The Meeker herald., 1892-11-19
at took us eighteen months all the

stances and with ill-made powder to
gather what we had managed before
in twelve. But at last with hard work
our collection was ready, almost as
good as the first and in some respects
richer.
"1'hen the question arose how were
we to get it to the sea and ship it to
England? Fred was the stronger of
us two and there were lots OF boxes.
So in spite OF his previous misfortune
we decided that he must take charge
OF it with .siendly Indian to help
him, and must see it of from Bahia in
the usual fashion. was to stop be-
hind and work on the plantation
every day alike in his absence, saving
my wages as could, and then vixen
he returned ! was to go on to Bahia
with my cash in my hand and await
the arrival OF our expected remittan-
ces, while he in turn worked on upon
the estate for n livelihood.
81 can tell you it was n dreary long
time while Fred was away and had
to toll and moil alone by myself i'll
that sultry climate, surrounded by
negro slaves who talked bad Portu-
cuese and without friend oran equal
OF any sort near ME. Sometimes al
most despaired in the hot tropical
MONDAY, working away under the
fierce sun with the rest OF the gang by
my side and not Chaistian soul to
say God-speed to me anywhere. The
very negroes despiscd me for mean
white, n declnsso gentleman. Night
after night | lay awake by myself and
hall cried in my misery, and prayed
for Fred to return, and thought ofone
face | had left in England. That's
Lady Spence's portrait as she looked
in those days-not Lady Spence then,
OF course-but it doesn' do her JUS
tice. / wondered whether I'd done
right to come away from herlike that,
on wild goose chase for sciences sake,
when oughtto have stopped at home
and cast up accounts in the city
AT last, however, those terrible
three months passed away and Fred
returned from the coast, very weary
and i'll, but ready to take my place
and relieve me from duty. 1t was
with sinking heart that set off in
my turn, though | was worn and i'll,
for | couldn't bear to leave him be-
hind in such lonely slavery rs my
self had endured those three months
without him.
II got to Bahia in due course, with
few pounds IN pocket, which soon
melted away, as you can easily i'm
agne, with the expenses OF lie III n
civilized city. | was waiting Tor the
mail to arrive from England, bringing
me in news, and hoped, too, II remit
tance from our London agel s. + req
had reported well OF our chances OF
success, Tor German professor, VINO
happened to be at Bahia when he was
sending them oil, inspected the things
before they went, ana was enchanted
at the variety ana value oil our col
lection. We trusted our troubles
would soon be over, and We might be
gin IN real earnest collecting ON our
own account, ana making the need
iul OBSERVATIONS 10 complete our
theory
DAY after day passed, and the mail
didn't arrive Mails to South Ameri-
ca, in those days were very movable
feasts. A week or two, more or less,
hardly astonished anybody. But my
money market was getting remark
ably tight, and every twcnty-four
hours to me was liie.and- death
matter.
cat last the mail came in, and with
it "A latter i stood OH the st"pa nf
the Bahia Post Otiice, IN my tattered
up-country clothes, and tore 1T open
eagerly. 1t was from our London
agents. They had the honor 10 aG-
knowledge the receipt oil our vhiuable
collection, IN very good ORDER ana
trusted to have an opportunity OF
submitting them before long, III "hoie
or IN part, TO the consiaerntioh oithe
authorities at the BRUSH Museum,
VINO would douotless DE williheto pay
n reasonable price Tor them.
"Inat was all. NO remittance no
installment, no sale eVen' Nothing al
all had been done. Only II vague
hope OF conditional promise Heaven
knew how long yet l might nave 10
wait Tor my money.
And l was pennies, meanwhile,
and starving at Bahia.
The dignitiei old man wiped his brow
once more. Great drops stood on 1t
visibly. 1t was clear the remembrance
was painfully real to him.
"How | ever got through the next
three weeks, he went on, after a long
deep pause, moistening his lips with
coffee, 81 don't know to this day. !
can't bear to look back upon 1t.
took n room in n negro hut, by pawn
ing my last change OF clothes, and
there lived on, watching and waiting
for annfhar mail from Enr1DnI