The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-10-15

envy either from within or without, but,
naturally, could not be made available
on both sides. He determined to hold it
against the pursuers while awaiting the
return of accommodating party sent out
to look for the expected boats and aid
from Capt Perez. Failing these, he
would march on and, if need be, perish
on the shore of the lake.
From the top scene of peculiar beauty
and grandeur presented itself. The lake,
in great crater ring, formed perhaps
by the same agencies that had rent the
grim Barranca through the mountain,
spread out from a desolate alkali whiten-
ed shore in front to vast mountains be-
yond. A stepping stone as it were to
the mountains, rose a. green table, land
so high as to seem almost inaccessible,
and among the peaks was one topped
with snow Of which Walter had some
times caught glimpses during his labors.
The lake was not an unbroken stretch
of water, for, besides little: rocky ISL
and Of conical form, it had frequent ex-
panses of the extraordinary growth
known as chinampas, a kind of amphibi
GUS meadow more or less free from at
tachment to the bottom, and often so
light as to be driven before the winds
Near the shore, irregular channels ex-
tended among them, connecting one open
space with another.
The crack of rifles in a new attack o:
the pursuers had already begun when the
searching party returned. They brought
back with them gruff sort of individ-
ual in fur cap, who proved to be ali
American named Barnley. He belonged
to command, chiefly composed of for
eigners, which was secreted with the
runaway Kaufman in the mountains,
waiting to take part in the expected
rising. Capt. Perez had communicated
with Kaufman, who had detailed Barn
ley with perhaps a corporaFs guard of
men to assist in the matter of the boats.
He had lately come down from the wind
swept mining gorges Of Pachuca, where
a fur cap was not out of place, and he
chose to wear his just the same in the
tropics also. 4.
ga little times been lost by my COM
ing back with your men to see if you
were the right parties" said he,. "but
that's better than making a mistake.
You can have two canoaS, one big one,
pretty heavy and slow, the other smaller
and medium fast, but they'll carry you.
and they were the best we could do in
these times This end of the lake is
pretty we'll skinned of boats, and it has
mighty few at any time: SO don't see
how any ones going to follow you"
''And yet we haveno time to lose," re-
joined Walter. clark! there's the
enemy's other division cheering now.
They have heard the firing, and are prob
ably coming down on us. We may be
even now too late to escape them"
They've got another division. have
they?"
eyes: the principal one is above there"
"Pmglad to know that - said Barnley.
1T would be mighty inconvenient for
Kaufman to have them come on him
unawares after you've given them the
slip. I'll tell you what I'll do: if you'll
take care of these I'll agree to stop the
others with my own squad. IF can get
to the Cajones-the Boxes in time. can
hold them as long as you please. The
CajOnes is the most elegant place to cor
ner a company you don't want to bother
you. AS like as not those parties won't
get here before tomorrow morning.
But we cannot sacrifice you to QUE
convenience.
go l.. L I