“I shall be charmed to extend the hospitality of the Excelsior to you on any pretext,” said the Senor gallantly, “and, indeed, should insist upon personally accompanying you and my dear friends Mrs. Markham and Miss Keene; but, alas!  I am required elsewhere.  I leave,” he continued, turning towards Hurlstone, who was already absorbed in a whispered consultation with Padre Esteban—­“I leave a sufficient escort with you to protect your party to the boats which have brought us here.  You will take them to the Excelsior, and join me with the ship off Todos Santos in the morning.  Adieu, my friends!  Good-night, and farewell!”

The priest made a vehement movement of protestation, but he was checked by Hurlstone, as, with a low bow, Senor Perkins passed out into the darkness.  The next moment his voice was heard raised in command, and the measured tramp of his men gradually receded and was lost in the distance.

“Does he think,” said the priest indignantly, “that I, Padre Esteban, would desert my sacred trust, and leave His Holy Temple a prey to sacrilegious trespass?  Never, while I live, Diego!  Call him back and tell him so!”

“Rather listen to me, Father Esteban,” said the young man earnestly.  “I have a plan by which this may be avoided.  From my knowledge of these Indians, I am convinced that they have been basely tricked and cajoled by some one.  I believe that they are still amenable to reason and argument, and I am so certain that I am ready to go down among them and make the attempt.  The old Chief and part of his band are still encamped on the shore; we could hear them as we passed in the boats.  I will go and meet them.  If I succeed in bringing them to reason I will return; if I find them intractable, I will at least divert their attention from the Mission long enough for you to embark these ladies with their escort, which you will do at the end of two hours if I do not return.”

“In two hours?” broke in Mrs. Brimmer, in sharp protest.  “I positively object.  I certainly understood that Senor Perkins’ invitation, which, under the circumstances, I shall consider equal to a command from Mr. Brimmer, was to be accepted at once and without delay; and I certainly shall not leave Miss Chubb exposed to imminent danger for two hours to meet the caprice of an entire stranger to Mr. Brimmer.”

“I am willing to stay with Father Esteban, if he will let me,” said Eleanor Keene quietly, “for I have faith in Mr. Hurlstone’s influence and courage, and believe he will be successful.”

The young man thanked her with another demonstrative look that brought the warm blood to her cheek.

“Well,” said Mrs. Markham promptly; “I suppose if Nell stays I must see the thing through and stay with her—­even if I haven’t orders from Jimmy.”