The weekly Shasta courier. [volume] (Shasta, Calif.) 1872-190?, 1873-05-17
he might dictate terms to the governor {

L Teucnuldu ndu given up all thoughts VI 10
storing her for ransom money, and deter
mined to possess her at any cost, even if i
became necessary to employ force to attain
his purpose. He met only with scorn from
the proud Spaniard, but this served to in
fame his passion yet more. He knew moth
ing of her betrothal to the Senior Tornero
nor did she condescend to enlighten him.
She would not plead the fact that her hear
was already bestowed, as an excuse for de
clining the buccaneers alliance, even though
she knew she was wholly in his power, ane
that he had no idea of restoring her to he
father
So day after day she sat, in naughty ma
jesty, listening with flashing eyes and curling
lip to the amorOus suit of Laroche, but Civ
lug way to her womanly tenderness wher
alone. Her tears and sobs were all in Sc
cret; at the approach of her prosecutor
she resumed the weapons of indignant def
ance or contemptuous Indifference. and the
Sainte- Vierge," as Laroche called his stout
vessel flor he prided himself on being as de-
vout Catholic as the proudest Spaniard Of
them ALL, went cleaving through the bright
waters, bearing her thousands of miles away
from her fair home in the shadow of the An
des.
In due time the two ships came to anchor
in the beautiful bay at Isla Bendita, where
Laroche had established a rendezvous OIL
headquarters, after the manner of all out
laws and corsair chiefs, from time immemo
rial He had exerted all his eloquence to
induce Florencia to become his willing
bride, but in vain. She was now transferred
to quarters on shore, and the buccaneers, re-
intorced by their third vessel, gave them
selves up to revelry and enjoyment for a
few days, previous to sailing on a cruise to
intercept the expected galleon. E.
Captain Laroche became more and more
and importunate, and threatening to proceed
to extremities, the proud Spanish maiden
to escape from confinement. now stopped
to dissemble. She pretended to yield tC
his suit. and even set the day when they
were to be united in marriage by Pere
Andorche, the French priest, who followed
the fortunes of the adventures as chap
lain of the Sainte-Vierge.'
The ardent lover, delighted at this turn
of affairs, and showing no doubts Of her
sincerity, permitted her free range of the
island. She wandered, sometimes in his
company, at other times alone, among the
palm groves and beneath the shade of the
spreading bread tree, inhaling the perfumes
borne on the sea breeze with seeming de-
light. She appeared every day more re-
conciled to her fate, and from at first toler-
ating Laroche's company, came gradually to
enjoy it at least, SO he thought. He con-
graduated himself upon the possession Of
inyincible fascinating powers, as well as
upon the capricious nature of womankind in
general while Florencia's object was sim,
ply to throw him off his gaurd, and to
gain time, though she could see no hope
of deliverance, unless by some unforeseen
accident.
Meanwhile, discomfort was rife among
the motley crowd of desperadoes who
manned his feet. Even Rawdon, his
prime minister and lieutenant, an English
sailor of fortune, was affected They fear
ed that the captain was losing too much
time in amorous diligence, when they
should be well at sea and on the alert
for the treasure-ship. Besides, it was
looked upon as q great sacrifice of the
general interest, that he had made love
to the Spanish lady, instead of securing an
enormous ransom in gold coin and bull
lion, from the old governor Cristoyal. y
1t required all his address and authority
to quiet them, and to preserve discipline.
The ships were made ready for sea, and ev-
erything was in order for start on the very
day of his union with Florencia. But she
was not to be induced, by any amount oil
persuasion, to shorten the time, or consent
to have the ceremony performed on the
ocean. She was enchanted with the snug
retreat at Isla BenGita and no other spot
should be the scene OF her nuptials with her
bold sea rover.
But on the very morning that was, by
her appointment, to crown his happiness
the bride had disappeared! The shock could
hardly have been greater, in the first instance
to the doting father, than in the second, TO
the impatient Frenchman. His many sub
ordinates, chatting at the delay, were ordered
to search every niche of the island, while he
himself, excited 10 the verge of madness
rushed here and there. encouraging and over
seeing them all.
Through the whole day they sought her
without success but just at dusk of even
ing. cry arose which turned the footsteps
of the whole party in one direction. At the
extreme northern verge OF the island, sever
al miles distant from the rendezvous of the
buccaneer ships, a high bluff, with precipi-
tous face, overlooked the sea and on its
summit, looming indistinctly in the twilight,
stood the proud form of Florencia de Girls
toval, her drapery floating in the breeze, one
arm extended towards her pursuers, the 9th
er pointing seward. An expression OF
defiance illumed her beautiful
features, and animated the whole matchless
form.
Forward, men, close up cried Laroche.
" She can not escape US! !"
His orders were obeyed in such manner
as to cut off every chance of her escape in-
land while he himself advanced directly to-
wards her, up the sloping ascent.
Have you forgotten your appointment
for our bridal, Florencia? he asked.
81 have not forgotten !" rang out the clear
musical voice. had hoped for deliverance
but it comes but in one form! Death is the
bridegroom, and you shall see how Span
sh maiden can accept him as such, before
1ishonor! Father Fabian l GOMEZ"
The buccaneer chief had involuntarily
closed bis eyes as her intention became man.
fest. A fainting 6t had seized him for an
instant; but, recovering himselfto look only
upon empty air where lately she whom he
loved had stood, he rushed madly upward
to the. brow of the cliff. 1t was dark as he
looked down upon the Pacific beneath him.
A faint sound, as OF human voices, came up;
it might have been the ripple Of the sea at
the base of the sea wall, he thought. But,
looking obliquely seaward, he saw the twin
king Of Observation-Disclosures Of great
ship, whose sails, as she lay hove to, whiten-
ed ND ont of the surrounding rloonn