The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-10-22
shall meet very soon In New York.

tneaSlnesS; now that he was SO near the
coast? The most definite one he could
formulate was that his men, finding he
delivered no supplies and had no connec-
ton with any real strategic movement,
might at last divine the truth and fall
upon him to despoil him of his treasure.
What meant the evasive, uncanny look
he thought he surprised sometimes in
the eyes Of Antonio Gassol? Treason had
no part in the expedition thus far. Sure
ly Gassol, the trusty lieutenant and eff
eient helper, had not learned the secret
and begun to cherish thoughts of play
ing him false?
AS to supplies, why should they not
appear to be delivered on shipboard, to
be used in operations along the coast?
He soon showed, in fact, an order from
the iberator to this effect, procured for
him by the good Offices Of Perez and
brought by a courier. This was offered
as his reason for separating from the ex-
peditionary troops. These latter were
to bide awhile at Cordoba, to await the
result of some Machiavellian schemes
which had for their object the opening
of the gates of Vera Cruz which still adj
hered to the government. Naturally,
Walter could not enter Vera Cruz with
them even if the bargain were success
full; for what he carried was not of
sort to pass the eyes of the custom house
officers, and one set of custom house Off
GERS was certain to be succeeded by an
other.
The mule bells of his winding train
tinkled through dark tropical forests
that inspired reflection and awe, amid
plantations Of coffee and pineapple, be-
meath rich parasitic growths of orchid
and bromelia, and post hanlets, with
monumental decayed churches, where
Indian women with trays of fruit on
their head, ignorant of the wars, gave
them smiling greeting. The second day
after separating from the troops, they
came to small river, which they cross
ed by means of a basket suspended on a
raWhide cable, the animals swimming.
Farther up could be seen an ingenious
boldly arched foot bridge made Of grape
vines swung from tree to tree. At this
place they heard some heavy cannon
shots from the direction of Vera Cruz,
to the northward of which they had
taken their course. They at first thought
the city might have been attacked, but
the firing was of too short duration.
Antonio Gassol acted in an odd way
at the river, seeming, in Walters ner-
vous fancy, to keep back ON the rear
ward bank with q number of the laden
mules, while all the rest went forward.
The young commander felt that his sus-
picions were highly unjust, but broke
up, Notwithstanding, any possible pro-
ject of this kind. He was also warned
by the agent of Carvajal of soma pecu-
liar doings; and he happened upon Gas
sol in little group of men comforting
earnestly, who skunk away at sight Of
him almost as if detected in something
guilty. They seemed to be chiefly those
who had been held as prisoners at Lake
Jornada, and who might thus have dis
covered the real contents Of the bags;
yet, if they had done so, why had there
been no evidence Of it before? After this,
his nervous dread grew upon him, and
he surprised himself repeating the mot
to, eff it be now, tits not to come; if it
be not now, yet it will come" But
there was nothing he could do, save to
redouble his circumspectiOn and dill
gence, and he endeavored to conduct
himself in all respects just as usual.
He sent Carvajal's lieutenant and two