of one whom I thought was MINE。 I beg your
pardon。〃
He turned away as Miss Keene； apparently not heeding his pique；
crossed the deck； and entered into conversation with Mrs。 Markham。
It is to be feared that she found little consolation among the
other passengers； or even those of her own sex； whom this profound
event had united in a certain freemasonry of sympathy and interest
to the exclusion of their former cliques。 She soon learned； as
the return of the boats to the ship and the ship to her course
might have clearly told her； that there was no chance of recovering
the missing passenger。 She learned that the theory advanced by
Brace was the one generally held by them； but with an added romance
of detail； that excited at once their commiseration and admiration。
Mrs。 Brimmer remembered to have heard him； the second or third
night out from Callao； groaning in his state…room； but having
mistakenly referred the emotion to ordinary seasickness； she had no
doubt lost an opportunity for confidential disclosure。 〃I am
sure；〃 she added； 〃that had somebody as resolute and practical as
you； dear Mrs。 Markham； approached him the next day； he would have
revealed his sorrow。〃 Miss Chubb was quite certain that she had
seen him one night； in tears； by the quarter railing。 〃I saw his
eyes glistening under his slouched hat as I passed。 I remember
thinking； at the time； that he oughtn't to have been left alone
with such a dreadful temptation before him to slip overboard and
end his sorrow or his crime。〃 Mrs。 Markham also remembered that it
was about five o'clockor was it six？that morning when she
distinctly thought she had heard a splash； and she was almost
impelled to get up and look out of the bull's…eye。 She should
never forgive herself for resisting that impulse； for she was
positive now that she would have seen his ghastly face in the
water。 Some indignation was felt that the captain； after a cursory
survey of his stateroom； had ordered it to be locked until his fate
was more positively known； and the usual seals placed on his
effects for their delivery to the authorities at San Francisco。 It
was believed that some clue to his secret would be found among his
personal chattels； if only in the form of a keepsake； a locket； or
a bit of jewelry。 Miss Chubb had noticed that he wore a seal ring；
but not on the engagement…finger。 In some vague feminine way it
was admitted without discussion that one of their own sex was mixed
up in the affair； and； with the exception of Miss Keene； general
credence was given to the theory that Mazatlan contained his
loadstarthe fatal partner and accomplice of his crime； the siren
that allured him to his watery grave。 I regret to say that the
facts gathered by the gentlemen were equally ineffective。 The
steward who had attended the missing man was obliged to confess
that their most protracted and confidential conversation had been
on the comparative efficiency of ship biscuits and soda crackers。
Mr。 Banks； who was known to have spoken to him； could only remember
that one warm evening； in reply to a casual remark about the
weather； the missing man； burying his ears further in the turned…up
collar of his pea…jacket； had stated； 〃'It was cold enough to
freeze the ears off a brass monkey；'a remark； no doubt； sir；
intended to convey a reason for his hiding his own。〃 Only Senor
Perkins retained his serene optimism unimpaired。
〃Take my word for it； we shall yet hear good news of our missing
friend。 Let us at least believe it until we know otherwise。 Ah！
my dear Mrs。 Markham； why should the Unknown always fill us with
apprehension？ Its surprises are equally often agreeable。〃
〃But we have all been so happy before this； and this seems such an
unnecessary and cruel awakening；〃 said Miss Keene； lifting her sad
eyes to the speaker； 〃that I can't help thinking it's the beginning
of the end。 Good heavens！ what's that？〃
She had started at the dark figure of one of the foreign…looking
sailors； who seemed to have suddenly risen out of the deck beside
them。
〃The Senor Perkins；〃 he said； with an apologetic gesture of his
hand to his hatless head。
〃You want ME； my good man？〃 asked Senor Perkins paternally。
〃Si； Senor； the mate wishes to see the Patrono；〃 he said in
Spanish。
〃I will come presently。〃
The sailor hesitated。 Senor Perkins took a step nearer to him
benignantly。 The man raised his eyes to Senor Perkins； and said；
〃Vigilancia。〃
〃Bueno！〃 returned the Senor gently。 〃Excuse me； ladies； for a
moment。〃
〃Perhaps it is some news of poor Mr。 Hurlstone？〃 said Miss Keene；
with an instinctive girlish movement of hope。
〃Who knows？〃 returned Senor Perkins； waving his hand as he gayly
tripped after his guide。 〃Let us believe in the best； dear young
lady； the best！〃
CHAPTER III。
〃VIGILANCIA。〃
Without exchanging another word with his escort； Senor Perkins
followed him to the main hatch； where they descended and groped
their way through the half obscurity of the lower deck。 Here they
passed one or two shadows； that； recognizing the Senor； seemed to
draw aside in a half awed； half suppressed shyness； as of caged
animals in the presence of their trainer。 At the fore…hatch they
again descended； passing a figure that appeared to be keeping watch
at the foot of the ladder； and almost instantly came upon a group
lit up by the glare of a bull's…eye lantern。 It was composed of
the first and second mate； a vicious…looking Peruvian sailor with a
bandaged head； and； to the Senor's astonishment； the missing
passenger Hurlstone； seated on the deck； heavily ironed。
〃Tell him what you know； Pedro；〃 said the first mate to the
Peruvian sailor curtly。
〃It was just daybreak； Patrono； before we put about；〃 began the man
in Spanish； 〃that I thought I saw some one gliding along towards
the fore…hatch； but I lost sight of him。 After we had tumbled up
to go on the other tack； I heard a noise in the f