The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-09-19
CHAPTER Xxx.

With the boy clasped TO his heart the
doctor satbeside the altar of the chapel
during all the direful strife without, shield
ing his little charge from the clouds of fine
sand aud rubbish that every few minutes
come swirling within the SACRED temple;
dashing the PADRES candlesticks into bat
tered Jumps of brass on the pavement. aud
tearing to atoms the votive offerings hung
around the walls by the pirates. But, rs if
in mercy TO the trustful FOULS lying there,
the Savior still looked down in sweet pity
upon them, and the little chapel stood un.
harmed.
When at last, however the hurricanes
back had been broken, and Eolus had
refined in his maddened chargers and
curbed their flying wings, aud when all the
demons of the winds had gone moaningly
Lack to their cavern in the clouds, the doc.
tor arose. aud with the boy beside him, knelt
deyoutly before the altar while no uttered u
fervent prayer of thanksgiving.
Come, my Henri! now we may 90 out
and see if we can find something TO ent and
drink. You are weak and hungry. my poor
little boy! But you shall not suffer much
longer!"
That strong man, with the heart of gen.
tie woman, had no thought Of how i'll, and
furnished, and thirsty lie himself was from
the terrible torture he had endured. No,
he only thought of the child who had saved
hiin.
In front of the chupel the sand and bush.
es were piled up in ridgy heaps, the coral
wall around the cemetery had been thrown
down, while the fiat head stones oyer the
pirates graves had disappeared entirely.
Not SO, however, with the white slabs near
by where those poor doomed women were
lying; for the hurricane had spared their
tombs, and pail of pure white sand was
sprinkled over their remains. Bending
over them was the trunk of tho cocoa nut
with its top stripped and its lenfless branch
es quivering in the wind; while from below
streumed out the long, thin, green silk rope
which had SO often served Captain Brand,
the piratc, for his private executions. Near
at hand lay the trestle on which the doctor
had been stretched, caught by the base of
the cocoa mt colum, and half buried in
sand, while the cruel strips Of rawhide
which had dashed the victim down were tied
aud twisted into maze OF complicated
knots by the nimble fingers Of the winds.
The doctor started. and his half-closed
eyes shot out CLEANS Of anger as he be-
held the unconscious implements designed
for his torturing murder; aud leaving the
child at the door way TO The chapel. he
,allied out, detached the rope. loosened the
trestle from is sandy bed. aud placed them
in corner of the chapel.
Then CAREFUL, picking his way with the
boy in bis great arms, over the trees and
debris which obsructed the pathway, he
speedily reached tho site on which had
Fire, water, and wind had done their work
effectually. though the fire had partially
spared the detached store house and shed
which he had share with the infamous
padre. All else was ruin of loose blocks
Of stope, broken tiles, nearly buried in
banks of sand. From q well in the once
busy court yard, and which bad also es-
capped the deyouring elements, the doctor
drew out bucket o. two Of water in which
he slakcd the boys thirst and then bis own,
aud Afterwards poured water over their
bodies. Then, from still smouldering
beam which pnffed out at intervals thin
curl Of smoke from beneath one Of tho
sheds, be lit Q fro in the court-yard; and
then from the wreck Of the store-room be
succeeded in rescuipg some hard biscnit
and o ham. This last be tore in sheds. and
placing them on sticks before the fire, he
was thus enabled TO make hearty meal,
first providing for the wants Of the child,
however, soaking the biscuit for him, as il
it were his first duty on earth. Again rais.
ing the boy in his arms, he passed from the
ruined sheds. and bent his steps towards
Captain Brands former dwelling. The
roads were heaped with shells and sand,
strewed with shoals Of dead fish, and wound.
ed or dying birds. while the wreck Of a
boat, mingled with the timbers and planks
of the jetty to the basin. were lying rell-
nell on the beach Of the little cove. Cast.
ing his eyes around in search Of the once
spacious dwelling, with the vaults, veranda,
and saloon, he could hardly, at first, trace
o vestige Of the structure. The powder,
more destructive even than the hurricane,
had tossed wallis and building into o con.
fused hesp Of rubbish; thSn came the wind