The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1891-11-27


and consumed weeks. And the timber
was brought over by Chief Marin, al
abongine given to cruising on float OF
logs and tules, who alone knew the
winds and currents of the bay. 1t wal
but matter Of day now to sail over
for the timber and return with 1t.
Corporal Pedro Sanchez had made al
the voyages with the commandante and
rated now as u superior navigator, hi'
marine fame being dear to him. Don
Luis had swollen him with pride by
placing him in command for this one
trip. His enlargement became perilous
when Lieutenant Echeandia sudderly
proposed to Senorita Pachita that Aey
make the voyage, and she, being y'0'e
and thoughtless, consented
Brave Corporal Sanchez sailed tnc
MEXICO superbly as far as Angel island,
descanting eloquently on the art and
mystery of seamanship. Issuing to his
crew of three soldiers sundry orders in
"a commanding voice of thunder. he pre-
pared to pass the point.
| Alas, an eastern wind came whistiing
through the treacherous Raccoon strait,
and in spite of all Corporal Pedro's sea-
manship the MEXICO was caught and
whirled round and round and borne
with the racing tide toward the Golden
Gate
Senorita Pachita de Sofa screamed,
but 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 its 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 imparting
knowledge thereof.
So out to sea they drifted. far out, al
most to the Farallones.
For eight days and nights they were
as chip on the waves, the Raccoon
guests having snapped the mast and
carried away the sail. Corporal Pedro,
famous as a mariner, had forgotten to
bring oars.
Senorita de Sola 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 it's 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 fool and
unfortunate, was loyal. With him the
lieutenant kept watch and watch, 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 Hittell's History of California'O
the Senorita de Sola wanted for neither
food nor drink, and the delicacy of Lieu
tenant Juan would have brought tears
If gratefulness to any woman's eyes.
He did wonders-as tradition has hand
ID down-with cloaks and coats and
tray bits Of rope to cabin the lady.
On the eighth day-sincere prayer is
yer answered. blessed wind sprapg
Up from the west and, tide assisting,
lew the MEXICO back through the Gold
n Gate The cruising chief Marin. on
lis tule float, was sent by Providence to
ow her to the Presidio wharf, where
he commandant and the cheering gar
ison awaited the return of the lost to
ife-the ones saved by an unquestiona-
lie miracle. The padres bore the lesson
lome in many a sermon.
AS the Senorita de Sola rose in the
tern to disembark she tottered from
weakness and agitation. Lieutenant
Juan stretched out an arm and pre-
erved her from ducking. She gave a
title scream, not at the public embrace,
,ut because in throwing up her small
brown hands she had broken slender
gold chain that hung about her neck
broken it, and over into the deep water
t went, together with locket that had
ested on her virgin bosom.
"My dears," said Commandante Don
luis Antonio Arguello, when they had
themselves at his quarters and
elated their adventures-''my dears,
hink that under all the circumstances
he best thing you can do is to get mar
led, and at once
"Tm with you," exclaimed Lieutenant
Tuan de Echeandia in Spanish. opening
lis arms.
And Senorita Pachita de Sola crept
mildly into them, hiding her lovely,
flushing face upon his happy, weather
eaten breast.
IN AUGUST, 1890, AGAIN.
Lieutenant John Anderson was re-
trained from throwing the abalone shell
nto the bay, after his indefensible Ian
uage concerning it, because, imbedded
Inder transparent, everything, rides
emit deposit, he beheld an open golden
ocket, showing the face of handsome
Dung man, evidently Spanish.
Miss de Sola, excited, took it from him,
crutinized it intently, looked up with
parking eyes and pointed a slim, tri-
olive finger at a name beneath
he miniature.
"There!' she cried; grandma did love
hat Monterey ensign, though she always
enied itp'
"But Pachita-Pachita darling, do
anne the day." pleaded Lieutenant An
erson all a-throb.