the crusade of the excelsior- 第5部分

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　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　u