the crusade of the excelsior- 第14部分

she　was　momentarily　dazed　by　the　broad　light　of　day；　and　the

spectacle　of　Mrs。　Brimmer；　pale　and　agitated；　in　a　half…Spanish

dishabille；　standing　at　her　bedside。



〃Get　up　and　dress　yourself；　my　dear；　at　once；〃　she　said　hurriedly；

but　at　the　same　time　attentively　examining　Miss　Keene's　clothes；

that　were　lying　on　the　chair：　〃and　thank　Heaven　you　came　here　in　an

afternoon　dress；　and　not　in　an　evening　costume　like　mine！　　For

something　awful　has　happened；　and　Heaven　only　knows　whether　we'll

ever　see　a　stitch　of　our　clothes　again。〃



〃WHAT　has　happened？〃　asked　Miss　Keene　impatiently；　sitting　up　in

bed；　more　alarmed　at　the　unusual　circumstance　of　Mrs。　Brimmer's

unfinished　toilet　than　at　her　incomplete　speech。



〃What；　indeed！　　Nobody　knows；　but　it's　something　awfula　mutiny；

or　shipwreck；　or　piracy。　　But　there's　your　friend；　the　Commander；

calling　out　the　troops；　and　such　a　set　of　Christy　Minstrels　you

never　saw　before！　　There's　the　Alcalde　summoning　the　Council；

there's　Mr。　Banks　raving；　and　running　round　for　a　steamboatas　if

these　people　ever　heard　of　such　a　thing！and　Captain　Bunker；　what

with　rage　and　drink；　gone　off　in　a　fit　of　delirium　tremens；　and

locked　up　in　his　room！　　And　the　Excelsior　gonethe　Lord　knows

where！〃



〃Gone！〃　repeated　Miss　Keene；　hurrying　on　her　clothes。　　〃Impossible！

What　does　Father　Esteban　tell　you？　　What　does　Dona　Isabel　say？〃



〃That's　the　most　horrible　part　of　it！　　Do　you　know　those　wretched

idiots　believe　it's　some　political　revolution　among　ourselves；　like

their　own　miserable　government。　　I　believe　that　baby　Isabel　thinks

that　King　George　and　Washington　have　something　to　do　with　it；　at

any　rate；　they're　anxious　to　know　to　what　side　you　belong！　　So；　for

goodness'　sake！　if　you　have　to　humor　them；　say　we're　all　on　the

same　sideI　mean；　don't　you　and　Mrs。　Markham　go　against　Miss　Chubb

and　me。〃



Scarcely　knowing　whether　to　laugh　or　cry　at　Mrs。　Brimmer's

incoherent　statement；　Miss　Keene　hastily　finished　dressing　as　the

door　flew　open　to　admit　the　impulsive　Dona　Isabel　and　her　sister

Juanita。　　The　two　Mexican　girls　threw　themselves　in　Miss　Keene's

arms；　and　then　suddenly　drew　back　with　a　movement　of　bashful　and

diffident　respect。



〃Do；　pray；　ask　them；　for　I　daren't；〃　whispered　Mrs。　Brimmer；　trying

to　clasp　a　mantilla　around　her；　〃how　this　thing　is　worn；　and　if

they　haven't　got　something　like　a　decent　bonnet　to　lend　me　for　a

day　or　two？〃



〃The　Senora　has　not　then　heard　that　her　goods；　and　all　the　goods　of

the　Senores　and　Senoras；　have　been　discovered　safely　put　ashore　at

the　Embarcadero？〃



〃No？〃　said　Mrs。　Brimmer　eagerly。



〃Ah；　yes！〃　responded　Dona　Isabel。　　〃Since　the　Senora　is　not　of　the

revolutionary　party。〃



Mrs。　Brimmer　cast　a　supplicatory　look　at　Miss　Keene；　and　hastily

quitted　the　room。　　Miss　Keene　would　have　as　quickly　followed　her；

but　the　young　Ramirez　girls　threw　themselves　again　tragically　upon

her　breast；　and；　with　a　mysterious　gesture　of　silence；　whispered；



〃Fear　nothing；　Excellencia！　　We　are　yourswe　will　die　for　you；　no

matter　what　Don　Ramon；　or　the　Comandante；　or　the　Ayuntamiento；

shall　decide。　　Trust　us；　little　one！pardonExcellencia；　we

mean。〃



〃What　IS　the　matter？〃　said　Miss　Keene；　now　thoroughly　alarmed；　and

releasing　herself　from　the　twining　arms　about　her。　　〃For　Heaven's

sake　let　me　go！　　I　must　see　somebody！　　Where　iswhere　is　Mrs。

Markham？〃



〃The　Markham？　　Is　it　the　severe　one？as　thus；〃said　Dona　Isabel；

striking　an　attitude　of　infantine　portentousness。



〃Yes；〃　said　Miss　Keene；　smiling　in　spite　of　her　alarm。



〃She　is　arrested。〃



〃Arrested！〃　said　Eleanor　Keene；　her　cheeks　aflame　with　indignation。

〃For　what？　　Who　dare　do　this　thing？〃



〃The　Comandante。　　She　has　a　missivea　despatch　from　the

insurrectionaries。〃



Without　another　word；　and　feeling　that　she　could　stand　the　suspense

no　longer；　Miss　Keene　forced　her　way　past　the　young　girls；

unheeding　their　cries　of　consternation　and　apology；　and　quickly

reached　the　patio。　　A　single　glance　showed　her　that　Mrs。　Brimmer

was　gone。　　With　eyes　and　cheeks　still　burning；　she　swept　past　the

astounded　peons；　through　the　gateway；　into　the　open　plaza。　　Only

one　idea　filled　her　mindto　see　the　Commander；　and　demand　the

release　of　her　friend。　　How　she　should　do　it；　with　what　arguments

she　should　enforce　her　demand；　never　occurred　to　her。　　She　did　not

even　think　of　asking　the　assistance　of　Mr。　Brace；　Mr。　Crosby；　or

any　of　her　fellow…passengers。　　The　consciousness　of　some　vague

crisis　that　she　alone　could　meet　possessed　her　completely。



The　plaza　was　swarming　with　a　strange　rabble　of　peons　and　soldiery；

of　dark；　lowering　faces；　odd…looking　weapons　and　costumes；　mules；

mustangs；　and　cattlea　heterogeneous　mass；　swayed　by　some　fierce

excitement。　　That　she　saw　none　of　the　Excelsior　party　among　them

did　not　surprise　her；　an　instinct　of　some　catastrophe　more　serious

than　Mrs。　Brimmer's　vague　imaginings　frightened　but　exalted　her。

With　head　erect；　leveled　brows；　and　bright；　determined　eyes　she

walked　deliberately　into　the　square。　　The　crowd　parted　and　gave　way

before　this　beautiful　girl；　with　her　bared　head　and　its　invincible

crest　of　chestnut　curls。　　Presently　they　began　to　follow　her；　with

a　compressed　murmur　of　admiration；　until；　before　she　was　halfway

across　the　plaza；　the　sentries　beside　the　gateway　of　the　Presidio

were　astonished　at　the　vision　of　a　fair…haired　and　triumphant

Pallas；　who　appeared　to　be　leading　the　entire　population　of　Todos

Santos　to　victorious　attack。　　In　vain　a　solitary　bugle　blew；　in

vain　the　rolling　drum　beat　an　alarm；　the　sympathetic　guard　only

presented　arms　as　Miss　Keene；　flushed　and　excited；　her　eyes　darkly

humid　with　gratified　pride；　swept　past　them　into　the　actual

presence　of　the　bewildered　and　indignant　Comandante。



The　only　feminine　consciousness　she　retained　was　that　she　was　more

relieved　at　her　deliverance　from　the　wild　cattle　and　unbroken

horses　of　her　progress　than　from　the　Indians　and　soldiers。



〃I　want　to　see　Mrs。　Markham；　and　to　know　by　what　authority　she　is

arrested；〃　said　Miss　Keene　boldly。



〃The　Senor　Comandante　can　hold　no　conference　with　you　until　you

disperse　your　party；〃　interpreted　the　secretary。



She　was　about　to　hurriedly　reply　that　she　knew　nothing　of　the　crowd

that　had　accompanied　her；　but　she　was　withheld　by　a　newly…born

instinct　of　tact。



〃How　do　I　know　that　I　shall　not　be　arrested；　like　my　friend？〃　she

said　quickly。　　〃She　is　as　innocent　as　myself。〃



〃The　Comandante　pledges　himself；　as　a　hidalgo；　that　you　shall　not

be　harmed。〃



Her　first　impulse　was　to　advance　to　the　nearest　intruders　at　the

gate　and　say；　〃Do　go　away；　please；〃　but　she　was　doubtful　of　its

efficiency；　and　was　already　too　exalted　by　the　situation　to　be

satisfied　with　its　prosaic　weakness。　　But　her　newly　developed

diplomacy　again　came　to　her　aid。　　〃You　may　tell　them　so；　if　you

choose；　I　cannot　answer　for　them；〃　she　said；　with　apparent　dark

significance。



The　secretary　advanced　on　the　corridor　and　exchanged　a　few　words

with　her　more　impulsive　followers。　　Miss　Keene；　goddess…like　and

beautiful；　remained　erect　behind　him；　and　sent　them　a　dazzling

smile　and　ravishing　wave　of　her　little　hand。　　The　crowd　roared　with

an　effusive　and　bovine　delight　that　half　frightened　her；　and　with　a

dozen　〃Viva　la　Reyna　Americanas！〃　she　was　hurried　by　the　Comandante

into　the　guard…room。



〃You　ask　to　know　of　what　the　Senora　Markham　is　accused；〃　said　the

Commander；　more　gently。　　〃She　has　received　correspondence　from　the

piratePerkins！〃



〃The　piratePerkins？〃　said　Miss　Keene；　with　indignant　incredulity。



〃The　buccaneer　who　wrote　that　letter。　　Read　it　to　her；　Manuel。〃



The　secretary　took　his　eyes　from　the　young　girl's　glowing　face；

coughed　slightly；　and　then　read　as　follows：





〃ON　BOARD　THE　EXCELSIOR；　of　the　Quinquinambo

Independent　States　Navy；　August　8；　1854。



〃To　Captain　Bunker。Sir；〃　。　。　。



〃But　this　is　not　addressed　to　YOU！〃　interrupted　Miss　Keene

indignantly。



〃The　Captain　Bunker　is　a　raving　madman；〃　said　the　Commander

gravely。　　〃Read　on！〃



The　color　gradually　faded　from　the　young　girl's　cheek　as　the

secretary　continued；　in　a　monotonous　voice：



〃I　have　the　honor　to　inform　you　that　the　barque　Excelsior　was；　on

the　8th　of　July；　1854；　and　the　first　year　of　the　Quinquinambo

Independence；　formally　condemned　by　the　Federal　Council　of

Quinquinambo；　for　having　aided　and　assisted　the　enemy　with

munitions　of　war　and　supplies；　against　the　law　of　nations；　and　the

tacit　and　implied　good…will　between　the　Republic　of　the　United

States　and　the　struggling　Confederacies　of　South　America；　and　that；

in　pursuance　thereof；　and　under　the　law　of　reprisals　and　letters　of

marque；　was　taken　possession　of　by　me　yesterday。　　The　goods　and

personal　effects　belonging　to　the　passengers　and　yourself　have　been

safely　landed　at　the　Embarcadero　of　Todos　Santosa　neutral　port

by　my　directions；　my　interpretation　of　the　orders　of　the　Federal

Council　excepting　innocent　non…combatants　and　their　official

protector　from　confiscation　or　amercement。



〃I　take　the　liberty　of　requesting　you　to　hand　the　inclosed　order　on

the　Treasury　of　the　Quinquinambo　Confederate　States　to　Don　Miguel

Briones；　in　payment　of　certain　stores　and　provisions；　and　of　a

piece　of　ordnance　known　as　the　saluting　cannon　of　the　Presidio　of

Todos　Santos。　　Vigilancia！



〃Your　obedient　servant；



〃LEONIDAS　BOLIVAR　PERKINS；



〃Generalissimo　Commanding　Land　and　Sea　Forces；

Quinquinambo　Independent　States。〃





In　her　consternation　at　this　fuller　realization　of　the　vague

catastrophe；　Miss　Keene　still　clung　to　the　idea　that　had　brought

her　there。



〃But　Mrs。　Markham　has　nothing　to　do　with　all　this？〃



〃Then　why　does　she　refuse　to　give　up　her　secret　correspondence　with

the　pirate　Perkins？〃　returned　the　secretary。



Miss　Keene　hesitated。　　Had　Mrs。　M