The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-10-22

himself out to rest his weary limbs, ana
the broken spaces of water rejecting the
blue sky contrasted tenderly with the
soft green of the vegetation; how could
heaven ever permit lust of gold, suffer
ing and slaughter, in SO smiling a pros
pect?
When Don Walter was finally received
on board the remaining boat he was
more like one from the dead than liv-
ing man. They had been about to turn
away and abandon the scene, believing
not soul had escaped, when he came
swimming and hailing them a long dis
lance out from the so called land.
This boat, commanded by Antonio
Gassol, had also consort. Perez in
person had come out with another boat
of small size and containing few men,
but these were all that could be spared
from Rio Frio. They put in to the little
island of La Copa, solid granite rock
containing cup like crater. The enemy
could be seen transferring the bags Of
gold and their prisoners to one Of their
craft, leaving their unwieldy prize where
it lay. Perez was for abandoning what
they had lost, great as it was, and re-
treating to save what still remained to
them.
81 regret it beyond measure" said he,
"and I am the last man in the world to
give it up while q single chance offers,
but bow to the inevitable, and there is
not thing we can do"
"No, no! | will never give it up!
cannot give it up!' cried Walter, in an
agony of protest. 'It is easy for you to
advise, you who have nothing at stake.
will die first! it is my life. Oh, why
did not die when was so very near it?'
He wished to fortify the island and
await attack there till Kaufman could
be communicated with in the mountains
and brought to join them in an offensive
movement.
''They will not attack us" said Perez.
I'm my opinion they will go down the
lake, content for the present with what
they have. and will take no more risks
upon it. .....
All the Indications seemed to confirm
what he said. The hamlet at the foot Of
the rocky peak was a peaceful place,
with a couple of ancient palm trees
growing beside it's small church, and the
water off the shore deep and clear Its prin-
cipal industry was the making of mats
from the rushes of the lake. Walter saw
an Indian girl go in a chalupa and de-
post some Of these in q canoa-of much
swifter build than most of its class-al-
ready partly loaded with them. Instant
ly daring new conception flashed into
his craving mind.
"Let us lure them on" he proposed to
Perez; "tempt them with the prospect
of getting the rest of the treasure also.
You and Gassol must pretend to fly and
draw the others after you, and in the
swift boat will play the lame duck with
Corcovedo and then fall upon him by
surprise and capture him."
''They will see through the trick" re-
Joined Perez; "they won't be taken in
by it,
He gave in his adhesion, however, to
a plan of which he disapproved, and pre-
pared to carry out his part in it with a
kind Of gloomy cheerfulness. He was
right in his predictions. Corcovedo,
flushed with victory, was in fact drawn
after them by the surprising spectacle of
the much weaker party awkwardly COM
ing out as if to attack him. He baffied
them by keeping his small fotilla we'll
together, however, and then they had
really to fly.