The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-06-26
a NIGHT WITH THE sAREINEs.

a NIGHT WITH THE sAREINES.
"Sardina, sardina-Sardi-i-i-na fres-
cua-a-a-a
Sc Sardines, sardines-fresh sardines ! u
Such was the shrill cry that reused
me at dawn on the first morning OF my
presence in Lequeitio.
Lequeitio is an ancient and not much
| frequented seaport on the coast of Biz
caya, almost impracticable to the stran
ger even in fine weather, owing to its
numerous outlying rocks, just awash,
and utterly unRpproachable in half q
gale. It is charmingly situated on the
! inner bend of q small gulf, and is pro
tected from the full force of the Bis.
cayan waves by an island which stands
in the center of the curve, forming the
miniature bay of golden sand.
The BASQUE seamen retain their repu.
tation as being the best in Spain, and I
can vouch that the fishermen OF Lequei~
ito are as fine and hardy set of fellows
as skipper need choose from. In their
long, unlocked, Iight-built galleys,
manned by q patron and fourteen oars
men, rowing dOubleNbanked, when not
under sail, they put to seS, sometimes
never to return.
must tell you that I aIn now writ
ing OF May, 1875, a period when the
Carlist war was desolating the north OF
Spain. l had been following, as cOrreH
spondent, the movements of the LegiJ
imist forces, and being weary and worn,
had made for Lequeitio in search OF
renovating sea- -bTeezes, and few days
of peace and quiet.
As luck would have it, when / was
wondering how could make trip in
one of the galleys, the comRndante de
armas, or town major, to whom / had
delivered strong letter of introduction
on the previous evening, sauutered down
the mole, followed by his orderly carry
ing q basket. The old gentleman was
evidently intent on leVying a contribu-
tion in kind, and when the patron of a
galley caught sight OF him he stepped
ashore, shook hands with the veteran OF
previous Carlist struggles, and himself
chose at least q couple of hundred of the
choicest fish. The commandante then
passed the compliments of the day with
me, accepted cigarette, and suggested
that I should buy a dozen or two of
sardines, and have them cooked for
break asst at the seamen's tavt m close
by. To this l assented, but on condi-
ton that something beyond sardines
should form the fare, and that he and
the patron of the galley should be my
guests.
Hola, Clement Orue ~ shouted the
comandante; 'here is friend OF mine.
a senior Inglese, who asks US to breakfast
with him. What say you? l am will
ing and should think that an appetite
is not what you'll be wanting"
Where, and at what hour ?"
San the tavern of the widow Mar
tinez at eight"
al accept, and will send the fish.
I locked upon the advent OF the cons
andanteSiust at the moment, a. very
fortunate. / was very desireus of max
ing 8 night trip in one of the gslleys,
but hardly seeing how to work the pro-
iect. Now matters appeared more promis-
ing, and I felt pretty certain to pull
through before Clement Orue and I
parted.
We found Clement Orue awaiting us
at the tavern, and if ssvory meant any
thing, but little appetite would be
needed to relish the meal. 1t is true,
there was but one common. bare-walled,
smoke-incrusted, raftered room, with sea-
men eating, drinking and smeaking-s
hearty, frank set of fellows, VINO held
their glasses toward us as we entered
A side table had been prepared for oul
party; and, certainly, not even in the
best of fondas, would be found a whittier
cloth or napkins brighten knives, forks
and spoons, or cleaner plates.
"Take you on a trip-We1, l dom
know what to say. There is no room in
galley for idlers, and if it came on 6
breeze of wind, or the net got fouled, or
dozen other things, you would be il
everybody's way. Besides, the mel
might not like it, and you might gel
sick; and. after ali, there isn't much to
see; and I know, so far as I am con
cerned, if I was not forced to do it,
would sooner be tucked up comfortably
in bed thar getting wet"
'' Well, but look here, senior patron
this kind of thing is net altogether new
to me, though | have never been after
the sardine. he fact is, l was brought
up in a fishing village, and could steer
and row when only eight years old In
addition, / have knoc ed about at ses
considerably. have crossed the Atlantic
four times, have run through bloekades
on the American coast, and might per
haps, be able to bear hand if you were
I punuCOs
g Hola, caballero." exclaimed the pa,
tron with beaming face " "bola, so you
are q bit of a salt yourself; touch
there" holding out his hand. You
shall make a trip, never fear, and il
Just happens that am one short of my
complement.
Baving noticed half q dozen of tbs
crew at the center table. I suggested tc
Clement Orue that he should call them
over to drink the health OF the new
hand. This was done, and I saw the
arrangement met with their entire ap-
provsl, more especially that part il
which was mentioned q keg of aguardi
ente and two or three bundles of cigals
Then it was agreed that the patror
should take bis evening meal with me-
in the same place, and that, wind and
weather permitting, the galley would
cast of at nightfall.
Well, at the appointed time, I found
Clement Orue awaiting me, and On s
chat by his side rested 3 formidable
looking bundle.