the right eye of the commander-第3章
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sought his own couch and slept peacefully。
At about the middle watch of the night a dusky figure crept through
the low embrasure of the Commander's apartment。 Other figures were
flitting through the parade ground； which the Commander might have
seen had he not slept so quietly。 The intruder stepped noiselessly
to the couch and listened to the sleeper's deep…drawn inspiration。
Something glittered in the firelight as the savage lifted his arm；
another moment and the sore perplexities of Hermenegildo
Salvatierra would have been over； when suddenly the savage started
and fell back in a paroxysm of terror。 The Commander slept
peacefully； but his right eye； widely opened； fixed and unaltered；
glared coldly on the would…be assassin。 The man fell to the earth
in a fit； and the noise awoke the sleeper。
To rise to his feet； grasp his sword； and deal blows thick and fast
upon the mutinous savages who now thronged the room was the work of
a moment。 Help opportunely arrived； and the undisciplined Indians
were speedily driven beyond the walls； but in the scuffle the
Commander received a blow upon his right eye； and； lifting his hand
to that mysterious organ； it was gone。 Never again was it found；
and never again； for bale or bliss； did it adorn the right orbit of
the Commander。
With it passed away the spell that had fallen upon San Carlos。 The
rain returned to invigorate the languid soil； harmony was restored
between priest and soldier； the green grass presently waved over
the sere hillsides； the children flocked again to the side of their
martial preceptor； a TE DEUM was sung in the Mission Church； and
pastoral content once more smiled upon the gentle valleys of San
Carlos。 And far southward crept the GENERAL COURT with its master；
Peleg Scudder； trafficking in beads and peltries with the Indians；
and offering glass eyes； wooden legs； and other Boston notions to
the chiefs。
