The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-08-30

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Maria should become sufficiently deep 10 afford
himthe desired opportunity, he finally slept him.
self Nature yielded at last, and his slumbers
were soon quite as profound as those OF his CON-
panion.
Without being well conscious that he slept at
all. he was suddenly awakened. as if by death
cold hand upon his wrist. He started, and was
confounded when he unclosed his eyes. 10 be.
hold the cavern brightly Illuminated. The fire
which had been suffered to 90 out by the "a.
ribbean damsel, in the sweet experience oil her
first mortal passion, had been suddenly revived
and by her hands. She stood between him and
the altar place. her eyes wildly sad and staring
upon him and bis companion. Atorch was still
grasped in one of her uplifted hands. She had
probably been inspecting closely the sleeping
features ofthe woman who had first taught her
to feel the agony which belongs to conscious
ness of the infdely Of the beloved one. AS,
at his awakening, the head of the Maroon was
involnn,arily upIiited. she cast the brand which
she held upon the altar, flung one of her hands
despairingly and reproachfuly toward him, and
daHed headlong from the chamber.
XVI.
Maria de Pacheco still slept. 1t was now
douhly important to the " Maroon" that she
should do so. To rise softly-which he now
succeeded in doing, without arousing her-to
extinguish The brands and to steal forth, and see
wha, was the course, and wha, the purpose OF
Amava. was the mex, natural movement Of Lo.
ppz He soon smotheredthe flame and quench-
ed the burning en,bers but the night had grown
dark;-he stars were shrouded, and, when he
emerged from The cavern, he could see noIhing.
He stole back, trembling with doubt and aPPre.
henson, and wondering whas next would fol.
low. Maria had awakened
Where are you was her salutation as
he drew nigh" Where have you been :"
"Hpar you the wind, Maria The mig ght is
very dark and gustyl We shall have a storm
Tomorrow"
Blu, we are safe, Lopez" was the reply.
81 am moi sure ofihat," was the secret whis.
per of his guilty heart.
The night passed without further interrup.
tions: At dawn, the Maroon arose before his
which he now prepared TO have in readiness 10
convey. without heing suspected, ON board The
vessel. The richer pearls were hidden in his
bosom, and in the folds Of bis garments. The
rest were stored away carefully in the bottom
of the largest basket which he had found in his
cavern, and which be pretended had been pick.
ed up on the shore. A. few banannas were laid
upon The top to prevent inquiry. His arrange.
ments were all complete before Maria awaken.
ed. With the sunrise they had both emerged
upon the beach. But the sun rose faint and
struggled on his course against numerous clouds.
The wind came in sudden gusts sweeping the
ocean into temporary anger The us be.
tween were not less unpromising and, to the
old seaman. the signs were Pregnan, OF those
wild and rapricious changes of the weather,
which 50 frequently converted into scene Of
wrath and horror. the otherwise sweet serene
of these laitiludcs. But Maria did moi heed
these signs, in the conciousness of the attain
menl OF her desires. Lopez was too anxious to
leave the neighborhood Of the poor Caribbean
damsel, about whom his heart constant y re-.
preached itself; and those whom we left on ship.
hoard were quite too happy in the enjoyment Of
their unfrequent saturnala, TO disturb them
selves with anicipations Of The future. 1t may
have heen fancy only, but, looking back at
The moment ere he stepped into the boat which
was 10 convey him from the isles, did he catch
glimpse of the slender form Of Amaya among
the palms. with her arm outstrelchrd aud point.
ing to the cavern? second and more ear.
nest glance revealed him nothing.
Safely within the ship, his treasures made Sc.
cure, and with the exaInp ple of all around him
perslladng him 10 licenIiousness, Lopez de Le-
wa soon gave way to excess which contributed
tn max" him fnr.r,liil of the datnsrl he had de-.
SrrIpd. liz. wa. r"crIvrd with half 'naudlin al
f,crinn by Linar-> and the crew. The coarser
pleasures ia which these were induging were
transferred, with some qualifying rcfncnents
to the cabin of Vela.quez. Here, from Aagons
of gold and silver. dld our maroon" qnatllhe
intoxicating beverage To the health of Maria de
Pachecu, aud the prosperous fortunes OF the
Dian de Burgos. The day passed in prolonged
indulgence. The excuses which might have
revolted Maria and her companion al another
time, were now only the outpnurings OF a nau.
raj pxullation which WAS dlie to a sense Ofnew.
" acquired freedom, and the acquisition ofnovel
!uxnries. The gradual progress of the hours
brought on Increase of wind which finally grew
to storm. But this occasioncd no dsquiet and
did not lessen the enjoymcuts Of any Of The par.
ties. Linarcs, like a veteran seaman, full OF
wine as he was. first took care to see ii his yes.
sci was secure. He was in good anchorage.
His ship was stripped 10 the storm, and hs Aad