Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-10-23

by placing him in command FOR this
ono trip. His enlargement became
perilous when Lieutenant Echeandia
suddenly proposed To Senorita Pachita
that they make tho voyage. and she.
being young and thoughtless, con-
sented.
Brave Corporal Sanchez sailed the
Me- leo superbly as far rs Angel Island
descanting eloquently on the art and
mystery of seamanship. Issuing To
his crew OF three soldiers sundry or
doris In II commanding voice of thunder
he prepared TO pass the point.
Alas. an eastern wind came whist
ling through the treacherous Raccoon
strait and, in spite of all Corporal
Pedro's seamanship, the MEXICO was
caught and whirled round and round.
and borne with the racing tide toward
the Golden Gate.
Senorita Pachita de Sofa screamed,
bat there was no help sent down from
heaven. even on the appeal OF those
pretty lips grown quite white, or OF
that pale face. with it's big black eyes
wild with terror.
Lieutenant Juan de Echeandia swore
-swore at Corporal Pedro Sanchez;
but profanity, though frequently an
adjunct to navigation. is not Of use in
Importing knowledge thereof.
SO out TO sea they drifted, far out
almost to the Farallones.
For eight days and nights they were
as n chip on the waves the Raccoon
gusts having snapped the mast and
carried away the sail. Corporal Pedro.
famous as mariner, had forgotten TO
bring oars.
Senorita dc Sofa gave herself up to
Mary, Mother of God; as did the cor
poral and the three men in the bow,
who passed the hours in shuddering
prayer
But Lieutenant Juan had soldiers
soul. On the second day he drew his
sword and. at its point the men
yielded such food and water as the
boat contained. These he bestowed
where his body was between them and
recapture.
The Corporal Pedro. though a fool
and unfortunate, was loyal. With
him the lieutenant kept watch and
ward and through all those awful
eight days and nights (by my pen. it
is true that the boat was gone that
long, as you may read in Hittelrs
History Of California') the Seuorita
de Sofa wanted for neither food nor
drink. and the delicacy of Lieutenant
Juan would have brought tears of
gratefulness TO any woman's eyes. He
did wonders, ~ tradition has handed
down. with cloaks and stray bits Of
rope to cabin the lady.
On the eighth day-sincere prayer is
ever answered blessed wind sprang
up from the west and. tide assisting,
blew the Mejico back through the
Golden Gate. The cruising Chief
Marin. on his tule.fioat was sent by
Providence TO tow her 20 the Preside
wharf, where the commandante and
cheering garrison awaited the return
of the lost TO lfe-the ones saved by
an unquestionable miracle. The padres
bore the lesson home in many SER
mon.
As the Senorita de Sela arose in The
stern to disembark, she tottered from
weakness and agitation. Lieutenant
Juan stretched out an arm and pre-
served her from ducaing She gave
"a little scream, not at the public en-
brace but because in throwing up her
small brown hands. she had broken
a slender gold chain that hung about
her neck-broken it, and over into
tn deep water it went together with
a locket that had rested on her virgin
DO som.
My dears," said Commandante
Don Luis Antonio Arguello. when they
had refreshed themselves at his quar-
tors and related their adventures
my dears, think that under all cir
cum stances the best thing you can do
is TO get married, and at once"
Pm with yo1." exclaimed Lieuten-
ant Juan dc Echeandia, in Spanish,
opening his arms.
And Senorita Pachita de Sofa crept
tmidly into them. hiding her lovely.
blushing face upon his happy, wealth
er-beaten breast.
Lieutenant JOnn ANDERSON was re-
strained from throwing the abalcne-
she'll into the bay. after his indefensi-
BILE language concerning it, because,
imbedded under transparent. over
lying, irridescent deposit he beheld
an open golden locket, showing the
face of a handsome young man, evil
IDENTITY Spanish.
Miss de Sofa excited, took it from
HIM. scrutinized 1t intentiy, looked up
with sparkling eyes and pointed IL
slim. triumphant olive finger at name
beneath the miniature.
There she cried; grandma did
love that Monterey ensign. though she
always denied IT,"
but Pachita-Pachita darling, do
name the day" pleaded Lieutenant
Anderson. all athrob
'Oh. bother" impatiently returned
Miss de Sofa, absorbed again in the
abalone. Name it yourself The