the crusade of the excelsior- 第42部分

had　been　removed；　that　her　lover　only　waited　his　opportunity　to

hear　from　her　own　lips　the　answer　that　was　even　now　struggling　at

her　heart。　　And　yet　she　hesitated　and　drew　back；　half　frightened　in

the　presence　of　her　great　happiness。　　How　she　longed；　and　yet

dreaded；　to　meet　him！　　What　if　anything　should　have　happened　to

him？what　if　he　should　be　the　victim　of　some　treachery？what　if

he　did　not　come？what　if？〃Good　heavens！　what　was　that？〃



She　was　near　the　door　of　the　sacristy；　gazing　into　the　dim　and

shadowy　church。　　Either　she　was　going　mad；　or　else　the　grotesque

Indian　hangings　of　the　walls　were　certainly　moving　towards　her。

She　rose　in　speechless　terror；　as　what　she　had　taken　for　an

uncouthly　swathed　and　draped　barbaric　pillar　suddenly　glided　to　the

window。　　Crouching　against　the　wall；　she　crept　breathlessly　towards

the　entrance　to　the　garden。　　Casting　a　hurried　glance　above　her；

she　saw　the　open　belfry　that　was　illuminated　by　the　misty　radiance

of　the　moon；　darkly　shadowed　by　hideously　gibbering　faces　that

peered　at　her　through　the　broken　tracery。　　With　a　cry　of　horror　she

threw　open　the　garden…door；　but　the　next　moment　was　swallowed　up　in

the　tumultuous　tide　of　wild　and　half　naked　Indians　who　surged

against　the　walls　of　the　church；　and　felt　herself　lifted　from　her

feet；　with　inarticulate　cries；　and　borne　along　the　garden。　　Even　in

her　mortal　terror；　she　could　recognize　that　the　cries　were　not

those　of　rage；　but　of　vacant　satisfaction；　that　although　she　was

lifted　on　lithe　shoulders；　the　grasp　of　her　limbs　was　gentle；　and

the　few　dark　faces　she　could　see　around　her　were　glistening　in

childlike　curiosity。　　Presently　she　felt　herself　placed　upon　the

back　of　a　mule；　that　seemed　to　be　swayed　hither　and　thither　in　the

shifting　mass；　and　the　next　moment　the　misty；　tossing　cortege　moved

forward　with　a　new　and　more　definite　purpose。　　She　called　aloud　for

Father　Esteban　and　Mrs。　Markham；　her　voice　appeared　to　flow　back

upon　her　from　the　luminous　wall　of　fog　that　closed　around　her。

Then　the　inarticulate；　irregular　outcries　took　upon　themselves　a

measured　rhythm；　the　movement　of　the　mass　formed　itself　upon　the

monotonous　chant；　the　intervals　grew　shorter；　the　mule　broke　into　a

trot；　and　then　the　whole　vast　multitude　fell　into　a　weird；

rhythmical；　jogging　quick　step　at　her　side。



Whatever　was　the　intent　of　this　invasion　of　the　Mission　and　her　own

strange　abduction；　she　was　relieved　by　noticing　that　they　were

going　in　the　same　direction　as　that　taken　by　Hurlstone　an　hour

before。　　Either　he　was　cognizant　of　their　movements；　and；　being

powerless　to　prevent　their　attack　on　the　church；　had　stipulated

they　were　to　bring　her　to　him　in　safety；　or　else　he　was　calculating

to　intercept　them　on　the　way。　　The　fog　prevented　her　from　forming

any　estimation　of　the　numbers　that　surrounded　her；　or　if　the　Padre

and　Mrs。　Markham　were　possibly　preceding　her　as　captives　in　the

vanguard。　　She　felt　the　breath　of　the　sea；　and　knew　they　were

traveling　along　the　shore；　the　monotonous　chant　and　jogging　motion

gradually　dulled　her　active　terror　to　an　apathetic　resignation；　in

which　occasionally　her　senses　seemed　to　swoon　and　swim　in　the

dreamy　radiance　through　which　they　passed；　at　times　it　seemed　a

dream　or　nightmare　with　which　she　was　hopelessly　struggling；　at

times　she　was　taking　part　in　an　unhallowed　pageant；　or　some　heathen

sacrificial　procession　of　which　she　was　the　destined　victim。



She　had　no　consciousness　of　how　long　the　hideous　journey　lasted。

Her　benumbed　senses　were　suddenly　awakened　by　a　shock；　the　chant

had　ceased；　the　moving　mass　in　which　she　was　imbedded　rolled

forward　once　more　as　if　by　its　own　elasticity；　and　then　receded

again　with　a　jar　that　almost　unseated　her。　　Then　the　inarticulate

murmur　was　overborne　by　a　voice。　　It　was　HIS！　　She　turned　blindly

towards　it；　but　before　she　could　utter　the　cry　that　rose　to　her

lips；　she　was　again　lifted　from　the　saddle；　carried　forward；　and

gently　placed　upon　what　seemed　to　be　a　moss…grown　bank。　　Opening

her　half　swimming　eyes　she　recognized　the　Indian　cross。　　The　crowd

seemed　to　recede　before　her。　　Her　eyes　closed　again　as　a　strong　arm

passed　around　her　waist。



〃Speak　to　me；　Miss　KeeneEleanormy　darling！〃　said　Hurlstone's

voice。　　〃O　my　God！　they　have　killed　her！〃



With　an　effort　she　moved　her　head　and　tried　to　smile。　　Their　eyes；

and　then　their　lips　met；　she　fainted。



When　she　struggled　to　her　senses　again；　she　was　lying　in　the　stern…

sheets　of　the　Excelsior's　boat；　supported　on　Mrs。　Markham's

shoulder。　　For　an　instant　the　floating　veil　of　fog　around　her；　and

the　rhythmical　movement　of　the　boat；　seemed　a　part　of　her

mysterious　ride；　and　she　raised　her　head　with　a　faint　cry　for

Hurlstone。



〃It's　all　right；　my　dear；〃　said　Mrs。　Markham；　soothingly；　〃he's

ashore　with　the　Padre；　and　everything　else　is　all　right　too。　　But

it's　rather　ridiculous　to　think　that　those　idiotic　Indians　believed

the　only　way　they　could　show　Mr。　Hurlstone　that　they　meant　us　no

harm　was　to　drag　us　all　up　to　THEIR　Mission；　as　they　call　that　half

heathen　cross　of　theirsfor　safety　againstwho　do　you　think；

dear？the　dreadful　AMERICANS！　　And　imagine　all　the　while　the　Padre

and　I　were　just　behind　you；　bringing　up　the　rear　of　the　procession

only　they　wouldn't　let　us　join　you　because　they　wanted　to　show　you

special　honor　as〃she　sank　her　voice　to　a　whisper　in　Eleanor's

ear〃as　the　future　Mrs。　Hurlstone！　　It　appears　they　must　have

noticed　something　about　you　two；　the　last　time　you　were　there；　my

dear。　　Andto　thinkYOU　never　told　me　anything　about　it！〃



When　they　reached　the　Excelsior；　they　found　that　Mrs。　Brimmer；

having　already　settled　herself　in　the　best　cabin；　was　inclined　to


extend　the　hospitalities　of　the　ship　with　the　air　of　a　hostess。

But　the　arrival　of　Hurlstone　at　midnight　with　some　delegated

authority　from　Senor　Perkins；　and　the　unexpected　getting　under　way

of　the　ship；　disturbed　her　complacency。



〃We　are　going　through　the　channel　into　the　bay　of　Todos　Santos；〃

was　the　brief　reply　vouchsafed　her　by　Hurlstone。



〃But　why　can't　we　remain　here　and　wait　for　Mr。　Brimmer？〃　she　asked

indignantly。



〃Because；〃　responded　Hurlstone　grimly；　〃the　Excelsior　is　expected

off　the　Presidio　to…morrow　morning　to　aid　the　insurgents。〃



〃You　don't　mean　to　say　that　Miss　Chubb　and　myself　are　to　be　put　in

the　attitude　of　arraying　ourselves　against　the　constituted

authoritiesand；　perhaps；　Mr。　Brimmer　himself？〃　asked　Mrs。

Brimmer；　in　genuine　alarm。



〃It　looks　so；〃　said　Hurlstone；　a　little　maliciously；　〃but；　no

doubt；　your　husband　and　the　Senor　will　arrange　it　amicably。〃



To　Mrs。　Markham　and　Miss　Keene　he　explained　more　satisfactorily

that　the　unexpected　disaffection　of　the　Indians　had　obliged　Perkins

to　so　far　change　his　plans　as　to　disembark　his　entire　force　from

the　Excelsior；　and　leave　her　with　only　the　complement　of　men

necessary　to　navigate　her　through　the　channel　of　Todos　Santos；

where　she　would　peacefully　await　his　orders；　or　receive　his　men　in

case　of　defeat。



Nevertheless；　as　the　night　was　nearly　spent；　Mrs。　Markham　and

Eleanor　preferred　to　await　the　coming　day　on　deck；　and　watch　the

progress　of　the　Excelsior　through　the　mysterious　channel。　　In　a　few

moments　the　barque　began　to　feel　the　combined　influence　of　the　tide

and　the　slight　morning　breeze；　and；　after　rounding　an　invisible

point；　she　presently　rose　and　fell　on　the　larger　ocean　swell。　　The

pilot；　whom　Hurlstone　recognized　as　the　former　third　mate　of　the

Excelsior；　appeared　to　understand　the　passage　perfectly；　and　even

Hurlstone　and　the　ladies；　who　had　through　eight　months'　experience

become　accustomed　to　the　luminous　obscurity　of　Todos　Santos；　could

detect　the　faint　looming　of　the　headland　at　the　entrance。　　The　same

soothing　silence；　even　the　same　lulling　of　the　unseen　surf；　which

broke　in　gentle　undulations　over　the　bar；　and　seemed　to　lift　the

barque　in　rocking　buoyancy　over　the　slight　obstruction；　came　back

to　them　as　on　the　day　of　their　fateful　advent。　　The　low　orders　of

the　pilot；　the　cry　of　the　leadsman　in　the　chains；　were　but　a　part

of　the　restful　past。



Under　the　combined　influence　of　the　hour　and　the　climate；　the

conversation　fell　into　monosyllables；　and　Mrs。　Markham　dozed。　　The

lovers　sat　silently　together；　but　the　memory　of　a　kiss　was　between

them。　　It　spanned　the　gulf　of　the　past　with　an　airy　bridge；　over

which　their　secret　thoughts　and　fancies　passed　and　repassed　with　a

delicious　security；　henceforth　they　could　not　flee　from　that

memory；　even　if　they　wished；　they　read　it　in　each　other's　lightest

glance；　they　felt　it　in　the　passing　touch　of　each　other's　hands；　it

lingered；　with　vague　tenderness；　on　the　most　trivial　interchange　of

thought。　　Yet　they　spoke　a　little　of　the　future。　　Eleanor　believed

that　her　brother　would　not　object　to　their　union；　he　had　spoken　of

entering　into　business　at　Todos　Santos；　and　perhaps　when　peace　and

security　were　restored　they　might　live　together。　　Hurlstone　did　not

tell　her　that　a　brief　examination　of　his　wife's　papers　had　shown

him　that　the　property　he　had　set　aside　for　her　maintenance；　and

from　which　she　had　regularly　drawn　an　income；　had　increased　in

value；　and　left　him　a　rich　man。　　He　only　pressed　her　hand；　and

whispered　that　her　wishes　should　be　his。　　They　had　become　tenderly

silent　again；　as　the　Excelsior；　now　fairly　in　the　bay；　appeared　to

be　slowly　drifting；　with　listless　sails　and　idle　helm；　in　languid

search　of　an　anchorage。　　Suddenly　they　were　startled　by　a　cry　from

the　lookout。



〃Sail　ho！〃



There　was　an　incredulous　start　on　the　deck。　　The　mate　sprang　into

the　fore…rigging　with　an　oath　of　protestation。　　But　at　the　same

moment　the　tall　masts　and　spars　of　a　vessel　suddenly　rose　like　a

phantom　out　of　the　fog　at　their　side。　　The　half　disciplined　foreign

crew　uttered　a　cry　of　rage　and　trepidation；　and　huddled　like　sheep

in　the　waist；　with　distracted　gestur