The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-11-21
Senorita Pachita de Sofa walked leisure


~ to the little wharf where that won
derful vessel, constructed but recently
by wandering British sailor, lay pre-
pairing for voyage to Sausalito, four
leagues distant. It was a marvellous
boat, with oars and sail, and capable
Of accommodating no less than six per-
sons. Don Luis Antonio Arguello him
self had commanded her in person on
the dozen passages which she had made
to the opposite shore for timber. Pre-;
yious to the creation of this extraordi-
nary ship, which annihilated distance
and obhterated time, timber WAS hard to
get from Corte de MADEIRA. Soldiers
were sent around by way of San Jose,
armed with axes, who crossed the Straits
of Carquinez on RATS, and in the circuit
of seventy leagues encountered hardshipS
and consumed weeks. And the timbe:
was brought over by Chief Marin, al
aborigine given to cruising Oh float O
logs and tules, who alone knew tn
winds and currents Of the bay. 1t wa
but matter of day now TO sail owe.
for the timber and return with it.
the voyages with the colnmandante and
rated now as q superior navigator, his
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 suddenly
proposed to Senorita Pachita that they
make the voyage, and she, being young
and thoughtless, consented.
Brave Corporal Sanchez sailed tht
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 m
commanding voice Of thunder, he pre-
pared to pass the point
Alas, an eastern wind came whisthng
through the treacherous Raccoon strait,
and in spite Of all Corporal Pedro's sea-
manship the Mejioo 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 thai
pale face, with its big black eyes wild
with terror.
Lieutenant Juan de Echeandia swore
-swore at Corporal Pedro Sanchea; bat
profanity, though frequently an adjunct
to navigation, is not Of use in imparttng
knowledge thereof.
So out to sea they drfted, far out, al
most to the Faralones.
For eight days and nights they were
as a 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 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 q soldiers
soul.
On the second day be drew his sword,
and at its point the men yielded such
food and water as the boat contained.
These be 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 Coy my pen. it is true that the
boat was gone that long, as you may
read In Hitteu's History Of California
the Senorita de Sofa wanted for neither
food nor drink, and the dehcacy OF Lieu
tenant Juan would have brought tears
OF gratefulness to any womans eyes.
He did wonders-as tradition has hand
ed down-with cloaks and coats and
stray bits Of rope 70 cabin the lady.
On the eighth day-sincere prayer is
ever answered. blessed wind sprap g
up from the west and, tide assisting.
blew the Mejico back through the Gold
en- Gate. The cruising chief Marin. on
his tule doat. was sent by Providence to
the commandment and the cheering gar
rison awaited the return Of the lost to
life-the ones saved by an unquestiona-
BILE miracle. The padres bore the lesson
home IN many sermon.
AS the Senorita de Sofa rose in the
stern to disembark she tottered from
weakness and agitation. Lieutenant
Juan stretched out an arm and pre-
served her from ducking. She gave q
little scream, not at the public embrace
but 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
it went, together with a locket that had
rested on her virgin bosom.
MY dears.' said Communicate Don
Luis Antonio Arguello, when they had
refreshed themselves at his quarters and
relate heir adventures-''my dears,
think 1T under All the circumstances
the st thing you can do is TO get mar
ried. and at once"
1" N with you exclaimed Lieutenan,
Juan de Echeandia in Spanish. opening
his arms.
And Senorita Pachita de Sola crepr