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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 fore…hold。 I went
down and found HIM；〃 pointing to Hurlstone； 〃hiding there。 He had
some provisions stowed away beside him； and that package。 I
grabbed him； Patrono。 He broke away and struck me here〃he
pointed to his still wet bandage〃and would have got out overboard
through the port； but the second mate heard the row and came down
just in time to stop him。〃
〃When was this？〃 asked Senor Perkins。
〃Guardia di Diana。〃
〃You were chattering； you fellows。〃
〃Quien sabe？〃 said the Peruvian； lifting his shoulders。
〃How does he explain himself？〃
〃He refuses to speak。〃
〃Take off his irons；〃 said Senor Perkins； in English。
〃But〃expostulated the first mate； with a warning gesture。
〃I saidtake off his irons；〃 repeated Senor Perkins in a dry and
unfamiliar voice。
The two mates released the shackles。 The prisoner raised his eyes
to Senor Perkins。 He was a slightly built man of about thirty；
fair…haired and hollow…cheeked。 His short upper lip was lifted
over his teeth； as if from hurried or labored breathing； but his
features were regular and determined； and his large blue eyes shone
with a strange abstraction of courage and fatuity。
〃That will do；〃 continued the Senor； in the same tone。 〃Now leave
him with me。〃
The two mates looked at each other； and hesitated； but at a glance
from Perkins； turned； and ascended the ladder again。 The Peruvian
alone remained。
〃Go！〃 said the Senor sharply。
The man cast a vindictive look at the prisoner and retreated
sullenly。
〃Did HE tell you；〃 said the prisoner； looking after the sailor
grimly； 〃that I tried to bribe him to let me go； but that I
couldn't reach his figure？ He wanted too much。 He thought I had
some stolen money or valuables here；〃 he added； with a bitter
laugh； pointing to the package that lay beside him。
〃And you hadn't？〃 said Perkins shortly。
〃No。〃
〃I believe you。 And now； my young friend；〃 said Perkins； with a
singular return of his beaming gentleness； 〃since those two
efficient and competent officers and this energetic but
discourteous seaman are gone； would you mind telling me WHAT you
were hiding for？〃
The prisoner raised his eyes on his questioner。 For the last three
weeks he had lived in the small community of which the Senor was a
prominent member； but he scarcely recognized him now。
〃What if I refuse？〃 he said。
The Senor shrugged his shoulders。
〃Those two excellent men would feel it their duty to bring the
Peruvian to the captain； and I should be called to interpret to
him。〃
〃And I should throw myself overboard the first chance I got。 I
would have done so ten minutes ago； but the mate stopped me。〃
His eye glistened with the same fatuous determination he had shown
at first。 There was no doubt he would do as he said。
〃I believe you would；〃 said the Senor benevolently； 〃but I see no
present necessity for that； nor for any trouble whatever； if you
will kindly tell me WHAT I am to say。〃
The young man's eyes fell。
〃I DID try to conceal myself in the hold；〃 he said bluntly。 〃I
intended to remain there hidden while the ship was at Mazatlan。 I
did not know until now that the vessel had changed her course。〃
〃And how did you believe your absence would be accounted for？〃
asked the Senor blandly。
〃I thought it would be supposed that I had fallen overboard before
we entered Mazatlan。〃
〃So that anybody seeking you there would not find you； and you
would be believed to be dead？〃
〃Yes。〃 He raised his eyes quickly to Senor Perkins again。 〃I am
neither a thief nor a murderer；〃 he said almost savagely； 〃but I do
not choose to be recognized by any one who knows me on this side of
the grave。〃
Senor Perkins' eyes sought his； and for an instant seemed to burn
through the singular； fatuous mist that veiled them。
〃My friend；〃 he said cheerfully； after a moment's pause； 〃you have
just had a providential escape。 I repeat ita most providential
escape。 Indeed； if I were inclined to prophesy； I would say you
were a man reserved for some special good fortune。〃
The prisoner stared at him with angry amazement。
〃You are a confirmed somnambulist。 Excuse me；〃 continued the
Senor； with a soft； deprecating gesture； 〃you are； of course；
unaware of itmost victims of that singular complaint are； or at
least fail to recognize the extent of their aberration。 In your
case it has only been indicated by a profound melancholy and
natural shunning of society。 In a paroxysm of your disorder； you
rise in the night； fully dress yourself； and glide as unconsciously
along the deck in pursuance of some vague fancy。 You pass the
honest but energetic sailor who has just left us； who thinks you
are a phantom； and fails to give the alarm； you are precipitated by
a lurch of the ship through an open hatchway： the shock renders you
insensible until you are discovered and restored。〃
〃And who will believe this pretty story？〃 said the young man
scornfully。
〃The honest sailor who picked you up； who has related it in his own
picturesque tongue to ME； who will in turn interpret it to the
captain and the other passengers；〃 replied Senor Perkins blandly。
〃And what of the two mates who were here？〃 said the prisoner
hesitatingly。
〃They are two competent officers； who are quite content to carry
out the orders of their superiors； and who understand their duty
too well to interfere with the reports of their subordinates； on
which these orders are based。 Mr。 Brooks； the first officer；
though fairly intelligent and a good reader of history； is only
imperfectly acquainted with the languages； and Mr。 M'Carthy's
knowledge of Spanish is confined to a few objurgations which
generally preclude extended conversation。〃
〃And who are you；〃 said Hurlstone； more calmly； 〃who are willing to
do this for a stranger？〃
〃A friendequally of yours； the captain's； and the other
passengers'；〃 replied Senor Perkins pleasantly。 〃A man who
believes you； my dear sir； and； even if he did not； sees no reason
to interrupt the harmony that has obtained in our little community
during our delightful passage。 Were any scandal to occur； were you
to carry out your idea of throwing yourself overboard； it would； to
say nothing of my personal regret； produce a discord for which
there is no necessity； and from which no personal good can be
derived。 Here at least your secret is secure； for even I do not
ask what it is； we meet here on an equality； based on our own
conduct and courtesy to each other； limited by no antecedent
prejudice； and restrained by no thought of the future。 In a little
while we shall be separatedwhy should it not be as friends？ Why
should we not look back upon our little world of this ship as a
happy one？〃
Hurlstone gazed at the speaker with a troubled air。 It was once
more the quaint benevolent figure whom he had vaguely noted among
the other passengers； and as vaguely despised。 He hesitated a
moment； and then； half timidly； half reservedly； extended his hand。
〃I thank you；〃 he said； 〃at least for not asking my secret。
Perhaps； if it was only〃
〃Your ownyou might tell it；〃 interrupted the Senor； gayly。 〃I
understand。 I see you recognize my principle。 There is no
necessity of your putting yourself to that pain； or another to that
risk。 And now； my young friend； time presses。 I must say a word
to our friends above； who are waiting； and I shall see that you are
taken privately to your state…room while most of the other
passengers are still on deck。 If you would permit yourself the
weakness of allowing the steward to carry or assist you it would be
better。 Let me advise you that the excitement of the last three
hours has not left you in your full strength。 You must really give
ME the pleasure of spreading the glad tidings of your safety among
the passengers； who have been so terribly alarmed。〃
〃They will undoubtedly be relieved；〃 said Hurlstone； with ironical
bitterness。
〃You wrong them；〃 returned the Senor； with gentle reproach；
〃especially the ladies。〃
The voice of the first mate from above here checked his further
speech； and； perhaps； prevented him； as he quickly reascended the
upper deck； from noticing the slight embarrassment of his prisoner。
The Senor's explanations to the mate were evidently explicit and
brief。 In a few moments he reappeared with the steward and his
assistant。
〃Lean on these men；〃 he said to Hurlstone significantly； 〃and do
not overestimate your strength。 Thank Heaven； no bones are broken；
and you are only bruised by the fall。 With a little rest； I think
we can get along without laying the captain's medicine…chest under
contribution。 Our kind friend Mr。 Brooks has