The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1890-06-19

lS@S
in, could not for tho lifo Of me deter.
mine.
Towards evening did go ashore, slip
ping away at a time when he had gone
below for a moment. found a public
walk in an avenue Of palm trees which
ran close by the sea. The palms were
laden with clusters Of yellow dates, that
at first sight were more like dried sea
weed than fruit. As darkness fell, and
with It GOODNESS, ! sat down here, and
fell to watching the vessels In the port
fade away one by one into the gloom,
and little sparks Of light take their
places. A number Of people were still
out, enjoying the air, but these were
sauntering, one and all. In the indolent
southern fashion. so that on hearing the
brisk stepOf man approaching In haste,
looked up sharply To my surprise, Il
was Sleigh. the engineeri
lie passed close TO me. | could not be
mistaken, though he had put of his half
slouching, half impudent air, and was
keenly on the alert, glancing from this
side to that, as II he were following or
searching for some one. For whom? ]
was one Of half dozen on q seat In deep
shadow. II were the person he wanted
and had leapt, at sight Of him, to that
conclusion and covered down In my
place-he overlooked me and went on
| sat some time longer after his step
died away In the distance. my thoughts
not altogether pleasant oneS But ht
did not return, and | went up TO thr
Hotel Bossio prepared to eat an excellent
dinner
The table d'h0te In tho big white
washed room was half finished was
late. Perhaps this was why tho walters
eyed me, as took my seat, with atten
ton; or Il might be that the English
were not numerous at Alicante, or moi
popular; or, again, 1t might be that SOM
one-Mr. Sleigh. for example-had beel
there making inquiries for foreigner
blonde. middle sized. and speaking yer,
little Spanish. Their notice made M
uncomfortable. 1t seemed as II coul'
nowhere escape from my old man Of tn
sea.
Nowhere indeed, for I was to hav,
another rencontre that night, with whicl.
he may or may not have had to do, but
which must be told because Of thu
light afterwards thrown upon II
Returning to my ship along the darl
wharf. here and there came upon iig
ures loailng In the shadow Of bales Of
barrels. and. passing them. clutched ny
loaded stick mora tightly. got by ali
these. however, In safety, and reached
the spot where the ship lay. "San Miguel
Botar shouted. in the approved fashion
Of that coast. San Miguel Eotar"
The words had scarcely left my lips
the second time when there was rus.
tling close to me. A single footstep
sounded on the pebbles. and the light Of
lantern was flashed in my face. With
an exclamation ! recoiled. As did so
two or three men sprang forward. Daz.
zled and taken by surprise, ! had only
an indistinct view Of figures about me,
and was on the point Of fighting or
running, or making an attempt at both,
when by good luck the clink Of steel
accouterments fell upon my ear.
By good lucki For they were police
who had stopped me, and It Is III work
resisting the police In Spain. "What do
you require, gentlemen" asked In my
best Spanish. II am English"
"Perdone listed, senOr," replied the
leader. ho who held the light. "Will
you have the goodness 10 show me your
papersT'
"Con mucho gustoT' answered, de
lighted to find that things were no wofaSl
| was going to produce my passport on
the spot, when the sergeant, with Q po
lite bu; imperative This way!' directed
mo to follow him. did 90 for q short
distance; door was flung open, and !
found myself In n well lighted, barely
furnished Office, which guessed was d
custom house post. The officer took hi
place behind a desk, and by Q gesture Of
his cooked hat signiiied his readiness Il
proceed.
had had to do with the police before.
and should have smiled at the matter
now, but was aware Of q suppressed
excitement In the group around me, Of
strange glances which they cast at me
Of general drawing round their chief
as he bent over my passport-thing
which seemed TO indicate that this wal
no ordinary case Of passport examina
ton. Singular. too. was the disappoint
ment they evinced when they found thai
my passport bore. besides the ordinar!
wise. the signatures Of the vice consul
and alcalde at Valencia. OF course, n
their faces fell my spirits rosa A deel
conviction and deeper disappointment
took possession Of them, and, after ! hntl
answered half dozen questions, the In
terview ended with the same "PeT
done listed. senor.- with which 4
had begun. was bowed out;
boat was instantly procured for me
and In two minutes more ! was climbin.
the ladder which hung from the San
Miguel's quarter.
The flrst person whom saw on board
was Mr.. Sleigh. BE was lolllng on n
bench In the saloon-confound his impu.
dencei-drinking aguardiente and star.
ing moOdily at the table. ! tried 10 pass
him by and reach my cabin unnoticed.
but on the last step Of the companion
slipped. With q muttered oath at the
interruption he looked up and our eyes
met.
Never did I SEGA man more astonIshed
He gazed at me as II he could not trust
his sight; then started TO his feet and
executed a loud whistle. "Well, neverr'
he cried, slapping his thigh with another
oath, and speaking in a coarse. jubilant
tone. "well, ] am blessed. gOvernorl
So you did not go ashore, after ALT Here