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sailing…master and crew have refused all offers of engagement；
and are waiting at Cowes for my orders。 Here is an absolute
necessity for my return to England。
The newspaper arrived with the letters。 My anticipations have
been realized。 Yesterday's paragraph has produced another
volunteer contributor。 An Englishman just returned from Central
America； after traveling in Arizona； writes to the _Times。_ He
publishes his name and addressand he declares that he has
himself seen the two captive priests。
The name of this correspondent carries its own guarantee with it。
He is no less a person than Mr。 Murthwaitethe well…known
traveler in India； who discovered the lost diamond called 〃the
Moonstone；〃 set in the forehead of a Hindoo idol。 He writes to
the editor as follows：
〃SirI can tell you something of the two Jesuit priests who were
the sole survivors of the massacre in the Santa Cruz Valley four
months since。
〃I was traveling at the time in Arizona； under the protection of
an Apache chief； bribed to show me his country and his nation
（instead of cutting my throat and tearing off my scalp） by a
present tribute of whisky and gunpowder； and by the promise of
more when our association came to an end。
〃About twelve miles northward of the little silver…mining town of
Tubac we came upon an Apache encampment。 I at once discovered two
white men among the Indians These were the captive priests。
〃One of them was a Frenchman； named L'Herbier。 The other was an
Englishman； named Penrose。 They owed their lives to the influence
of two powerful considerations among the Indians。 Unhappy
L'Herbier lost his senses under the horror of the night massacre。
Insanity； as you may have heard； is a sacred thing in the
estimation of the American savages； they regard this poor madman
as a mysteriously inspired person The other priest； Penrose； had
been in charge of the mission medicine…chest； and had
successfully treated cases of illness among the Apaches。 As a
'great medicine…man；' he too is a privileged personunder the
strong protection of their interest in their own health。 The
lives of the prisoners are in no danger； provided they can endure
the hardship of their wandering existence among the Indians。
Penrose spoke to me with the resignation of a true hero。 'I am in
the hands of God；' he said； 'and if I die； I die in God's
service。'
〃I was entirely unprovided with the means of ransoming the
missionariesand nothing that I could say； or that I could
promise； had the smallest effect on the savages。 But for severe
and tedious illness； I should long since have been on my way back
to Arizona with the necessary ransom。 As it is； I am barely
strong enough to write this letter。 But I can head a subscription
to pay expenses； and I can give instructions to any person who is
willing to attempt the deliverance of the priests。〃
So the letter ended。
Before I had read it； I was at a loss to know where to go； or
what to do； when I leave St。 Germain。 I am now at no loss。 I have
found an object in life； and a means of making atonement to
Stella for my own ungracious and unworthy words。 Already I have
communicated by telegraph with Mr。 Murthwaite and with my
sailing…master。 The first is informed that I hope to be with him；
in London； to…morrow morning。 The second is instructed to have
the yacht fitted out immediately for a long voyage。 If I can save
these menespecially PenroseI shall not have lived in vain。
London； September 15。No。 I have resolution enough to go to
Arizona； but I have no courage to record the parting scene when
it was time to say good…by。
I had intended to keep the coming enterprise a secret； and only
to make the disclosure in writing when the vessel was ready to
sail。 But； after reading the letter to the _Times；_ Stella saw
something in my face （as I suppose） that betrayed me。 Well； it's
over now。 I do my best to keep myself from thinking of itand；
for this reason； I abstain from dwelling on the subject here。
Mr。 Murthwaite has not only given me valuable instructionshe
has provided me with letters of introduction to persons in
office； and to the _padres_ （or priests） in Mexico； which will be
of incalculable use in such an expedition as mine。 In the present
disturbed condition of the United States； he recommends me to
sail for a port on the eastern coast of Mexico； and then to
travel northward overland； and make my first inquiries in Arizona
at the town of Tubac。 Time is of such importance； in his opinion；
that he suggests making inquiries in London and Liverpool for a
merchant vessel under immediate sailing orders for Vera Cruz or
Tampico。 The fitting out of the yacht cannot be accomplished； I
find； in less than a fortnight or three weeks。 I have therefore
taken Mr。 Murthwaite's advice。
September 16。No favorable answer； so far as the port of London
is concerned。 Very little commerce with Mexico； and bad harbors
in that country when you do trade。 Such is the report。
September 17。A Mexican brig has been discovered at Liverpool；
under orders for Vera Cruz。 But the vessel is in debt； and the
date of departure depends on expected remittances！ In this state
of things I may wait； with my conscience at ease； to sail in
comfort on board my own schooner。
September 18…30。I have settled my affairs； I have taken leave
of my friends （good。 Mr。 Murthwaite included）； I have written
cheerfully to Stella； and I sail from Portsmouth to…morrow； well
provided with the jars of whisky and the kegs of gunpowder which
will effect the release of the captives。
It is strange； considering the serious matters I have to think
of； but it is also true； that I feel out of spirits at the
prospect of leaving England without my traveling companion； the
dog。 I am afraid to take the dear old fellow with me； on such a
perilous expedition as mine may be。 Stella takes care of
himand； if I don't live to return； she will never part with
him； for his master's sake。 It implies a childish sort of mind； I
supposebut it is a comfort to me to remember that I have never
said a hard word to Traveler； and never lifted my hand on him in
anger。
All this about a dog！ And not a word about Stella？ Not a word。
_Those_ thoughts are not to be written。
I have reached the last page of my diary。 I shall lock it； and
leave it in charge of my bankers； on my way to the Portsmouth
train。 Shall I ever w ant a new diary？ Superstitious people mi