The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-08-15
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CHAPTER K
TIE LAND OF .toNTEZUMA.
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most readily salable in the Indies, which
merchandise shipped with me- The YES
sell was full Of Spanish adventures, most
II ruffans Of varied career and strange his
tory, but none the less good companions
enough when not in drink. By this time
could speak Castilian so perfectly and
was so Spanish in appearance, that it
was not difficult for me to pass myself of
as one of their nation, and this did, in
venting feigned tale of my parentage
and of the reasons thataled me to tempt
the seas. For She rest, now, as ever, kept
myown counsel, and notwithstanding my
reserve. for Iwouh not mingle In their
orgies, soon became wen liked by my
comrades, chiefysbecause Of my skill in
ministering to their sicknesses.
OF our voyage to the Indies much could
be written after the manner Of sea tales,
most Of all Of De Garcia, whom encoun-
tered ON a Spanish slaveship, where I
found refuge after the loss Of the carak,
near the port Of Santo Domingo. But
hasten now to write of my fortunes, both
evil and good, and Of my trials on account
OF De Garcia in the land of Montezuma,
and OF her whose story have long delay
ed, Montezuma's daughter. From the
power Of De Garcia, for he was an officer
in that sbominable slaveship, escaped by
leaping into the sea
In drifting barrel Iaoated away when
the murderous slaves thought the sharks
were making food Of me, and from death
by starving was spared through fish
that snatched from the talons Of gull
and deyoured raw. The hard wood and
iron bands Of my tub shielded me from the
teeth of ravenous shark, and in It'll float
ed through the breakers to the shores Of q
lowly lying land and into the mouth Of a
great river. At length, when the barrel
drifted In not more than four feet OF water,
slid down from it, and wading to the
bank cast myself at length there to rest
and thank God, who thus far had preserved
me mraculously. Then staggered to my
feet and walked along the bank Of the NV
er till came to pool Of rainwatec,
which on the tasting proved to be sweet
and good drank, weeping for Joy at the
taste Of the water, drank till could drink
such plight remember what water was t
them, for no words Of mine can tell it.
After had drunk and washed the brine
from my face and body and been thus Ne
heshed I cast myself down to sleep in the
shade Of bush bearing white flowers, fcr
was utterly outworn.
When opened nv eyes again, it was
night, and doubtless shcIld have slept
on through manyhours had it not been for
q dreadful itch and pain that took me in
every part till at length I sprang up and
cursed in my agony. st first was at a
loss to know what occasioned this torment
till perceived that the air was alive with
gnatlike insects which made singing
noise, and then settling on my flesh sucked
blood and spat poison into the wound at
one and the same time. These dreadful
insects the Spaniaxds name mosquitoes.
Nor were they the only flies, for hundreds
Of other creatures no bigger than a pins
head had fastened onto me like bulldogs. to
q baited bear, Boring their heads into the
flesh, where in the end they cause testers.
They are named garrapatas by the Span
ish, and take them to be the young Of the
tick. Others there were also, too numerous
to mention, and cf every shape and size,
though they had this in co1nmon-an bit
and all were yenomous.
Before the morning these plaques had
driven me almost to madness, for In no
way could obtain relief from them. To
ward dawn went and lay in the water,
thinking to lessen my suferings, but be-
fore had been there 10 minutes saw
huge crocodile rise up from the mud be-
side me. sprang away to the bank hor-
rihly afraid, for never before had beheld
so menstrous and evil looking brute, to
fall again into the clutches Of the crea-
tures- winged and crawling, that were
waiting for me there By mydads.
But enough Of these dannable insects!
At length the morning broke and found
me in sorry plight, for my face was swol-
len to the size Of pumpkin by the venom
Of the mosquitoes, and the rest OF my body
was In little better case. Moreover, could
not keep myself still because Of the itch
ing, but must RUE and jump like mad
man. And where was to run to through
this huge swamp, in which I could see no
shelter or sign Of man? could not guess,
so since I must keep moving I followed
the bankibf the river, as walked disturb
ing many crocodiles and loathsome snakes
Now, knew that could not live long in
such suffering and determined to strug-
gle forward till I fell down insensible and
death put an end to my torments
For an hour OF more went on thus till
I came to a place that was clear Of bush
and reeds. Across this I skipped and
danced, striking with my swollen hands
at the gnats which buzzed about my head
Now the end was not far of, for was e1-