The Press., 1891-10-22

and watchful as he steered the canoe, taking advantage of every breath of the light breeze which swelled the folds of their sail Francesca raised the ques- ton of the reception they would meet among the Indians of the Darien, one of the fiercest tribes of tlle main, and El Tigre told him, Nechtla being the pret- ty interpreter, they need have no fear. He belonged to the priestly caste and would find friends everywhere. Fran cesco thought of his father with some thing like regret; he cared nothing for his rank CT station, but he hoped some day to see Don Alphonso again. He looked at his sword and dreamed that like his grandfather he could yet carve out fame and fortune for himself and his beautiful bride. And then he glanced at Nechtla and decided the world was well lost for love! What, Nechtla in the hands of the Inquisition and that grim Frey Carlos2 Never!
 All day long they sailed, feeling no need of food. Far into the night they iourneyed on until Francescos eyes be- gan to get heavy, and with Nechtla in his arms he sank to sleep. The iron man at the stern sat there still, watchful, alert, steering by the stars once more, and the canoe moved steadily on.
 It was nearly ten o'clock that night when the signals flashed out from the Santa Ysabel and her consorts closed. Don Alphonso had made up his mind to sweep to the southward in the search, and the galleys formed in their triple order once more, moving slowly, owing to the difficulty of seeing at night. To ward one o'clock Don Alphonso yielded to the affectionate solicitation of Colonel Honradez and lay down on deck, wrapped in cloaks, to get some sleep. Daylight comes at four o'clock in Central America, and at the first streaks of dawn the three galleys were about five hundred yards apart, the Santa Ysabel in the center and perhaps one hundred yards behind. Two slaves, one on each of the foremost gal leys, and Colonel Honradez, on the Santa Ysabel, saw the canoe about the same moment. Each slave received his free dom from the captain general.
 Don A1phonso walked and rushed for ward. Standing on the bow of the galley he saw Francesca rise when roughly shaken by Fl Tigre. His son looked around and saw the galleys coming di- rectly toward him, the water curling snder their bows as they were driven at full speed: He unbuckled his sword, touched Ell Tigre, and pointing to the galleys laid it down in the canoe. Then he took the collar of pearls from his neck which had belonged to his mother and threw it over Nechtla's head. He kissed his hand to his father-they could see each others eyes now as the sharp cries of the boatswains caused the slaves to back water and stop the rush of the galleys- and then lifted Nechtla in his arms. He kissed her upturned face once, twice, and Don Alphonso cried out to him he would give his consent. Before the words left his lips Francesca had leaped with the girl in his arms, and all that was left was canoe rocking on the water, an h. dian sitting motionless and a sword lying therel
 Fl Tigre died under the torture, but he never spoke again, and Don Alphonso passed the record of even Spanish gov ernors in his severity to the Indian tribes.
 THE END.