Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1894-11-02
eesco would be safe.

cesco would be safe.
The sun came up that morning of the
eighth of October in a clear, cloudless sllv.
A gentle wind was blowing. the canoe
danced merrily on and the lovers talked
and laughed. With gentle insistence,
although with adoring eyes, the girl
asked her lover whether he was sure he
was willing to give up all for her. She
admired his rich dress and chatted soft
ly as she nestled her head on his shout
der. Behind them was FL Tigre, grim
and watchtul as he steered the canoe.
taking advantage of every breath of the
light breeze which swelled the folds of
their sail. Francesca raised the ques-
ton Of the reception they would meet
among the Indians of the Darien, one of
the bercest tribes of the main, and Ell
Tigre told him, Nechtla being the pref
ty interpreter, they need have no fear.
He belonged to the priestly caste and
would find friends everywhere. Fran
cesco thought of his father with some
thing like regret; he cared nothing for
his rank or station, but he hoped some.
day to see Don Alphonso again. He
looked at his sword and dreamed that
like his grandfather he could yet carve
out fame and fortune for himself and
his beautiful bride. And then he glanced
at Nechtla and decided the world was
well lost for love! What, Nechtla in the
hands of the Inquisition and that grim
Frey Carlos? Never!
All day long they sailed, feeling no
need of food. Far into the night they
journeyed on until Francesco's eyes be.
gan to get heavy, and with Nechtla in his
arms he sank to sleep. The iron man at
the stern sat there still, watchful, alert,
steering by the stars once more, and the
canoe moved steadily on.
1t was nearly ten o'clock that night
when the signals flashed out from the
Santa Ysabel and her consorts closed.
Don Alphonso had made up his mind to
sweep to the southwark in the search,
and the galleys formed in their triple
order once more, moving slowly, owing
to the difficulty of seeing at night To-
ward one o'clock Don Alphonso yielded to
the affectiOnate solicitation of Colonel
Honradez and lay down ON deck, wrapped
in clOaks, to get some sleep. Daylight
comes at four o'clock in Central America,
and at the first strealls of dawn the three
galleys were about five hundred yards
apart, the Santa Ysabel in the center and
perhaps one hundred yards behind. Two
slaves, one on each of the foremost gal
leys, and Colonel Honradez, on the Santa
Ysabel, saw the canoe about the same
moment. Each slave received his free
dom from the captain general.
Don Alphonso walked and rushed for
ward Standing on the bow of the galley
he saw Francesca rise when roughly
shaken by Ell Tigre. His son looked
around and saw the galleys coming di-
rectly toward him, the water curling
under their bows as they were driven at
full speed. He unbuckled his sword,
touched FL Tigre, and pointing to the
galleys laid it down i'll the canoe. Then
he took the collar of pearls from his neck
which had belonged to his mother and
threw it over Nechtla's head. He kissed
his hand to his father-they could see
each others eyes now as the sharp cries of
the bOatswains caused the slaves to back
water and stop the rush of the galleys-
and then lifted Nechtla in his arms. He
kissed her upturned face once, twice, and
Don AlphonsO cried out to him he would
give his consent. Before the words left
his lips francesca had leaped with the
girl in his arms, and all that was left
was canoe rocking on the water, an In
dian sitting and a sword lying
therel
Ell Tigre died under the torture, but
he never spoke again, and Don Alphonso
passed the record of even Spanish gov
errors in his severity to the Indian tribes.
THE END.