The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-12-10


favored land.
"My attention had been attracted by the
strange scenes about me, and the sharp
eye of my wife was the first to detect
canoe containing single person, pad
ding down the placid surface of the
Pongo.
"By the aid of my glass 1 saw that the
stranger was a European, dressed in a
white shirt, white pants and a wide
brimmed, grass hat. He appeared to be
shy of the vessel, dipping his paddle care
fully into the water, and approaching the
schooner very cautiously.
"At times he would remove the cigar he
was smoking from his hps, and stretch
foTv ard as if to examine Us from truck to
keelson, which fact nettled me somewhat.
/ was an honest trader, young man, and
no one had occasion to be suspicious of
ne.
stepping on the monkey-rail in full sight
of the fellow, hailed him, waved my hat
and invited him to come aboard without
further backing and flling.
with a splash his paddle struck the
gGded alongside. 1 stepped to the gang
way to receive my visitor, and saw at a
glance he was a Portuguese. His COM
plexion wss almost tawny, his hair dark as
an Indians, while his moustacAe and ey"s
were intensely black. Tall and well
formed, he sprang lightly over the gang
way, shook me by the hand, and catching
g r..
der the awning, he raised his nat, his snak-
ish eyes betraying both wonder and adj
miration at her rare beauty. l pretended
not to notice it, but, young man, it made
me feel decidedly uncomfortable, while 1
conceived violent dislike for the fellow at
first sight.
"He spoke excellent English, and with
well-bred dignity introduced himself as
Don = uuel. invited Kim to breakfast,
which was about ready, and Sallie was
more than pleased with the fellows
smooth tongue, and the glowing reports he
made of his plantation ashore. He invited
us to call in the cool of the evening, which
1 met with an evasive reply, and he quietly
changed the current of his conversation by
proceeding to business.
Now may L ask, captain, what
your business is here-you are not
slaverY
".God forbid, Don Manuel, am no pirate.
1 came here for water
"'And you could not have hit a better
place will furnish you with good
ticle at moderate price. L would not adj
wise you to expose your men, captain, and
this evening l will send you a load. Allow
me to congratulate you, captain, upon pos
sessing such a lovely woman for a wife.
Ii is seldom our shores are graced by the
fair SEX
al do not require your congratulations,
Don Manuel / replied, sternly, and 1
imagined 1 detected a malicious smile play
ing around the corners of his mouth.
However, his white teeth cleaned with an
unpleasant simmer through his dark
moustache. and felt relieved when he rose
to take his departure.
"Once on deck, he glanced keenly along
the deck, but the cannon-balls and fire.
arms had been removed during the
morning. while the men we're washing down
decks.
"sYou do not appear 20 be very well
armed, captain the fellow .irawled out, in
a careless tone, as he pitched the stump
of his cigar overheard; and his eye gilt
tered with strange expression as he
turned away.
Il was somewhat taken aback by the
question, and stammered out that had no
occasion fer guns, almost before l was
aware of it.
"'Well, well, captain, there can be no use
for them here; but slavers, you know,
generally go we'll equipped in that respect
But, adieu, captain; l shall expect you and
the charming lady, your wife, this evening.
In the meanwhile, be on the lookout for the
load of water at dusk and, with q parting
salute, Don Manuel descended the side.
His canoe darted rapidly through the
water, and VAS sOou lost to view amid the
reedy shrr, o: he river.
~Once ,n"i-e - we're alone, and, young
man, nrg wife agreed with me that
our visit, Il d the stamp of a bold, bad
man.
"If had act beNa pressed for water
actually c)L.Ve!let to have lt--I should
have bcla Il liz! to tho Pongo at once, so
great was the dislike 1 had taken to my
late visit-r.
Il did ~, -5iifer myself to long remain
idle, however A. would be compelled to
pass anotha~ i-rht in the river, prepared
the vessel z al ponts for an attack,
should one be made. Several times the
eyes of the Portuguese had been fastened
on my wife WITH expression that made
my fingers tingle 10 clutch bis throat, but /
restrained myself.
sThe vessels 3 dos were thoroughly
slushed, he anchor hove up, and a light
ked,e run far ahead. Stout lines were
rove fore ard aft in addition to the
nettir and he arms reprimed once
more.
"Young man, you may depend 1 watched
Il fhar