Part 31 (1/2)

The shadow of Hurlstone's figure falling across his paper caused him to look up.

Whatever anxiety Hurlstone had begun to feel, it was quickly dissipated by the hearty, affable, and even happy greeting of the prisoner.

”Ah! what! my young friend Hurlstone! Again an unexpected pleasure,” he said, extending his white hands. ”And again you find me wooing the Muse, in, I fear, hesitating numbers.” He pointed to the sheet of paper before him, which showed some attempts at versification. ”But I confess to a singular fascination in the exercise of poetic composition, in instants of leisure like this--a fascination which, as a man of imagination yourself, you can appreciate.”

”And I am sorry to find you here, Senor Perkins,” began Hurlstone frankly; ”but I believe it will not be for long.”

”My opinion,” said the Senor, with a glance of gentle contemplation at the distant Comandante, ”as far as I may express it, coincides with your own.”

”I have come,” continued Hurlstone earnestly, ”to offer you my services.

I am ready,” he raised his voice, with a view of being overheard, ”to bear testimony that you had no complicity in the baser part of the late conspiracy,--the revolt of the savages, and that you did your best to counteract the evil, although in doing so you have sacrificed yourself.

I shall claim the right to speak from my own knowledge of the Indians and from their admission to me that they were led away by the vague representations of Martinez, Brace, and Winslow.”

”Pardon--pardon me,” said Senor Perkins deprecatingly, ”you are mistaken. My general instructions, no doubt, justified these young gentlemen in taking, I shall not say extreme, but injudicious measures.”

He glanced meaningly in the direction of the Commander, as if to warn Hurlstone from continuing, and said gently, ”But let us talk of something else. I thank you for your gracious intentions, but you remember that we agreed only yesterday that you knew nothing of politics, and did not concern yourself with them. I do not know but you are wise. Politics and the science of self-government, although dealing with general principles, are apt to be defined by the individual limitations of the enthusiast. What is good for HIMSELF he too often deems is applicable to the general public, instead of wisely understanding that what is good for THEM must be good for himself. But,”

said the Senor lightly, ”we are again transgressing. We were to choose another topic. Let it be yourself, Mr. Hurlstone. You are looking well, sir; indeed, I may say I never saw you looking so well! Let me congratulate you. Health is the right of youth. May you keep both!”

He shook Hurlstone's hand again with singular fervor.

There was a slight bustle and commotion at the door of the guard-room, and the Commander's attention was called in that direction. Hurlstone profited by the opportunity to say in a hurried whisper:

”Tell me what I can do for you;” and he hesitated to voice his renewed uneasiness--”tell me if--if--if your case is--urgent!”

Senor Perkins lifted his shoulders and smiled with grateful benevolence.

”You have already promised me to deliver those papers and ma.n.u.scripts of my deceased friend, and to endeavor to find her relations. I do not think it is urgent, however.”

”I do not mean that,” said Hurlstone eagerly. ”I”--but Perkins stopped him with a sign that the Commander was returning.

Don Miguel approached them with disturbed and anxious looks.

”I have yielded to the persuasions of two ladies, Dona Leonor and the Senora Markham, to ask you to see them for a moment,” he said to Senor Perkins. ”Shall it be so? I have told them the hour is nearly spent.”

”You have told them--NOTHING MORE?” asked the Senor, in a whisper unheard by Hurlstone.