The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-10

could only see Teresa once more, he was
sure Of an amicable adjustment and q
speedy marriage. 1t was worth trial.
And the sonora argued that if he could
get possession of the child, that would no
doubt bring her to terms. She would call
in Pacho, her brother. Pacho was got in
behind the calico curtain, and, with q
bottle Of white rum to lubricate his men,
ory, grown somewhat rusty by disuse,
convinced the mother and son they had q
strong case. If the sonora would furnish
the money for the trip he would go with
Ignacio.
He would have the legal documents to
prove her and the child consistadoes; he
would have letter from the governor of
the province to all other governors to aid
him. Oh, Pacho had been alcalde, and
knew his ground. But it would require
money. Yes, they might be several weeks
about it, but would succeed; that he was
very sure of. Pacho had been alcalde
once, but refnado and rum had been his
undoing. He had spent the last fifteen
years in slouching around shop doorways
to make himself useful to strangers or to
act a. umpire occasionally in a burro or
horse trade. and he saw, at least, some adj
dition to his wardrobe and unlimited
drink in the scheme of his hopeful nephew.
So, On the basis of his legal knowledge and
past prestige, and the soils of the sonora.
they went about their plans.
Marco himself had come up the Portu-
guese river from the Apure and Orinoco to
rescue his sister ten miles below the town.
She was on board of a swift champan, and
in few hours was far beyond the reach
of pursuit. And here is this large house.
with its broad roof empowered in fig and
mango trees, the front veranda facing the
north, where the men and dogs slept at
night under the projecting thatch, here
with her devoted subjects around her she
had been ever since.
The Valdez influence was far-reaching.
Marco had paid correspondent even in
Valencia. Their canoes. and champans
were on every river and Marco was virtu-
ally lord of all the territory between the
Ventuari and the waters of the upper ORR
noco, and this territory was the harbor OF
refuge for many fugitive.
The head men Of surrounding tribes had
for years looked upon the elder Valdez as
q powerful friend and protector. and he
mans foot except his own had ever pene-
trated. / cannot tell of the many cruelties
imposed upon the poor children of the
forest by commercial birds of prey of all
nations-the hopeless bondage, the kid.
mapping of children, their enforced degra-
dation, at present. The doings of the fas-
cinating Nunez and his legal adviser claim
our attention. The soils and reals accumu.
lated but slowly, and great economy was
imposed on the Nunez household for two
or three months. They dieted on habas and
green plantain. They even denied them
selves san cocho for a time to fit out the
regeneration of the family fortunes.
1t was hard for him. At times he was
disposed to kick over the traces, especially
when at the last. while awaiting the ar.
rival of his best shirt from the laundress
ha al tn IA Eo IN cot Svxt he II
room, where the family pigs came through
q hole in the mud wall to sleep under the
cot at night, and where the dogs took
refuge in the heat Of the day on the damn
earth floor, and the odor of stale native
cheese and garlic became oppressive. In
these days of sad seclusion the frequen,
coming of the good Pacho, with bottle OF
his favorite poison inside the lapel of his
coat. was his only solace
But one morning they took their depart
ture: Their passage had been paid by the
prudent sonora, after hours of negotiation
with the patron" owner of canoe as far
rs the mouth of the Apure, and with q
reals worth of dried fish and bollo each
put up by the sonora herself, they started
on their voyage, stopping at Pao shortly
after To add gallon Of retinado TO theil
stores.
Some twenty days after, at San Rafael
on the bank of the orinoco, our hero and
his uncle Pacho heard of the fugitive and
child. They were lucky, also, in findinc
canoe going above the cataracfs, although
the patron WAS stupid and deaf old
Guarica Indian who knew no Spanish
He had Q young Indian from San Fer
nando, passenger, also ignorant of that
language, so storekeeper at the port wa:
called in for consultation, and the matter
was soon arranged. The bogas were rive,
Indians, born and bred 10 the canoe. and
being considered mere animals, what they
knew or did not know was matter of in
difference to our fortunate voyagers. The
further they got south the surer they be,
came of their success. for the more plainly
appeared the destitute condition of this
runaway they were looking for, the more
ohsequious the village alchides became
the louder and bolder became the arrogant
demeanor of the Chevalier Nunez and hi.
portly uncle, bearer of the letter from ths,
important military chief, the governor OF
Carabobo.
Many q feasible plan was discussed by
the uncle and nephew as TO how and when
20 get rid of the wife after she had served
the husbands purpose of establishing a
claim ON the Valdez property on the Meta
and in the different river towns.
what these brutes of Indians cal
Woorari would do the job, nephew. You
see. he, the father, i mean, Is an alien. He
has no property-thst is, no proprietary
rights except through you, q resident, and
the husband Of his dsughter..oh, / have