Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-09-02

you"
Our supper was soon disposed of, ant
the patron Singing the keg of aguardi
ente over his shoulder, and tucking tn
cigars under his arm, we made dowr
the mole for the galley. All hands wer'
in readiness to start. and amidst hearty
wishes of good luck from cluster O
women and girls, we cast loose and pad
died toward the mouth of the bay; i
appeared that two other galleys were
to put to sea that night, and had already
worked out. AS we reached the open.
ing between island and mainland, tht
masts had been stepped. and at the wore
''Hoist" from the catron, the two legs
of-mutton sails went up. There was 8
list to port, followed by a southing
rushing sound, three or four smacks
against the bows, a succession of clouds
of spray which soaked everything anG
every body fore and aft, and then the
men settling into their places to star
board, and taughtening pull being got
at the sheets, away we went on wes-
ward from the coast. Clement Orue
stern-bOard as good seat for me and
steering-oar. The night was rather dark
the sky beng patched with clouds, and
there would be no moon for an hour or
more; still, as the patron said, if there
were fish, he'd manage to catch them
without candles.
"By the way. it never occurred to me
to ask the name of your boat-what is
it?"
LA Santistma Trinidad. She's a
good, stiff boat, and will carry on, 60
ing free or close hauled, with any other" "
She certainly was moving along,
though heading considerably to wind
ward, and on the course we were going
made capital weather and was remark
ably steady.
The steering-oar was confided to me,
and then after about an hour and half
of the same course, to just abreast the
Machichaco light, we went about, and
made due north for an offing. Our speed
was nearly doubled, and as the moon
had risen, and now and again broke
through the clouds, we caught an occa-
sional glimpse of the two other boats,
about mile to the windward. Sudden
ly joaquin, one of the men, who was
standing on thwart and leaning against
Iue IoTcuaSt, sang ouG:
"Sardina,- SARDINIA, sardina-yonder
away, dead in the wind"
Yes; there was the shoa1, luminous,
phosphorescent streak, some hundreds
of yards in length.
In an instant the galley's head was
brought round, the canvas shook and
tapped, and in another moment down
went the sails. Then the oars were got
out, and away we went, thudding
through the seas which came stem on.
Joaquin, in the bows, had boom with
block at end ready, end coiled line,
made fast to the outgoing extremity of
the net, was passed forward, and this he
rove through the block, and then rugged
the boom firmly, so as to project from
in the twinkling of an eye, the men, the
while, bending to their oars with will:
"Stand clear Of the net, senior, and
to play out. Give way, my lads, give
Jose Echevarria down on the shoal be-
fore we get cast; the wind will blow
them clean on to it. Pull, chicos, pull,
for sardines at twenty reals the thou
sand. They'll be well worth every far
thing CT it tomorrow, and only three
boats out. Pull. boys, pull Pedro and
Jose have got sight and are bound for
the fish under full canvas. Give way
will you let hundred reals each slip
through your fingers? Pull, by all the
saints in Heaven, pull. Give way,
chicos, give way, the seas alive with
them, and one cast will be fortune for
all of usz-z'i
"Pay out, pay out !" shouted Joaquin,
as the galley seemed to cleave into a
liquid phosphorescent fire, flakes of
which, in the shape Of .sardines, flew
sparkling from the oar-blades.
Whilst rapidly cleared coil after coil
of the net, the patron cast it adrift, Joa~
quin, meanwhile, Stacking out the mes
sepger-line through the block at the end
of the boom. AS the last coil went over,
the line with it was only allowed to run
dozen yards or so, and then made fast.
The oars were now tossed inboard, and
the men commenced lifting the false
flooring, which fitted to about two feet
above The keel, and wooden scoops were
placed handy.
"Haul in fore and aft" cried the pa
tron, and half dozen men clapped on
to each line, bringing the net inwards,
to bow and stern, in semicircle, the
form of which could be traced by the
myriade of giistenlng fish that sought to
escape over the floating corks..
But it seemed, despite these signs, that
we had been too hasty and had made a
false cast, for it soon became apparent
we were only on the edge of the shoal,
which was making away to windward
and right on to the galleys of Pedro
rtepli and lose Fchevarria
"NOw, may the saints have YOU in
their holy keeping, Senor Joaquin, for
the good you have done us. See, there
go the fish my lads, but haul in smart
ly, or the few We have, will manage to
get away. What say, you, chicos, shall
we make a present of this take to buy
spectacles for Joaquin ?''
Joaquin muttered something to the
effect that he was not the only one in
the boat wanting eyes, and that he had
given the word at the right time; that
the galley,s head was allowed to pay off,
and what further observations he made
were lost in grumble. When the
whole of the net had been gathered in,
the scoops barely succeeded in getting a
couple Of bushels.
In anything but good humor, the
patron gave the word to hoist sails, and
as we turned again saawards the moon
rose from bank of clouds, and in its
light we could see the galleys of Pedro
Artegui and Jose Echevarria laying over
to the weight of fish they were taking.
One thing was positive, that we had left
them behind, and that whatever we fell
in with now we should have to ourselves.
Well, for hours we tackled and retacked,
making for whatever there appeared in
dications, and at dawn greatly discour-
aged, Clement Orue suggested putting
about and steering homewa.ds. AT this
moment, Joaquin, who had been perch
ed moodily in his usual place, turned to
the patron, and asked him to look in the
direction to which he pointed-the
northeast. There was line of light on
the water and a broadening streak o1
morning in the sky. Scores of seagulls
were eddying in circles, now posing fol
an instant, and then swooping down to
the surface.
''If that doesn't mean fish," said Joa-
quin in rather sulky manner, "may
never catch another sardine as long as
live"
Right, my lad," replied the patron
cheerily; "there are sardines there by
millions, and as they are to leeward VIZ
can strike them where we choose. Now