San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-02-10

George and Mac tVrre both seized and car
ried up the companion Way
owe have, indeed, replied George; $50
cheer up, captain; perhaps matters won't
be so bad as you think when we reach
land. You can count on my doing all In
my power to repay you for your loss"
II know that, but they have robbed
you, too"
"Well, who knows what may turn up
for us? The principal thing is to reach
land, " said George, sorely tempted to tell
the captain Of the Jewels that he carried
in his bosom, but he thought, "Who
knows what he might do? So I'll say
nothing until we reach land"
All this day and the night, too, they
sailed due east as near as was possible
on account of the wind, which set toward
the northward, hoping to make San Diego
bay. Failing in that, they intended to
skirt the coast and make the first port
they came to, if they were not picked up
By some steamer, but though they looked
night and day no sign of any reached
them and it was not until the afternoon
of the third day that land was sighted.
The greater part of the labor of sailing
the boat came upon George and Maxwell,
for all three of the others seemed almost
overcome with chugrin, pain and the dis
enlargement at their helpless condition,
for they were about to land in strange
place, penniless and unknown.
BY great good fortune Maxwell hap
pened to have in his capacious pockets
some twenty Spanish doubloons, which he
placed there for the pleasure of feeling
them and hearing them jingle, and that
gave him courage.
All night long they sailed, following
their course by the light Of the stars.
They had no moon nor any light by which
they could see the compass, and they
longed for daylight, which seemed to linger
unwarrantably, and the night passed in
almost complete silence, for George and
Maxwell were nearly spent with fatigue
and lack of sleep.
When daylight appeared the poor men
in the long boat set up lusty cheer, for
there, not over two miles away, was land,
and as near as the captain could make it
out, 1t was the entrance to San Diego bay;
and while they ate u few biscuits they
rapidly approached and found their sur
misses correct, and never did land look so
beautiful before to mortal as it did to
George. Naturally the rest Of them were
also glad, but George mad been so long
away, despairing for so long of ever be-
holding his native land again, and think
ing that thus Startling, that monster Of in
iquity, would pass unpunished, that now
he had double cause for rejoicing.
At daybreak they had sighted land, and
at 10 o'clock they stepped on shore in San
Diego and walked in sad little procession
up to Horizons hotel, where their spirits
were somewhat revived by a bountiful
breakfast, which Maxwell paid for in
money long out of date and unknown;
still, under the circumstances, it passed
current.
The next day a steamer was to sail for
San Francisco and the five castaways en-
gagged passage on her, and went on board
that night The long boat was sold for
enough to pay for the three ships officers,
and Maxwell and George paid in the old
Spanish coin, which, being gold, is good
for its weight anywhere.
In the morning the steamer sailed, and
George felt his heart rise at the prospect
of landing in great city like San Fran
cisco, where he could sell the jewels and
set the poor captains mind free from
anxiety. Perhaps he misjudged the value
of the jewels; what them All, but he
would rot think of that, as Maxwell said,
otis enough to cry tomorrow for to-mor-
rows troubles" and so he tried to argue
himself into quiet again.
On the steamer was q man toward whom
George felt strong attraction, and 1t
seemed that the sentiment was mutual
AT any rate they made each others nc
quaintance, and when the man, whose
name was Frank Osborne, asked George
the particulars of his disastrous voyage,
and heard the strange and exciting tale,
he grasped Georges hand, saying:
"And now, what do you propose to dor
What are your plans for the futureP
Shall you go to sea atsainP
George had not told him OF the reason
OF n.S t,V..s, - sea =. LrsL, ana or course
he knew nothing Of the mans object.
II don't know yet what / shall do"
said George. ''Of course, the first thing
is to get something to do to earn living
for myself and Maxwell. I've had all the
seq J want, and i have no plans other
than that i want to go east In about four
:ears. have something to attend to
there"
"Well, then, suppose you and your
friend, who seems bravo fellow, go back
with me to my ranch when We have fin
ished our business up to frisco. I've got
two ranges thCre-one cattle, the other
sheep-and 1 win pay you $25 month
each and furnish your board, lodging and
passage from here to there; and I'll let
you have money enough to get you an out
fit of suitable clothes What do you say?'
81 will go there for four years if Max
consents and you think we Gun do what
you want"
81 know you can; and like you well
enough to teach you. The old man need
not do much; just potter around; but l
should expect full work from you. Can
you ride horseback"
A sudden sob rose in Georges throat as