The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-07-11

merly rendered some service at Salem
But to return to the half caste. The
current took him down, and he let him
self swim with il In the distance he
perceived an island. All that he needed
was to rcpose himself and wait for the
morrow. Seeing himself saved, or nearly
80, he began to turn over i'm his mind
the events of tho day, and this inhuman
wretch indulgcd in a bitter sneer when
he thought that Alfonso was probably
stified and burned in the forest
About half past 9. ~ quarter Of an
hour before sunset, the Argentine
reached the little island toward which
he had been so long swimming. And it
was time he did 30. II he had had 500
yards moro to go. his strength would
have failed him. Scarcely had he put
foot to the ground when he gently laid
hold Of the monkey and took him in his
arms. The animal allowed him to do
so. But either from ferocity OF fore
sight the Argentine seized the charming
little creature by one foot, whirled il
four or five times around his head and
sayagely beat its brains out ON the
ground. The poor beast gave one strug-
gle and then showed no further sign of
life.
In spite Of the heat Of the climate,
Gregorio felt his limbs stiff with cold.
His long stay in the water had numbed
them. So he rolled himself in the dust,
with which all the surface Of the island
was covered. and which the rays of the
sun had warmed all day. This restored
him somewhat. but his longing for sleep
became more imperious every moment.
He was also frightfully tormented with
hunger. He tore ths skin off the mon
key with his teeth and nails, and pullisg
of thigh with the dexterity Of can
nibal he got ready some branches of
dead wood, to which he set fire, that he
might cook his dinner.
The island ON which Gregorio had
taken refuge was absolutely desert and
uncultivated. This was very extraor-
dinary thing for that part of the world.
Only at the extreme western point n
rock, on which little vegetable earth
had accumulated, was sheltered by
three or four thorny and bushy little
trees.
Over the whole surface Of the island.
with the exception of this rock, nothing
could be seen but this dust, of the color
OF starch, in which Gregorio had, 40 to
speak, bathed himself ON his arrival.
Here and there, however, a blade Of
grass, burned up by the sun, rose out of
this dust It seemed, moreover, as If
nature had endeavore6 to assert It's
rights over this corner Of the earth and
had formerly caused something to grow
In this placa for there might be seen
Frme tallish branches, but without any
foliage and absolutely dry. It was in
deed by means Of two of these sticks that
Gregorio had lit his Ere in the same
way that savages do
After having placed the leg Of the
monkey ON the burning embers the half
caste sat opposite his fire, with his knees
drawn up, intending to wait till his
supper was ready. Night had now fall
IN. Gregorio, worn out, felt his wearied |
syelids close every now and then, and |
4 1t had not been for the pain of hunger
,e would have gone to sleep in this pos
;ure One moment even, overcome by
'leep, he dozed of.
But all Of sudden he leaped MP az
I spring had been placed under his
'eet and uttered an indescribable shrek.
{ was made up Of rage, anger, fear and
despair. He looked round him, believ-
ng that he was the sport of some night
mare brought on by fatigue. With his
'ching knuckles he rubbed his eyes fe-
'erishly. No; he was not asleep. With
IN immense bound he rushed toward the
liver. To the first bound succeeded Sec
md, then third, till he ended by leap
ng like terrified dervish, not knowing
Which way to run.
What had happened then? Something
cry natural and yet very terrible-the
sland was on fire. The whole of it was
urning, and all along its length might
o seen a lambent flame running here
nd there, just like what one sees ON
aper which the flame has left.
The explanation of this horrible fact
simple enough. The surface on which
Fregorio landed was not really an is
md. 1t was a mass of dead wood-the
'unks OF oak, cedars, frs, palms, cocoa
ut trees, mahogany, which the ANA
On had brought together there-who
nows where from? The first trunks of
10 trees had been stopped by the rock
here the four shrubs were growing;
he others had accumulated, in time in
rlacing one another. Little by little
10 new arrivals had increased and lift
up the island above the water, and
this piling up of wood had gone on
r some years the upper layers of the
ack had been converted into dust, and
terribly inflammable dust too.
Gregorio understood it all, and how
had unconsciously applied the match
the timber. He wished to run toward
% rock, but the soles Of his scorched
ct We're being burned away, and no hu.
an being could endure such agony.
hat was he to do? To remain i'm his :
ace was to be roasted. He could al
ady perceive smell Of burned flesh, I
hich mounted to his brain. He became
adj In tho dusk of tho txviI;oht 10