The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-05-10

gaze of either. Velasquez watched his move
ments with the exultation of cat in possession
of her prey. The face OF Juan bore similar
expression; while, in the fine masculine spirit
which made itself conspicuous in the face of
the woman, in spite of all her efforts to subdue
it, there might be seen a strange conflict be-
tween tenderness and scorn.
Unbind him~ said Velasquez
"Oh thanks! thanks!' muttered the victim,
looking appealingly to his tyrant The scom
deepcned in its shadows upon the face OF the
woman.
"You know not yet for what you have to be
thankful" was the sneer of Juan, as he busted
himself in undoing the menacles.
"Speak to me, Juan. For what am [ re-
served? what may this mean if 1t be not
mercy7"
"lt means freedom" was the response, still
in whisper.
Well-and that
"May be mercy" was the ironical return of
Juan, as he withdrew from between Velasquez
and his prev. The latter now looked with fea-
lures in which hope and doubt were still at a
lively struggle, upon the face of his tyrant.
| He made a step toward him. The uplifted
hand of Velasquez arrested his approach.
"Lopez de Leyva, were to have thee drawn
| up by the neck to yon spar, as the hereto En-
gish do those whom they would destroy, it
| were no more than thou deservedst. But am
of a more merciful temper-l have taken the
chains from thy limbs"
A lively gratitude overspread the features of
the person addressed; but he still trembled
with natural anxiety and doubt He knew
his tyrant.
81 mean to set thee freep'
"Thanks! thanksw
l. "Nay, will do more for thee than this. |
will elevate thee to rare dignites. will make
thee chief, a prince, sovereign of land and
sea. Thou shalt be able to stand up in thine
empire, and none will say thee nay"
A pause. The culpnt looked wildly at this
language. 1t was something more than appre-
hension that shone in his face. There was no
mistaking the hdeous malice of the speaker;
there was no doubling the ironical grin upon
the lips Of Juan; and the experience of the
ship had seldom found mercy or forgiveness or
generosity in either. The eye of the woman
was now fixed fully upon that of Velasquez,
her intense interest in what she had to hear
making her somewhat relax in the stubborn
vigilance of thought which had impressed itself
upon all her features. Velasquez resumed:
"The quiet of this part of the Caribbean
sea, as thou well knowest, is seldom broken by
the prows of Europeans. The savage steers
his bark in otter courses, dreading its wild
currents and fearful whirlpools. Here, he who
shall make his abode will be a sovereign beyond
dispute 1t may be ages before he will see
upon his horizon, driven by hostile tempests, the
white sails of Christian vessel. No empire
could be more secure from challenge-no state
more certainly beyond the danger of over
throw"
Another pause, and conviction of what
was intended at once passed into the soul of
the woman. Her hands were griped convul-
sively together and the paleness of her cheek
increased. The culprit, to whom Velasquez
addressed himself, simply appeared bewildered.
Chains, confinement, terror, and probably want
of food and sleep, had rendered his faculties
obtuse. But Velasquez proceeded rapidly to
his complete enlightenment.
"Look out upon the sea, good Lopez" and
his hand waved in the direction of the object
to which the ship had been sensibly approach.
ing. Alta leagues distance little island was
distinctly perceptible. though seeming to be
scarcely upheaved above the pillows which ell
crcled it. Trees in groups might be seen to
wave upon it, the earth rose into moderate hills
and elevations as the eye penetrated the inte-
rior Numerous wild.fowl sailed in swift gyra-
tons above it, and gigantic birds strobe majes-
tically along its white and sandy shores.
"Ihat island, Lopez de Leyva, discovered
for the first time when | last traversed this
ocean. Imade the discovery against my own
will, being driven hither by stress of weather.
little dreamed at that time Of its future use-
fnlness; but when our weather-beaten pilot, old
Gomez, in beholding its solitude, declared that
it would be the spot, of all the world, in which
love would be most likely to find security, we
called it, in merry jest, The Isle of Lovers
and when remembered that it was further
said, 'One might be a sovereign here without
paying his tenth to any crown then did con-
ceive how fifty might reward merit, by be-
slowing this island upon the deserving upon
one who would desire security for his love and
sovereignty beyond dispute
The eyes of the culprt were gradually en-
larging. He had slowly begun to guess the
terrible destiny which was before him, and the
first feeling OF overwhelming apprehension me-
cessarily kept him dumb. He looked at his ty-
F. t,4k.