The Crusade of the Excelsior

by Bret Harte

  CHAPTER X.

  TODOS SANTOS SOLVES THE MYSTERY.

  Notwithstanding his promise, and the summons of the Council, FatherEsteban, on parting with the Excelsior prisoners in the San AntonioRoad, did not proceed immediately to the presence of the Comandante.Partly anxious to inform himself more thoroughly regarding Hurlstone'santecedents before entering upon legislative functions that mightconcern him, partly uneasy at Brace's allusion to any possibleungentleness in the treatment of the fair Americanas, and partlyapprehensive that Mrs. Brimmer might seek him at the Mission inthe present emergency, the good Father turned his steps towards theAlcalde's house.

  Mrs. Brimmer, in a becoming morning wrapper, half reclining in anIndian hammock in the corridor, supported by Miss Chubb, started at hisapproach. So did the young Alcalde, sympathetically seated at her side.Padre Esteban for an instant was himself embarrassed; Mrs. Brimmerquickly recovered her usual bewildering naivete.

  "I knew you would come; but if you hadn't, I should have musteredcourage enough to go with Miss Chubb to find you at the Mission," shesaid, half coquettishly. "Not but that Don Ramon has been all kindnessand consideration, but you know one always clings to one's spiritualadviser in such an emergency; and although there are differences ofopinion between us, I think I may speak to you as freely as I wouldspeak to my dear friend Dr. Potts, of Trinity Chapel. Of course youdon't know HIM; but you couldn't have helped liking him, he's so gentle,so tactful, so refined! But do tell me the fullest particulars of thisterrible calamity that has happened so awkwardly. Tell me all! I fearthat Don Ramon, out of kindness, has not told me everything. I have beenperfectly frank, I told him everything--who I am, who Mr. Brimmer is,and given him even the connections of my friend Miss Chubb. I can dono more; but you will surely have no difficulty in finding some one inTodos Santos who has heard of the Quincys and Brimmers. I've no doubtthat there are books in your library that mention them. Of course I cansay nothing of the other passengers, except that Mr. Brimmer would nothave probably permitted me to associate with any notorious persons. Iconfess now--I think I told you once before, Clarissa--that I greatlydoubted Captain Bunker's ability"--

  "Ah," murmured Don Ramon.

  "--To make a social selection," continued Mrs. Brimmer. "He may havebeen a good sailor, and boxed his compass, but he lacked a knowledgeof the world. Of the other passengers I can truly say I know nothing;I cannot think that Mr. Crosby's sense of humor led him into badassociations, or that he ever went beyond verbal impropriety. Certainlynothing in Miss Keene's character has led me to believe she could so farforget what was due to herself and to us as to address a lawless mob inthe streets as she did just now; although her friend Mrs. Markham, asI just told Don Ramon, is an advocate of Women's Rights and FemaleSuffrage, and I believe she contemplates addressing the public from thelecturer's platform."

  "It isn't possible!" interrupted Don Ramon excitedly, in mingledhorror of the masculinely rampant Mrs. Markham and admiration of thefascinatingly feminine Mrs. Brimmer; "a lady cannot be an orator--aharanguer of men!"

  "Not in society," responded Mrs. Brimmer, with a sigh, "and I do notremember to have met the lady before. The fact is, she does not move inour circle--in the upper classes."

  The Alcalde exchanged a glance with the Padre.

  "Ah! you have classes? and she is of a distinct class, perhaps?"

  "Decidedly," said Mrs. Brimmer promptly.

  "Pardon me," said Padre Esteban, with gentle persuasiveness, "but youare speaking of your fellow-passengers. Know you not, then, of oneHurlstone, who is believed to be still in the ship Excelsior, andperhaps of the party who seized it?"

  "Mr. Hurlstone?--it is possible; but I know really nothing of him," saidMrs. Brimmer carelessly. "I don't think Clarissa did, either--did you,dear? Even in our enforced companionship we had to use some reserve,and we may have drawn the line at him! He was a friend of Miss Keene's;indeed, she was the only one who seemed to know him."

  "And she is now here?" asked the Padre eagerly.

  "No. She is with her friend the Senora Markham, at the Presidio. TheComandante has given her the disposition of his house," said Don Ramon,with a glance of grave archness at Mrs. Brimmer; "it is not known whichis the most favored, the eloquent orator or the beautiful and daringleader!"

  "Mrs. Markham is a married woman," said Mrs. Brimmer severely, "and,of course, she can do as she pleases; but it is far different with MissKeene. I should scarcely consider it proper to expose Miss Chubb tothe hospitality of a single man, without other women, and I cannotunderstand how she could leave the companionship and protection of yourlovely sisters."

  The priest here rose, and, with formal politeness, excused himself,urging the peremptory summons of the Council.

  "I scarcely expected, indeed, to have had the pleasure of seeing mycolleague here," he added with quiet suavity, turning to the Alcalde.

  "I have already expressed my views to the Comandante," said theofficial, with some embarrassment, "and my attendance will hardly berequired."

  The occasional misleading phosphorescence of Mrs. Brimmer's quiet eyes,early alluded to in these pages, did not escape Father Esteban's quickperception at that moment; however, he preferred to leave his companionto follow its aberrations rather than to permit that fair ignis fatuusto light him on his way by it.

  "But my visit to you, Father Esteban," she began sweetly, "is onlypostponed."

  "Until I have the pleasure of anticipating it here," said the priest,with paternal politeness bending before the two ladies; "but for thepresent, au revoir!"

  "It would be an easy victory to win this discreetly emotional Americanato the Church," said Father Esteban to himself, as he crossed the plaza;"but, if I mistake not, she would not cease to be a disturbing elementeven there. However, she is not such as would give this Hurlstone anytrouble. It seems I must look elsewhere for the brains of this party,and to find a solution of this young man's mystery; and, if I judgecorrectly, it is with this beautiful young agitator of revolutions andher oratorical duenna I must deal."

  He entered the low gateway of the Presidio unchallenged, and eventraversed the courtyard without meeting a soul. The guard and sentrieshad evidently withdrawn to their habitual peaceful vocations, and theformer mediaeval repose of the venerable building had returned. Therewas no one in the guard-room; but as the priest turned back to thecorridor, his quick ear was suddenly startled by the unhallowedand inconsistent sounds of a guitar. A monotonous voice also--theComandante's evidently--was raised in a thin, high recitative.

  The Padre passed hastily through the guard-room, and opened the doorof the passage leading to the garden slope. Here an extraordinary grouppresented itself to his astonished eyes. In the shadow of a palm-tree,Mrs. Markham, seated on her Saratoga trunk as on a throne, was gazingblandly down upon the earnest features of the Commander, who, at herfeet, guitar in hand, was evidently repeating some musical composition.His subaltern sat near him, divided in admiration of his chief and theguest. Miss Keene, at a little distance, aided by the secretary,was holding an animated conversation with a short, stout, SanchoPanza-looking man, whom the Padre recognized as the doctor of TodosSantos.

  At the apparition of the reverend Father, the Commander started,the subaltern stared, and even the secretary and the doctor lookeddiscomposed.

  "I am decidedly de trop this morning," soliloquized the ecclesiastic;but Miss Keene cut short his reflection by running to him frankly, withoutstretched hand.

  "I am so glad that you have come," she said, with a youthful,unrestrained earnestness that was as convincing as it was fascinating,"for you will help me to persuade this gentleman that poor CaptainBunker is suffering more from excitement of mind than body, and thatbleeding him is more than folly."

  "The man's veins are in a burning fever and delirium from aguardiente,"said the little doctor excitedly, "and the fire must first be put out bythe lancet."

  "He is only crazy with remorse for having lost his ship through his owncarelessness and the trea
chery of others," said Miss Keene doughtily.

  "He is a maniac and will kill himself, unless his fever is subdued,"persisted the doctor.

  "And you would surely kill him by your way of subduing it," said theyoung girl boldly. "Better for him, a disgraced man of honor, to dieby his own hand, than to be bled like a calf into a feeble and helplessdissolution. I would, if I were in his place--if I had to do it bytearing off the bandages."

  She made a swift, half unconscious gesture of her little hand, andstopped, her beautiful eyes sparkling, her thin pink nostrils dilated,her red lips parted, her round throat lifted in the air, and one smallfoot advanced before her. The men glanced hurriedly at each other, andthen fixed their eyes upon her with a rapt yet frightened admiration. Totheir simple minds it was Anarchy and Revolution personified, beautiful,and victorious.

  "Ah!" said the secretary to Padre Esteban, in Spanish, "it is true! sheknows not fear! She was in the room alone with the madman; he would letnone approach but her! She took a knife from him--else the medico hadsuffered!"

  "He recognized her, you see! Ah! they know her power," said theComandante, joining the group.

  "You will help me, Father Esteban?" said the young girl, letting thefire of her dark eyes soften to a look of almost childish appeal--"youwill help me to intercede for him? It is the restraint only that iskilling him--that is goading him to madness! Think of him, Father--thinkof him: ruined and disgraced, dying to retrieve himself by any recklessaction, any desperate chance of recovery, and yet locked up where he cando nothing--attempt nothing--not even lift a hand to pursue the man whohas helped to bring him to this!"

  "But he CAN do nothing! The ship is gone!" remonstrated the Comandante.

  "Yes, the ship is gone; but the ocean is still there," said Miss Keene.

  "But he has no boat."

  "He will find or make one."

  "And the fog conceals the channel."

  "He can go where THEY have gone, or meet their fate. You do not know mycountrymen, Senor Comandante," she said proudly.

  "Ah, yes--pardon! They are at San Antonio--the baker, the buffoon, thetwo young men who dig. They are already baking and digging and joking.We have it from my officer, who has just returned."

  Miss Keene bit her pretty lips.

  "They think it is a mistake; they cannot believe that any intentionalindignity is offered them," she said quietly. "Perhaps it is well theydo not."

  "They desired me to express their condolences to the Senora," said thePadre, with exasperating gentleness, "and were relieved to be assured byme of your perfect security in the hands of these gentlemen."

  Miss Keene raised her clear eyes to the ecclesiastic. That accomplisheddiplomat of Todos Santos absolutely felt confused under the coolscrutiny of this girl's unbiased and unsophisticated intelligence.

  "Then you HAVE seen them," she said, "and you know their innocence, andthe utter absurdity of this surveillance?"

  "I have not seen them ALL," said the priest softly. "There is stillanother--a Senor Hurlstone--who is missing? Is he not?"

  It was not in the possibility of Eleanor Keene's truthful blood to doother than respond with a slight color to this question. She had alreadyconcealed from every one the fact of having seen the missing man in theMission garden the evening before. It did not, however, prevent her thenext moment from calmly meeting the glance of the priest as she answeredgravely,--

  "I believe so. But I cannot see what that has to do with the detentionof the others."

  "Much, perhaps. It has been said that you alone, my child, were in theconfidence of this man."

  "Who dared say that?" exclaimed Miss Keene in English, forgettingherself in her indignation.

  "If it's anything mean--it's Mrs. Brimmer, I'll bet a cooky," saidMrs. Markham, whose linguistic deficiencies had debarred her from theprevious conversation.

  "You have only," continued the priest, without noticing theinterruption, "to tell us what you know of this Hurlstone's plans,--ofhis complicity with Senor Perkins, or," he added significantly, "hisopposition to them--to insure that perfect justice shall be done toall."

  Relieved that the question involved no disclosure of her only secretregarding Hurlstone, Miss Keene was about to repeat the truth thatshe had no confidential knowledge of him, or of his absurd allegedconnection with Senor Perkins, when, with an instinct of tact, shehesitated. Might she not serve them all--even Hurlstone himself--bysaying nothing, and leaving the burden of proof to their idioticaccusers? Was she altogether sure that Hurlstone was entirely ignorantof Senor Perkins' plans, or might he not have refused, at the lastmoment, to join in the conspiracy, and so left the ship?

  "I will not press you for your answer now," said the priest gently. "Butyou will not, I know, keep back anything that may throw a light on thissad affair, and perhaps help to reinstate your friend Mr. Hurlstone inhis REAL position."

  "If you ask me if I believe that Mr. Hurlstone had anything to do withthis conspiracy, I should say, unhesitatingly, that I do NOT. And more,I believe that he would have jumped overboard rather than assent to soinfamous an act," said the young girl boldly.

  "Then you think he had no other motive for leaving the ship?" said thepriest slowly.

  "Decidedly not." She stopped; a curious anxious look in the Padre'spersistent eyes both annoyed and frightened her. "What other motivecould he have?" she said coldly.

  Father Esteban's face lightened.

  "I only ask because I think you would have known it. Thank you for theassurance all the same, and in return I promise you I will use my bestendeavors with the Comandante for your friend the Captain Bunker. Adieu,my daughter. Adieu, Madame Markham," he said, as, taking the arm of DonMiguel, he turned with him and the doctor towards the guard-room. Thesecretary lingered behind for a moment.

  "Fear nothing," he said, in whispered English to Miss Keene. "I, RuySanchez, shall make you free of Capitano Bunker's cell," and passed on.

  "Well," said Mrs. Markham, when the two women were alone again. "I don'tpretend to fathom the befogged brains of Todos Santos; but as far as Ican understand their grown-up child's play, they are making believe thisunfortunate Mr. Hurlstone, who may be dead for all we know, is inrevolt against the United States Government, which is supposed to berepresented by Senor Perkins and the Excelsior--think of that!"

  "But Perkins signed himself of the Quinquinambo navy!" said Miss Keenewonderingly.

  "That is firmly believed by those idiots to be one of OUR States.Remember they know nothing of what has happened anywhere in the lastfifty years. I dare say they never heard of filibusters like Perkins,and they couldn't comprehend him if they had. I've given up trying toenlighten them, and I think they're grateful for it. It makes their poordear heads ache."

  "And it is turning mine! But, for Heaven's sake, tell me what part I amsupposed to act in this farce!" said Miss Keene.

  "You are the friend and colleague of Hurlstone, don't you see?" saidMrs. Markham. "You are two beautiful young patriots--don't blush, mydear!--endeared to each other and a common cause, and ready to die foryour country in opposition to Perkins, and the faint-heartedness of suchneutrals as Mrs. Brimmer, Miss Chubb, the poor Captain, and all the menwhom they have packed off to San Antonio."

  "Impossible!" said Miss Keene, yet with an uneasy feeling that it notonly was possible, but that she herself had contributed something to thedelusion. "But how do they account for my friendship with YOU--you, whoare supposed to be a correspondent--an accomplice of Perkins?"

  "No, no," returned Mrs. Markham, with a half serious smile, "I am notallowed that honor. I am presumed to be only the disconsolate Dulcineaof Perkins, abandoned by HIM, pitied by you, and converted to the truefaith--at least, that is what I make out from the broken English of thatlittle secretary of the Commander."

  Miss Keene winced.

  "That's all my fault, dear," she said, suddenly entwining her arms roundMrs. Markham, and hiding her half embarrassed smile on the shoulder ofher strong-minded friend; "they suggeste
d it to me, and I half assented,to save you. Please forgive me."

  "Don't think I am blaming you, my dear Eleanor," said Mrs. Markham. "ForHeaven's sake assent to the wildest and most extravagant hypothesis theycan offer, if it will leave us free to arrange our own plans for gettingaway. I begin to think we were not a very harmonious party on theExcelsior, and most of our troubles here are owing to that. We forgetwe have fallen among a lot of original saints, as guileless and asunsophisticated as our first parents, who know nothing of our customsand antecedents. They have accepted us on what they believe to be ourown showing. From first to last we've underrated them, forgetting theyare in the majority. We can't expect to correct the ignorance of fiftyyears in twenty-four hours, and I, for one, sha'n't attempt it. I'd muchrather trust to the character those people would conceive of me fromtheir own consciousness than to one Mrs. Brimmer or Mr. Winslow wouldgive of me. From this moment I've taken a firm resolve to leave myreputation and the reputation of my friends entirely in their hands.If you are wise you will do the same. They are inclined to worshipyou--don't hinder them. My belief is, if we only take things quietly,we might find worse places to be stranded on than Todos Santos. If Mrs.Brimmer and those men of ours, who, I dare say, have acted as silly asthe Mexicans themselves, will only be quiet, we can have our own wayhere yet."

  "And poor Captain Bunker?" said Miss Keene.

  "It seems hard to say it, but, in my opinion, he is better under lockand key, for everybody's good, at present. He'd be a firebrand in thetown if he got away. Meantime, let us go to our room. It is about thetime when everybody is taking a siesta, and for two hours, thank Heaven!we're certain nothing more can happen."

  "I'll join you in a moment," said Miss Keene.

  Her quick ear had caught the sound of voices approaching. As Mrs.Markham disappeared in the passage, the Commander and his partyreappeared from the guard-room, taking leave of Padre Esteban. Thesecretary, as he passed Miss Keene, managed to add to his formalsalutation the whispered words,--"When the Angelus rings I will awaityou before the grating of his prison."

  Padre Esteban was too preoccupied to observe this incident. As soon ashe quitted the Presidio, he hastened to the Mission with a disquietingfear that his strange guest might have vanished. But, crossing thesilent refectory, and opening the door of the little apartment, he wasrelieved to find him stretched on the pallet in a profound slumber.The peacefulness of the venerable walls had laid a gentle finger on hisweary eyelids.

  The Padre glanced round the little cell, and back again at the handsomesuffering face that seemed to have found surcease and rest in the narrowwalls, with a stirring of regret. But the next moment he awakened thesleeper, and in the briefest, almost frigid, sentences, related theevents of the morning.

  The young man rose to his feet with a bitter laugh.

  "You see," he said, "God is against me! And yet a few hours ago I daredto think that He had guided me to a haven of rest and forgetfulness!

  "Have you told the truth to him and to me?" said the priest sternly,"or have you--a mere political refugee--taken advantage of an old man'sweakness to forge a foolish lie of sentimental passion?"

  "What do you mean?" said Hurlstone, turning upon him almost fiercely.

  The priest rose, and drawing a folded paper from his bosom, opened itbefore the eyes of his indignant guest.

  "Remember what you told me last night in the sacred confidences ofyonder holy church, and hear what you really are from the lips of theCouncil of Todos Santos."

  Smoothing out the paper, he read slowly as follows:--

  "Whereas, it being presented to an Emergency Council, held at thePresidio of Todos Santos, that the foreign barque Excelsior hadmutinied, discharged her captain and passengers, and escaped from thewaters of the bay, it was, on examination, found and decreed that thesaid barque was a vessel primarily owned by a foreign Power, then andthere confessed and admitted to be at war with Mexico and equipped toinvade one of her northern provinces. But that the God of Liberty andJustice awakening in the breasts of certain patriots--to wit, the heroicSenor Diego Hurlstone and the invincible Dona Leonor--the courage anddiscretion to resist the tyranny and injustice of their oppressors,caused them to mutiny and abandon the vessel rather than becomeaccomplices, in the company of certain neutral and non-combatant tradersand artisans, severally known as Brace, Banks, Winslow, and Crosby;and certain aristocrats, known as Senoras Brimmer and Chubb. Inconsideration thereof, it is decreed by the Council of Todos Santos thatasylum, refuge, hospitality, protection, amity, and alliance be offeredand extended to the patriots, Senor Diego Hurlstone, Dona Leonor, anda certain Duenna Susana Markham, particularly attached to Dona Leonor'sperson; and that war, reprisal, banishment, and death be declaredagainst Senor Perkins, his unknown aiders and abettors. And that forthe purposes of probation, and in the interests of clemency, provisionalparole shall be extended to the alleged neutrals--Brace, Banks, Crosby,and Winslow--within the limits and boundaries of the lazaretto of SanAntonio, until their neutrality shall be established, and pending thefurther pleasure of the Council. And it is further decreed and declaredthat one Capitano Bunker, formerly of the Excelsior, but now a maniacand lunatic--being irresponsible and visited of God, shall be exemptedfrom the ordinances of this decree until his reason shall be restored;and during that interval subjected to the ordinary remedial andbeneficent restraint of civilization and humanity. By order of theCouncil,--

  "The signatures and rubrics of--

  "DON MIGUEL BRIONES,

  Comandante.

  "PADRE ESTEBAN,

  of the Order of San Francisco d'Assisis.

  "DON RAMON RAMIREZ,

  Alcalde of the Pueblo of Todos Santos."