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side； am willing to give up the absolution； and all that sort o'
thing。 You might；〃 he added； with an unconscious touch of pathos
in the suggestion； 〃heave in a word or two of advice after I get
through； for instance； what YOU'D do in the circumstances； you see！
That's all。 But that's as you please。 It ain't part of the
business。〃
Irreverent as this speech appeared； there was really no trace of
such intention in his manner； and his evident profound conviction
that his suggestion was practical； and not at all inconsistent with
ecclesiastical dignity； would alone have been enough to touch the
Padre； had not the stranger's dominant personality already
overridden him。 He hesitated。 The stranger seized the opportunity
to take his arm； and lead him with the half familiarity of powerful
protection to a bench beneath the refectory window。 Taking out his
watch again； he put it in the passive hands of the astonished
priest； saying； 〃Time me；〃 cleared his throat； and began：
〃Fourteen years ago there was a ship cruisin' in the Pacific； jest
off this range； that was ez nigh on to a Hell afloat as anything
rigged kin be。 If a chap managed to dodge the cap'en's belayin…pin
for a time； he was bound to be fetched up in the ribs at last by
the mate's boots。 There was a chap knocked down the fore hatch
with a broken leg in the Gulf； and another jumped overboard off
Cape Corrientes； crazy as a loon； along a clip of the head from the
cap'en's trumpet。 Them's facts。 The ship was a brigantine；
trading along the Mexican coast。 The cap'en had his wife aboard； a
little timid Mexican woman he'd picked up at Mazatlan。 I reckon
she didn't get on with him any better than the men； for she ups and
dies one day； leavin' her baby； a year…old gal。 One of the crew
was fond o' that baby。 He used to get the black nurse to put it in
the dingy； and he'd tow it astern； rocking it with the painter like
a cradle。 He did ithatin' the cap'en all the same。 One day the
black nurse got out of the dingy for a moment； when the baby was
asleep； leavin' him alone with it。 An idea took hold on him； jest
from cussedness； you'd say； but it was partly from revenge on the
cap'en and partly to get away from the ship。 The ship was well
inshore； and the current settin' towards it。 He slipped the
painterthat manand set himself adrift with the baby。 It was a
crazy act； you'd reckon； for there wasn't any oars in the boat； but
he had a crazy man's luck； and he contrived； by sculling the boat
with one of the seats he tore out； to keep her out of the breakers；
till he could find a bight in the shore to run her in。 The alarm
was given from the ship； but the fog shut down upon him； he could
hear the other boats in pursuit。 They seemed to close in on him；
and by the sound he judged the cap'en was just abreast of him in
the gig； bearing down upon him in the fog。 He slipped out of the
dingy into the water without a splash； and struck out for the
breakers。 He got ashore after havin' been knocked down and dragged
in four times by the undertow。 He had only one idea then；
thankfulness that he had not taken the baby with him in the surf。
You kin put that down for him： it's a fact。 He got off into the
hills； and made his way up to Monterey。〃
〃And the child？〃 asked the Padre； with a sudden and strange
asperity that boded no good to the penitent； 〃the child thus
ruthlessly abandonedwhat became of it？〃
〃That's just it； the child；〃 assented the stranger； gravely。
〃Well； if that man was on his death…bed instead of being here
talking to you； he'd swear that he thought the cap'en was sure to
come up to it the next minit。 That's a fact。 But it wasn't until
one day that hethat's meran across one of that crew in Frisco。
'Hallo； Cranch；' sez he to me； 'so you got away； didn't you？ And
how's the cap'en's baby？ Grown a young gal by this time； ain't
she？' 'What are you talkin about；' ez I； 'how should I know？' He
draws away from me； and sez； 'D… it；' sez he； 'you don't mean
that you' 。 。 。 I grabs him by the throat and makes him tell me
all。 And then it appears that the boat and the baby were never
found again； and every man of that crew； cap'en and all； believed I
had stolen it。〃
He paused。 Father Pedro was staring at the prospect with an
uncompromising rigidity of head and shoulder。
〃It's a bad lookout for me； ain't it？〃 the stranger continued； in
serious reflection。
〃How do I know；〃 said the priest harshly； without turning his head；
〃that you did not make away with this child？〃
〃Beg pardon。〃
〃That you did not complete your revenge bybykilling it； as your
comrade suspected you？ Ah！ Holy Trinity；〃 continued Father Pedro；
throwing out his hands with an impatient gesture； as if to take the
place of unutterable thought。
〃How do YOU know？〃 echoed the stranger coldly。
〃Yes。〃
The stranger linked his fingers together and threw them over his
knee； drew it up to his chest caressingly； and said quietly；
〃Because you DO know。〃
The Padre rose to his feet。
〃What mean you？〃 he said； sternly fixing his eyes upon the speaker。
Their eyes met。 The stranger's were gray and persistent； with
hanging corner lids that might have concealed even more purpose
than they showed。 The Padre's were hollow； open； and the whites
slightly brown； as if with tobacco stains。 Yet they were the first
to turn away。
〃I mean；〃 returned the stranger； with the same practical gravity；
〃that you know it wouldn't pay me to come here； if I'd killed the
baby； unless I wanted you to fix things right with me up there；〃
pointing skywards； 〃and get absolution； and I've told you THAT
wasn't in my line。〃
〃Why do you seek me； then？〃 demanded the Padre； suspiciously。
〃Because I reckon I thought a man might be allowed to confess
something short of a murder。 If you're going to draw the line
below that〃
〃This is but sacrilegious levity；〃 interrupted Father Pedro；
turning as if to go。 But the stranger did not make any movement to
detain him。
〃Have you implored forgiveness of the fatherthe man you wronged
before you came here？〃 asked the priest； lingering。
〃Not much。 It wouldn't pay if he was living； and he died four
years ago。〃
〃You are sure of that？〃
〃I am。〃
〃There are other relations； perhaps？〃
〃None。〃
Father Pedro was silent。 When he spoke again； it was with a
changed voice。 〃What is your purpose； then？〃 he asked； with the
first indication of priestly sympathy in his manner。 〃You cannot
ask forgiveness of the earthly father you have injured； you refuse
the intercession of holy Church with the Heavenly Father you have
disobeyed。 Speak； wretched man！ What is it you want？〃
〃I want to find the child。〃
〃But if it were possible； if she were still living； are you fit to
seek her； to even make yourself known to her； to appear before
her？〃
〃Well； if I made it profitable to