The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-05-31
CAMDEN SOUTH CAROLINA MAY 81, 1850.

10 his knees he clung, though the latter stroFe
to shake him off, and to spurn him away with
the members which too heavily swathed and
baudared to suffer him to use them with any
efficiency for such purpose. His pleadings,
which were of a sort to move loathing rather
than pity, produced no feeling of either kind in
the breast of Velasquez. They provoked his
merriment rather. He grinned as he beheld
the writings of the wretched creature before
him. He had a sorry jest for all his contor-
tons. Verify, the Spanish adventurers of that
day in America, were a terrible banditti! Of
these, Velaspuez was proper specimen. When
his victim appealed to him for the sake of his
widowed mother at Segovia, he answered.
81 shall tell her of thy possessions, Lopez; !;
she shall hear of thy elevation. She was al
ways woman of rare ambition. Did | not
know her in her younger dayss Know'st thou
not that she once disposed her mantilla so that
she might make captive of mes Had she
done so, verify, it might have been mine own
son, for whom this Isle of Lovers hath been
found. | shall tell her of thy fortune Lopez.
She shall rejoice in thy principality; and it
may be, will find her way out to thee, seeking
to Share in the wealth of thy dominions. E.
nough now,-take him hence, tell thee;-
Juan, son, wilt thou not see the Prince bestow-
ed upon his empire! 1 begin to weary of this
gratitude.
Again the officers approached, and again
hesitated-all but Juan-as the cries OF the
wretched imbece rang through the vessel.
The sailor ,uld still have suffered him to urge
his p rmercy, but Juan had no such
yielt raure and he knew better than
they, how proftless were all entreaties. he
had resolved, Tor his own purpose, that there
should be no relentings in the brutal spirit OF
Velasquez He left the side of Maria de Pa.
clieco, at the summons of his uncle, and,
with his own hand, grappled the victim while
giving the word to the sailors chosen to assist
him. But, rising to his feet Lopez dashed a.
way from the grasp of his assailant, and once
more rushed in supplication to Velasquez.-
His terrors gave him wonderful strength and
a faculty Of speech scarcely less wonderful.
He was positively eloquent.
Never was prayer for mercy more passionate,
or more pregnant with tho best argument in be-
half of mercy. They touched all hearts but
the two, alone, whom it had been of any avail
to move. These were immovable. Again were
his eutreaties answered by scurril jest mocking
suggestion and derisive laughter The taste for
the sports Of the tauridor, who tortures the bull
to madness before he bestows the coup de grace,
could alone afford any likeness to the sort OF
pleasure which this sea despot enjoyed in the
fruitless agonies of his victim. 1t was in Il sort
Of defiance, produced by very shame aud de-
spair that the culprit rose at length to his feet,
and folding his arms upon his breast, submitted
to his fate, from which, it was evident that no
degree of humiliation could possibly suffice to
save him. A smile softened the features OF Ma
ria de Pacheco.
: at is we'll" she mur7nured to herself ga
little sooner and the shame woald have been
spared to bothr' :.
The victim seemed to hear her accents, tho
not to understand them. lie turned a tilnid
glance toward her. but her eye no longer sought
bis own. She was conscious that other eyes
were then keenly fixed ON both.
The boat was declared to be in readiness.
The months store of provisions, accorded by
Velasquez, were thrown into her; the spear
and the crossbow followed and the hands of
the seamen, appointed to convey "the Maroon,
were fastened firmly on his shoulder. lie was
now subdued to submission, if not reconcilcd
to his fate. He no longer opposed himself to
their efforts; and though he still spoke the Ian.
guage of entreaty, it was no longer addressed
to his tyrant.
"Oh! my countrymen, Antonio Pedro--itl is
you who do me thus--is it you, my country.
men, who help to give inc up to such dreadful
docm!"
Such was the touching appeal, made to an.
cient comrades, which the poor wretch uttered
at the parting moment They looked down:
ward in silence, but did not relax their hold
upon him.
sand am to perish on that desolate island
and the people of my own land leave me to this
solitude They hear the voice of my prayer,
and shut their ears against it! am never more
to hear human speech; never more to look up.
on Christian face, nor call any man brother or
friend. Oh! Spaniards, brothers, friends, coun-
trymen! will you doom me thus! Will you
desert me thus to the solitude of the sea, which
is worse than any death. Christians help me;
speak for me; save me
There was moisture in the eyes of the
weatherbeaten seamen who stood around him.
At this moment the woman advanced suddenly
and stood before Velasquez. Juan beheld her
purpose in her eountenance, and whispered as
She passed him, "Beware!" She heard, but
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