Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-12-26
CHAPTER F.,
VIhI EN- Y,
THE BEGINNING OF THE QUEST.

the day when Senior Strickland and
| made our compact to search for the
secret city Of the Indians we found
ourselves, together with Molas, at Vera
Cruz waiting for a ship to take lis to
Frontera
AT Vera Cruz we purchased such
articles as were necessary to our iour.
ney, not many, for we could not be sure
OF finding means to carry them. Among
them were hammocks, three guns that
would shoot either ball or shot, with
ammunition, as many revolyers, some
medicine, blankets, boots and spare
clothes.
Also we took with us all the money
that we had, amounting to something
over fifteen hundred dollars in gold,
which sum we divided between us, cur
rying It in belts,
We took passage in a Mexican boat
called the Santa Maria.
She was an old sailing vessel OF not
more than two hundred and fifty tons
burden that had been converted by her
owners into paddle-wheel steamer,
with the result that except in favor
able weather she could neither sail nor
steam with any speed or safety, and
her business was to trade with passen-
gers and cargo between Vera Cruz and
the ports Of Frontera and Campechc
Where for?" asked the agent Of the
Senior Strickland, as he filled in the
tickets.
"Frontera, he answered. Your boat
stops there, does she not?'
"Oh, certainly, senior he said, an he
pocketed the dollars, and yet all the
while this shameless rogue knew that
she had orders to touch at Campcche,
which is the furthest port, first and re-
TURN 10 frontera week later
among the passengers. was one, 4
man OF not more thah thlrty Years OF
age, who particularly attracted our at
leh'lon' ne was large, handsome ana
coarse ana llud lndlan plood III ms
VEINS as was shown by the darkness OF
ms color and inc tlllck' black eye
oroWs tliat gave trueulen' expression
10 ms lace; WINE l was wondering
VINO he might De, Molas made sign to
me TO come ASIDE ana silid'
J OIL see Wonder man wltl' lhe silver
buttons on ms coat lie IS Don Jose
Moreno the son Of that Don Pedro
Moreno who waylaid and robbed me OF
the nuggets which the OLD indian gave
me, Beware Of him, lord, and bid the
Engllshman 40 the same, for, like his
father, he Is u bad man.
while Molas was talking u bell had
oeen rung, FOR dinner, but waited till
ne had finished before going down. At
the door OF the cabin met the captain,
n stout man with face like full moon
ana bland smile,
what do you seek, senor2' he asked.
My dinner, senor,' | answered.
1T shall be sent to you on deck" he
said, not without confusion. II do not
wish to be rude, senor but you know
that these Mcxicans-l am Spanard
myself, and do not care-hate to sit at |
meat with an Indian, SO II you insist |
upon coming in there will be trouble"
Not wishing to make a stir, | bowed |
and turned away. Meanwhile, it seems
that Senior Strickland, missing me in
the cabin, asked tho captain where
was, saying that perhaps | did not
know that the meal was ready.
III you refer to your servant, the
Indian, said the captain, II met him
at the door and sent him away. Surely
the senior knows that we do not sit at
table with these people
Captain" answered Senior StiicIs-
land, I'll my friend is an Indian, he il
as good gentleman as You or anybody
else IN this cabin; moreover, he has
paid for q tirst'elass fare and has a
right to first-class accommodations. |
insist upon q seat being provided for
him at my side
AS you will, answered the captain,
smiling, for he was man Of peace.
only If hecom there will betrouble,"
And he ordered the steward to fetch me.
Seeing me in the doorway, Senior
Strickland called me in u loud voice,
saying
iou arc lale 10 dlnncr, friend, but
| have kept your place here by me. Sit
down quickly, or the food will be cold"
bowed to the company and obeyed,
and then the trouble began, for all
present had heard this talk Now, al
most opposite Inc sat Don Jose Mo-
reno the man OF whom Molas
mad tod me AS ! sat down he
consulted hastily with nelghbor on
ms right, then addressing the captain
SAID IN low voice.
There Is some mistake, it Is not
usual that indian dogs should lt at the
same table with gentlemen
The captain shrugged his shoulders
nnd answered mildly
PERHAPS the senior VIII settle the
question with the English senior on my
Ieft. 10 me 1t does not matter; am
DnIV Guilnr tnI AYtAI u. |