The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-11-08

as to my whereabouts, whether or not
he had seen my friend, and hundred
other questions. To all of these he
made polite answers in choice Span
ish, which he spoke with polish and
refinement.
During the long days of my conva-
lescence, Jaun, as he told me to call
him. attended me with the utmost ten
derness. No mother could have been
more careful of her offspring. He
spoke little of himself; in the morning
he went hunting and never failed to
return with some tempting game. 1t
was on one of these morning hunts,
that had taken him further up the
mountain than usual, that he had
found me at the bottom of the canyon.
bleeding. broken and generally used
up; he asserted that it was only the in
terposition of providence that had
saved me from instant death.
lie would sit beside me for hours
telling me of strange and thrilling adj
ventures in most fascinating han-
ner. Lounging there on an immense
iaguar skin, stroking his glossy black
beard, his long hair falling almost to
his shoulders, his slender fingers occe~
sionally tapping his high forehead.
which appeared to be a strong habit
he would throw an expression into his
naturally soft eyes that accorded per-
fectly with the tenor of the story he
was telling.
Slowly l regained my strength and
every day Jaun and l became closer
friends. Knowing how reticent he
was, l refrained from further ques-
tions on his previous life, and only
gathered little snatches here and there
that he inadvertently dropped. Every
evening he would kneel before a little
crucifiX in a dark corner of the grotto.
A month had passed and ! was able
to sit up One bright, cool morning.
October 3 it was, was propped
up with soft skins near the door.
was wondering when l should reach
Icons camp. Why had he not searched
for me? Why had he left me at the
foot of that terrible cliff? Had he
made no effort to find me? | could not
think of him leaving me thus to perish.
! must regain my strength and join
him as soon as possible. Thus musing
l rose with some difficulty, and sup
porting myself against the rocks sue
ceeded in reaching the ground outside.
Here the crisp breeze sweeping Down
from the snow caps above revived me
wonderfully.
A little to the right was the gush-
ing. ripping mountain spring; seat
ing myself on the brink | scooped up
the water in my hands and quatfed it.
Suddenly heard voices, and peering
over the line of powders saw Jaun,
with a dead tigrillo on his shoulder,
earnestly talking to four or five fierce
looking Indians dressed in an odd,
picturesque mix ture of serapes and
skins As they turned to leave he
called to them in a sort of Spanish
patOis of which | understood, ten
days-San Augustin!" Approaching
he saw me and seemed little startled,
but laughingly told me that he made
an appointment for a puma hunt. A
few days afterward, in compliG9ce
with my urgent request, we set out
for Icons camp. Never did traveller
III that region receive more careful at
tention. His strong arm helped me
over the rough stones. His unerring
eye found the smooth path.
On the morning of the third day he
seemed depressed. About ten o'clock
he pointed out, from a rugged bluff
an appearance of life a short distance
below. Gazing steadily down, rec
ognized Leon by his leather coat and
Stanley hat he was hard at work
building a sluice.
was overjoyed, but my companion
interrupted me by saying that he
hoped that l would make the descent
safely.
What! You are not going?"
"No, | must return immediately"
But surely you will tell me who
you are?" said l, impulsively. You"
"Senor," he answered, 81 desire your
gratitude and friendship. If you