The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-10-23

4 such protection and support as the
4 rocks offered. The lightning seemed
Ito play at our very feet-to pause
| there in sinuous, glittering flashes of
light. Any other woman | have seen
would have covered, she never
changed color.
About an eighth of mile from
the shore, a ledge of rocks rose out
Of the sea, and with occasional wide
gaps, stretched along the coast for
| half a league. Just opposite her IA
theirs place, in this ledge, was cum
ningly concealed cave, barely access
ible, and when found only four harsh
| walls of rock; but, such as it was, it
was possession we shared in secret
and alone-dou ,ly sweet to lovers
for that-and discovered by us on one
occasion when we had crossed the in
tervening water in her own tiny she'll
of boat, which I had taught her
how to manage. -"
Well, the happy days passed so
until the instruction famed up
famed up not to be quenched until
all the beautiful homes of the island
were waste places, and every white
man had wakened from his dream of
security to defend his burning home,
and perish amid the ashes of his
household gods, or to fly if there
was yet time. Count DeVer's cha
teau was in the heart of the insurrec-
tionary district. At the time I was
at my post, with handful of regular
troops Cavalry but 1 Immediately
pushed forward to his assistance half
crazed with the dread that I would
be too late to either save or revenge.
/ was too late. Weary from hard
marching and worn for want of sleep,
when my command gained the noun
tain road which led down to the
chateau great volumes Of black smoke
told that the full blow had fallen.
With cry of dispair struck spurs
to my horse and dashed down the
highway. Occasionally we caught
glimpses Of the sea and the long
stretch of sand between that and the
foot of the mountain, out OF whose
side the road we were on had been
cut. Just before we reached the
chateau I saw a single figure flying
toward the sea, and then a body of
pursuers. My field glass told me
what my heart had already too well
OWNED: 1t was Jean and the whole
IIl''' fo e'c q dove; ny Is to Your You cave
in the rocks Trust the waves of the
sea, dear child, and the four harsh
walls of rock-ior they are fends
who follow you now, whose cleanest
thought will pollute such as you!
| We swept on past the chateau
filing the air with crazy yells II
hopes to reach the ears of the blacks
and frighten them from the pursuit
but the distance was too great-ol
4 down the side OF the mountain anG
out upon the sands, full mile below
J the point towards which Jean direct
ed Ter fight and where her littl,
boat was moored.
The attack had been made at breal
Of day and a part of the buildin.
! was already in the possession of tn,
blacks when her father and the few
domestics who were faithful ralliet
' to repel their ruthless assailants
D One by one the little band of defend
ers had fallen. She would hav
died by the side of him who gave he
!, being, but it was not death she ie,
t from. After her father had fallen
: she escaped by an unfrequented wa,
e through the garden to the confines 9
S the wood from which a little path lie,
= down to the beach, when she wa
, seen by the leader, and summonin,
his followers with a yell, they LEI
S the dead for the living prey. Activ
, and strong beyond her sex, she ha,
sped over the rocks and down tn
r rough path'with such speed that he
E pursuers, hindered by the masses Q
7 stones that filed the way, lost rathe
| than gained upon her, and she woul,
| have escaped to her boat and on
+ cave in safety; but that it was OF
dained that neither her gray sire's DIES
f perate courage, nor her youth, nor in
nocence should save her. The slave
J. had made their landing at the GOV
where her shell fioated, and thei
boat was still there, and launche,
1 l. 81