Morning journal and courier., 1894-06-16

\ ins'auuy 1olneo, nnally stepped to the
 side of the cssket. Leaning against 1t, he
 stroked 1t scftly and ruminstively for a
 little time, when he began in subiusd but
 almost thrilling and passionate tones a re-
 cital of the romantic incidents in one of
 most tragic episodes of Cuban history.
 One week preceding Holy Thursdsy of
 1855 the youth Miguel, my own nsmesake,
 au only con of a wealthy planter of the
 valley yonder, where my friends, I sm
 soon to welcome you st an oldsn Cuban
 home, was hunting the wild hueta upon
 this very spot, which at that time was an I almost impenetrsble mass of giant fores, | trees, densely matted with prodisious | quantities of the wild grape
 As In those days nearly sll the slaves of southern Cuba were quite recent imports-
 tions from the vilds of Africa, the lad
 Miguel, from constantly overhesripg the language. and being something of 8 natu- rsl philologist, had already acquired fs- milisrity with the African tongue spoken by the blacks of this region, who then
 numbered nearly forty thousand souls. Miguel had noticed that this proficiency apparently rendered him dreaded by, rath- CT than tsvorIte with, such of the hun dreds of slaves he daily met upon his fathers plantation or those who from time to time accompanied him upon his various deep woods excursions; and on the day in question this acquisition was the csuse of nearly sealing his fate. though 1t incident ally led to 6 msrveloos saving of human life.
 He had with him black named Pietro. A score of the hueia had been dispatched in the outskirts of the forest which then surrounded the eminence Upon which Man. scs Isnsgs now stands. Promphd by a spirit of daring. Miguel snnourcsd his de- termination to Pletro of pushing into the forest depths above. The slsve at first er- pressed surprise and horror at his temeri- ty, and finally refused 10 accompany him Miguel struck hin to the ground with the flat side of his mschste blade. Recover ing from the blow, Pietro with a sAvsge threat dashed past him into the jungle.
 Both to recover and punish the slave, ss alarming disaffection among the blacks of Valla del Aguacste had recently been observed, and with the flush of adventure upon him. Miguel pushed fesrlessly on. Hours were consumed in penetrating the jungle the little distance of mile The night shadows were even falling when he finally discovered 8 pathway apparently leading to the summit of the mountain be- meath us.
 Bending over the path he examined 1t closely. No Cubsn's foot had ever touched Its beaten surface; but the imprint of the protruding heel and sprswlipg toes of hun dreds of negroes feet were plainly 10 be seen. A sense of foreboding filled his mind, but with 1t came an uncomfortable fascination to probe the mystery | The path led over s torturous course up these very rocks below us and at last en- | tered. through a small natural arch way or cleft in the stone, a wide level space al the summit of the mountain, comprising, ss | you will notice by Its eontour, about ore cabelierls If land It wss almost night as he pushed through the archwsv. He could discern notbing In the darkness, but he soon became conscious of the presencs of | steslthy moving forms of beasts or hu- | mans about him.
 Grasping his rife, he sprang aside from the path, planted hIs back firmly against 8
 small mahogany tree and listened and
 waited while the faint rustling among the
 ferns, grasses and mosses gradually be-
 came more painfully distinct.
 "Pietrol" he st last called impstlently
 but kindly, "here Is your master, Miguel.
 Come, we will return together to La Deli
 cis"
 | Instantly 6 powerful blow from 6 clut
 sent his rife flying from his hand. oui
 from the ferns snd grasses black clswi
 grssped his feet. From behind, othsl