The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-09-09
The Four Spaqiards'

lll6 lUQr DpdQidluo'
In1S2S, was second mate of the brig
Isabel. We had been freighting for six
or eight months among the West India
Islands, and picked up a good deal OF
money. At last the hot weather came
on, freights grew dull, and we made
ready to sail for home. In the meantime
there came on board four Spaniards,
who wished to engage passage to the
North, and being able to accommodate
just that number, we accepted them.
They were all sinster-looking fellows,
and one in particular was so much so,
that wondered why Captain Hillman
entertaine so little distrust of him.
Neither myself nor the chief mate
liked the arrangement; for in those days
every sailor had the dread Of pirates
pretty deeply impressed upon his mind.
And, indeed, we had only few months
previous been chased by the murderous
scoundrels off the Isle of pines.
Weset sail, and must confess that
passed the first night in some uneasi'
ness. The passengers spoke but little
English, and their conversation was
therefore, mostly between themselves.
During such colloquies, it seemed to me
that could detect in them the manner
of guilty men-a constant look of dis
trust and watchfulness; but as the second
day wore on, and | became accustomed
to the appearance of their well-dressed
figures at my side, my anxiety abated.
Toward the evening of this day, how
ever, my attention was drawn to slight
alteration between the cook and the
Spaniard, Bacalardo, the man whom
hadremarked as the most yillianous-look-
ing of the four. Drawing near them, ]
asked what had happened,
"Why, sar," replied the negro coGcHH
''while was out OBJ de galley, dis Spanish
gemman sprinkle something on de meat
scrape it off de best way could.
doesn't want no interference in de fairs
OBJ my galley"
The faithful old negro looked angry
nor was this all-his glance and tont
told me that grim and dreadful suspi
cion had entered his mind. The Spaniard
however, remarked that he had merely
intended to season the meat with kline
of pepper highly esteemed in Cuba; but
upon my expressing curiosity to see it
he regretted that he had none remain
ing. was about to order the cook no
to produce the meat at supper, when th'
captain, approaching US, made light O.
the affair, laughing at the old negro
jealousy of encroach9ent upon his pc
culiar province; and as the mysterious
substance seemed to have been wholly
removed by the cooks knife, l hopet
that no harm might result.
The captain ate freely of the meat; tn
mate was evidently affected at what hac
transpired, yet his appetite prevailed.
avoided it entirely; and as to tn
Spaniards, the circumstance of thei
leaving it untasted seemed not remark
able, as we had learned on the day pre-
vious that they were not in the habit o
eating animal food at supper.
Shortly afterwards, the captain, mate
and three of the crew became dreadfully
sick. l felt terrible presentiment o
the worst, yet what was l to do? Th
captain was helpless in his berth; tn
mate lay in agony upon the transom
the only foremast hand able to come O.
deck was at the wheel; the cook wa
paralyzed with fear; and my ideas o
what could or ought to be done, wer
confused by the suddenness and appalling
difficulty of my position.
Should | arm and attack the villains
Whom should arm, and how commence
We're the helmsman to stir from his sta
ton, knife would be at his heart; an
were the cook to leave his galley, h
would not walk to the end of it.
went to che cabin, where the captain
and mate were vomiting in great dis
tress; and while overhauling the medi
cine, more from that sense Of restlessnes