The record-union., 1894-01-20
THE DON PROFESSORS SPECIMEN.

Copyright, 1894. All rights reserved
ia paz de Dios sea en- esta casa!" The
peace of God be upon your hOuseD
"Y venga con vozr' Come you with
that blessing9
The little gray old man who had ut
tered the invocation and the little gray
old donkey beneath him. were sorry
looking objects in the wondrOns summer
night moonlight which poured through
the riffs of the giant forest trees, there in
the almost unknown mountain district OF
Southern Cuba.
The very radiance of the moonlight
added years in appearance to the wOebe-
gone face of the rider, despite his deep
and almost sparkling black eyes. 1t sill
vered the white of his hair, the gray Of
his travel-stalned clothing and ponderous
patched panniers, while what little OF
the shaggy hair of his donkey, whose
head was already touching the ground
with slumberous intent, could be seen,
took on the same weird and spectral ap-
pearance.
Stranger still in the moonlight was the
figure confronting them. 1t was of a
blackened linen and the skins Of wild
beasts. He was almost giant in hight,
huge of frame, and his great round head,
curiously begrimmed, was nearly COW
cred with a wiry beard and shOcky,
glossy black hair.
Though his left hand was extended
with gesture of friendGness, IN his right
was grasped a Cuban maChete at least
three feeJ in length, whose tWO-edged
10 h~-no nc &c nFxyF1n l.
GUS palm. The arm that held this savage
weapon was mighty and corded, and the
timorous rider suddenly reflected that,
despite the mans hearty welcome, this
arm and blade could in twinkIng sever
his own and his donkey's heads at one
swift stroke.
.'Hagame ell favor de comido y refu-
giar?' MAY I crave food and shelter?)
asked the rider in a quaverlng tone OF
supplication. 80
''Desmontesen y tomen los dos ambos"
(Dismount and receive both!) responded
the immovable figure with the machete.
The little old man was not yet sure OF
his strange host. He looked anXiously
about him upon the blinking night fires
of a weird and unaccOuntable camp. lie
seemed about to turn and plunge down
the tortuous way he had come. Then,
with glance at his iaded beast he began,
without dismounting, and as If complete
nations in most lugubrious and dis
heartened tone of voice.
Good sir, am Don Eduardo Gonzales
Professor Gonzales, of the Royal Uni
versity of Havana. l am sometimes
known among my fellows as "a natur-
alist. More often l am known" he con-
cluded as if recollecting his present for
lorn and helpless condition, and as he
saw the man before him grinning broad
ly, "by the merry youth OF Havana, as a
foolish old ass. They are right, sir; they
are right. 1 am completely lost, and
without your generous aid shall never
return alive to dear Havana With these
priceless specimens!'
The little old man here broke down en-
tirely, and, after affectionately and whim-
peringly patting the ragged panniers,
wiped a tear or two from his dusty eyes,
gave his donkey vicious dig with his
heel as though that patient animal were
the cause of all his misfortunes, and
turned to the huge forester with an air OF
supreme resignation, which plainly said:
Professor or ass, my race is run. L am
ready for food and shelter, or drawing
and quartering at once. whenever IL is
to be, make no delay!'
"A sad history" said the forester still
smiling. Il am also feared and hated by
some, called fool by others. But L am
free and happy here in the mountains
with my comrades, while you-bien!-
carambal-you are still slave!'
Don Eduardo drew himself up as
haughtily as his sore limbs would per-
nit but the other continued, scarcely no.
ticing the unconscious assertion of pro-
fessional dignity, as he threw the pam
niers over his arm and began leading the
donkey and its rider into camp. You
have heard of Matagas?"
''Jesu!-Mariai You are not Matagas,
the outlaw"
..Si 81 senior. none Other.v
The old don trembled violently, and
would have fallen to the ground had not
NIatagas supported him.
And worth, that is, my head is worth,
twenty thousand pesos TO any one who
will present 1t safely with his scompli-
ments to His Excellency, Governor Cen
eral Sabas Marin."
The Professor groaned outright.
Have no fear; have no fear. We are
all honest carboneros here" continued
Matagas soothingly. Look there beside
that choza. Do you see? There is my
wife. Tomasa. There is my daughter,
good for nothing, bird-catching Jua-
nita."
Reassured, the don peered sharply
among the camp fires and huts. He saw
yellow old crone doing in the shadow
of a hut door, and a beautiful girl OF
splendid stature sitting beside her, softly
drumming a guitar, while a score OF
strange birds flew in and out of rude will
low cages hanging against near tree
trunk, now and then poislng and fitting
about her head, her arms and face. Fear
Instantly departed from the old don's
face, and his dark eyes lighted glori-
Ously.
"Six-seven-niner' he broke forth in
almost boyish glee, land not one in my
colleetionrf
Matagas turned quickly and almost
savagely, but observing the naturalist's $
ewes alone gloating upon the twltterlng
birds, he smiled again and nodding his
head little said sadly and ruminatively,
ssYes, yes. i understand it somewhat.
was once in the Royal University" and
then. aloud TO the don, . ou see you are
as safe with us as in your own bed. Even
Matagas could not harm guest where
these are. Don Eduardo?"
NO, no, no." responded the Professor
imnetuously, as though the outlaw
thought only of the birds. and alighting
rom his donkey with youthful alacrity.
ST nray you take me at once to Juanita
and the birds"
.sManana!-mauanal Tomorrow, Sc
nor. Juanita and the birds will wait.
You shall first have food and rest"
Ina lew moments more mestizos al
the call OF Matagas had tethered and FED
the donkey. and Matagas had conducted
tbe Professor to a comfortable hut. Wa
tar and wine were first brought, and then