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Spanish race might be absorbed, and your sway established; but ages of war
would be necessary entirely to obliterate our usages, our language, and our
religion from the peopled portions of Mexico.
It might be well for some among us to reflect on these matters. The opinions
of Don Juan, in our judgment, being entitled to the consideration of all
prudent and considerate men.
As Spike descended to the door of the light-house, Harry, Rose, and Jack Tier
retired within that of the dwelling. Presently the voice of the captain was
heard hailing the Mexican, and together they walked to the wharf, the former
boasting to the latter of his success in making a brilliant light. Brilliant
it was, indeed; so brilliant as to give Mulford many misgivings on the subject
of the boat. The light from the lantern fell upon the wharf, and he could see
the boat from the window where he stood, with Spike standing nearly over it,
waiting for the men to get his own yawl ready. It is true, the captain s back
was toward the dangerous object, and the planks of the bridge were partly
between him and it; but there was a serious danger that was solely averted by
the circumstance that Spike was so earnestly dilating on some subject to Don
Juan, as to look only at that gentleman s face. A minute later they were all
in the yawl, which pulled rapidly toward the brig.
Don Juan Montefalderon was not long absent. Ten minutes sufficed for the boat
to reach the Swash, for him to obtain his cloak, and to return to the islet
alone, no one in the vessel feeling a desire to interfere with his imaginary
prayers. As for the people, it was not probable that one in the brig could
have been induced to accompany him to the graves at that hour; though
everybody but Josh had turned-in, as he informed Mulford, to catch short naps
previously to the hour of getting the brig under way. As for the steward, he
had been placed on the look-out as the greatest idler on board. All this was
exceedingly favourable to Jack Tier s project, since Josh was already in the
secret of his absence, and would not be likely to betray his return. After a
brief consultation, it was agreed to wait half an hour or an hour, in order to
let the sleepers lose all consciousness, when Don Juan proposed returning to
the vessel with his new companion.
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The thirty or forty minutes that succeeded were passed in general
conversation. On this occasion the Seor Montefalderon spoke more freely than
he had yet done of recent events. He let it be plainly seen how much he
despised Spike, and how irksome to him was the intercourse he was obliged to
maintain, and to which he only submitted through a sense of duty. The money
known to be in the schooner, was of a larger amount than had been supposed;
and every dollar was so important to Mexico, at that moment, that he did not
like to abandon it, else, did he declare, that he would quit the brig at once,
and share in the fortunes of Harry and Rose. He courteously expressed his best
wishes for the happiness of the young couple, and delicately intimated that,
under the circumstances, he supposed that they would be united as soon as they
could reach a place where the marriage rite could be celebrated. This was said
in the most judicious way possible; so delicately as not to wound any one s
feelings, and in a way to cause it to resemble the announcement of an
expectation, rather than the piece of paternal advice for which it was really
intended. Harry was delighted with this suggestion of his Mexican friend--the
most loyal American may still have a sincere friend of Mexican birth and
Mexican feelings, too--since it favoured not only his secret wishes, but his
secret expectations also.
At the appointed moment, Don Juan Montefalderon and Jack Tier took their
leave of the two they left behind them. Rose manifested what to Harry seemed a
strange reluctance to part with the little steward; but Tier was bent on
profiting by this excellent opportunity to get back to the brig. They went,
accordingly, and the anxious listeners, who watched the slightest movement of
the yawl, from the shore, had reason to believe that Jack was smuggled in
without detection. They heard the familiar sound of the oar falling in the
boat, and Mulford said that Josh s voice might be distinguished, answering to
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