Wichita eagle., 1888-08-15

heaven itself derides and threatens,
he thinks, for in the flying scuds Of clouds
he sees but specters- On, on he hurries,
bending to his oars till his frail bark
bounds and leaps on the heaving, swell
ing water, now growing more turbulent
with every impulse that urges the life
boat forward. The roar Of the breakers
in bis ears is deRoniac, but he heeds not
the warning; rather he hears IN the
clanor the outcry Of denunciat.oa. He
is in the midst OF churning, foaning,
angry waters 4 black rock seems TO
uprear itself from the raging waves, and
wrest an car from him. As hs bends to
snatch at the shattered fragments the
other slips from his hand and goes spin
ming away in the moonlight, Is il whiri-
ing in a weird dance Of mockery. His
boat crashes ON the reef, whose fantastic
mantle Of spray, flung high IN the air, he
takes at the supreme moment for another
phantom. There is brief struggle be
tween stupendous force and an atom
and the man and his sin are buried in the
waves forever.
Long years have passed. The two men
who once landed here are forgotten, the
fate Of them buried Ia oblivion, IN
known. indeed, of their fellows. But
who shall say how these things come
about2-the spot is known as The Cove
Of the Treasure No one knows how
or when or why the name has come to
be applied There is no definite tradi-
ton or legend concerning the matter;
but through some subtle medium the as
ISOLATION Of ideas has become fixed one.
And the two palms have long since got
ten name Of evil reputation, and here,
indeed, there is somewhat of definite
shaping. For the story goes that at
from their shadow and pursues the af-
frighted wayfarer. In all the country
around there is not human being who
will approach these palms when the sum
is fairly sinking, and in truth they are
Stunned at cost Of wide circuit at any
hour whatsoever.
Once again-but the hour is now high
mid afternoon of a brilliant tropical day
once again a little boat comes around
the point and makes for the beach OF the
barra, and once again two men step on
the shore. They stand a brief while
contemplative, impressed by the absolute
repose of the scene. The broad, green
leaves Of the bananas are scarce astir, all
sensitive as they are to the Hghtest
zephyr. Those uncouth forms that sa-
lutte the eye, Impractical though it be,
with something OF dread and horror, are
not rough logs, as might be thought at
first sight, but swinish alligators lazily
basking in the slime OF the creek or IN
the shade Of the cane brake. The jaguar,
and the lizard, too, are asleep, but far
ther within the jungle, where their more
sensitive bodies receive less of the in
tense heat Of the hour. The huaco sits
in the high ceiba-for this tail, silk cot
ton tree viii be the first point TO catch
the grateful breath Of the land breeze
when that cool, refreshing wind shall
blow up sweetly. The cicada sings his
grating, strident challenge, but its meas
ure, far from relieving the weight of the
day by hint Of activity, only serves to
enhance the feeling of breathlessness, as
the cicada call will do the wide world
over. So, too, an added heaviness comes
from contemplation of the hawk over
head moving in lazy circles.
"Carambal but what heatl" says one
Of the new corners, in liquid Spanish;
1--WE have found the spot, there is 10
doubt, but the hour is badly chosen.
Does it not seem strange, Felipe, that we
should so readily have found the site
described in that old parchment, written
in my uncle's scrawing hand, and, oddly
enough, preserved IN the sea chest OF your
father. sent home so long ago. after that
last luckless voyage, on which the two
embarked together, and from which
neither returned:''
''NIost strange, indeed" says Felipe;
land for my part, l am still inclined 10
think we have come on a fruitless guest.
They were dreamers, most like, your
uncle and my father, and we snail find
their treasure rove to be bu: rainbow
gold"
1T is more likely" says Fortunate.
''that they won it by force or violence;
and You know that gold that has been
baptized in blood shall not be enjoyed by
one Of the same race as the shedder Of
that blood. What have you there, Fc-
lipe2" His tone changed from simple
earnestness to alarm, as his companion
suddenly is shaken by a powerful
shudder.
Il do not know" says Felipe; Il felt
that strange, mysterious thrill Of ho-rCr
which is said to be caused by the tread Of
an alien foot upon the ground where
ones grave shall be. :"
''Pah! NONSENSE says practical Fer
tuuato; ''how weak Of you to remember
old wonen's supersdtions! What fear
is that you may be developing calenturas.
That long row IL this beating, blazing Sun,
the sudden change TO the GOODNESS Of this
dense shadow, and the reck Of rank, de-
caying vegetation surely these are
causes enough TO bring on chiIls ard
fever in these lowlands. think there
must be marshes hereabouts-I had Z
Whit just now Of sickenins, charrel
like air that savors of malaria or miasIn.
Hal what Is that? A uan-perhaps d
contestant Of our claim, Fetpe!'
They are nearing the palms. from
whose shade energies the stralger-a
; tA4-lSt5S, AdAt--S~tc Is UIe, CIT. III q tN-l
and dusty garb OF nautical mode and az
dque fashion. He draws near 10 the
young men, aid they note that he wears
about his neck Z clumsy old rosary, hold
ing a massive cross, missh2pen from
oxidation
MY friend'-it is Fortunate who halls
hin-''do you i've hereabouts:''
The aoproachir- tjcrT1-a returns no an f
swer.