“I don’t see why we shouldn’t,” said Brace quickly.  “We started out to do that sort of thing in California, and I reckon if we’d found such a spot as this on the Sacramento or American River we’d have been content.  We can take turns at housekeeping, prospect a little, and enter into negotiations with the Government.  I’m for offering them a fair sum for this ridge and all it contains at once.”

“The only thing against that,” said Crosby slowly, “is the probability that it is already devoted to some other use by the Government.  Ever since we’ve been here I’ve been thinking—­I don’t know why—­that we’ve been put in a sort of quarantine.  The desertion of the place, the half hospital arrangements of this building, and the means they have taken to isolate us from themselves, must mean something.  I’ve read somewhere that in these out-of-the-way spots in the tropics they have a place where they put the fellows with malarious or contagious diseases.  I don’t want to frighten you boys:  but I’ve an idea that we’re in a sort of lazaretto, and the people outside won’t trouble us often.”

CHAPTER X.

Todos Santos solves the mystery.

Notwithstanding his promise, and the summons of the Council, Father Esteban, on parting with the Excelsior prisoners in the San Antonio Road, did not proceed immediately to the presence of the Comandante.  Partly anxious to inform himself more thoroughly regarding Hurlstone’s antecedents before entering upon legislative functions that might concern him, partly uneasy at Brace’s allusion to any possible ungentleness in the treatment of the fair Americanas, and partly apprehensive that Mrs. Brimmer might seek him at the Mission in the present emergency, the good Father turned his steps towards the Alcalde’s house.

Mrs. Brimmer, in a becoming morning wrapper, half reclining in an Indian hammock in the corridor, supported by Miss Chubb, started at his approach.  So did the young Alcalde, sympathetically seated at her side.  Padre Esteban for an instant was himself embarrassed; Mrs. Brimmer quickly recovered her usual bewildering naivete.

“I knew you would come; but if you hadn’t, I should have mustered courage enough to go with Miss Chubb to find you at the Mission,” she said, half coquettishly.  “Not but that Don Ramon has been all kindness and consideration, but you know one always clings to one’s spiritual adviser in such an emergency; and although there are differences of opinion between us, I think I may speak to you as freely as I would speak to my dear friend Dr. Potts, of Trinity Chapel.  Of course you don’t know him; but you couldn’t have helped liking him, he’s so gentle, so tactful, so refined!  But do tell me the fullest particulars of this terrible calamity that has happened so awkwardly.  Tell me all!  I fear that Don Ramon, out of kindness, has not told me everything.  I have been perfectly