The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-08-15

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CHAPTER K
TIE LAND OF MoNTEZCMA
As It chanced, u large Spanish carak
named Las Cinque Liagas, or The Five
Wounds, was about to sail for Hispaniola,
and having obtained license to trade /
took passage IN her under my assumed
name Of D'A!la, passing myself of as
merchant To further this deception
purchased goods to the value Of 1o5 pesos,
and Of such nature as Twas informed were
most readily salable in the Indies, which
merchandise shipped with me. The YES
sell was full Of Spanish adventures, most
" 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 off
as one of their nation, and this did, in
ventinga feigned tale of my parentage
and Of the reasons thata1ed me to tempt
the seas. For the rest, new, as ever, 1 kept
my own counsel, and notwithstanding my
reserve. for i. would not mingle In their
rgfes, Z soon became wen liked by my
comrades, chiefybecause Of my skill in
ministering to their sichesses-
OF our voyage to the Indies much could
be written after the manner of sea tales,
tered ON Spanish slaveship, where
found refuge after the loss Of the carak,
near the port Of Santc Domingo. But I
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 I have long delay
ed, Montezuma's daughter. From the
power Of De Garcia, for he was an officer
in that abominable slaveship, I escaped by
leaping into the sea
In drifting barrel I foated 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 mef from the
ed through the breakers to the shores Of a
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 miraculously. Then staggered to my
feet and walked along the bank Of the NV
er till came TO pool Of rainwater,
which on the tasting proved to be sweet
and good I drank, weeping for JOY at the
taste Of the water, drank till could drink
no more, and let those who have stood in
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 re
feshed I cast myself down to sleep in the
shade Of bush bearing white flowers, for
was utterly outworn.
When I opened my eyes again, it was
night, and doubtless should have slept
on through many hours had it not been for
q dreadful itch and pain that took me in
every part till at length sprang up and
cursed in my agony. At first was at a
loss to know what occasioned this torment
till perceived that the air was alive with
gnatlike insects which made a 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 Spaniards name mosquitoes.
Nor were they the only flies, for hundreds
Of other creatures no bigger than 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 of every shape and size,
and all were TenomOuS.
Before the morning these plaques had
driven me almost to madness, for In DO
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-
fihly afraid, for never before had beheld
so mons4rous and evil looking brute, to
fall again info the clutches Of the crea-
lures. winged and crawling, that were
waiting for me there BY myrads.
But enough Of these damnable insects!
At length the morning broke and found
me in sorry plight, for my face was swol-
len to the size Of q 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 run and jump like mad
man And where was to run to through
this huge swamp, in which could see no
shelter or sign Of man? could not guess,
so since must keep moving I followed
the bankAbf tine river, as I walked disturb
ing many crocodiles and loathsome snakes
Now, I knew that could not live long in
such suffering and determined to strug-
gle forward till fell down insensible and
death put an end to my torments.
For an hour or more went on thus till
came to place that was clear of bush
and reeds. Across this 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 ex-