The herald., 1895-09-22

imal quivsred from both fright and pain.
its limbs trembled and it sank to its
knees. The Spaniard gave sudden out
ward shove, the horse lost its balance,
rolled over the cliff. and, turning over
and over in the air, fell into the rushing
waters below. The other horse met a
like fate but not without struggle. At
the first blow of the knife the brute
reared and nearly threw the man from
his feet and over the cliff. second
thrust. and the knife had reached the
animals heart. The horse gave a sud
den spring and OF its own accord plunged
over the precipice into the sea.
OF the. cliff. the man and girl again en-
braced. Handing to his companion the
bloody knife. the former barred his breast
and pointed to his heart.
Again tried to call the cook, but my
voice failed me. My body was bathed
in cold Precipitation. and myl hands
trembled SO much that it was with great
difficulty l maintained a hold on the
glass sufficient to keep 1t to my eyes.
The girl vehemently protested, aud re-
turning the weapon, tore open her bodice
and beseeched him to drive the knife in
to her bosom. That he was extremely
10th to do. In vain she entreated. Tax
ing the weapon by its blade In his left
band, he put the point over his heart
Then grasping her wrist. he placed her
hand upon the hllt. The blade sank into
his breast he threw back his head, stag
gered few steps and pitched headlong
over tho cliff.
l expected that his companion would
next use the weapon upon herself; but
no. Barely had the body of the man
reached the water when / observed the
girl kneel upon the ground. and craning
her neck over the precipce. she peered
into the depths below. Apparently salts
fled with what she saw, she was soon on
her feet. Taking up her mantilla she
turned toward the hills and waved it in
the air. Following the direction OF her
gaze with my glass l saw man ride
from behind a clump OF oaks on horse
back, also having in lead anohsr horse.
In a few minutes he had reached the
girls side, put did not dismount. She
took bundle he loosened from his sad
die strings and stepped behind the rider
less horse, thus partly screening herself
from his view.
In less time than it seemed possible she
| mad thrown aside her wearing apparel
and stood before my gaze as naked as
was the Biblical Eve before her transgres.
sion. The sun at that moment reached
the western horizon, and its setting rays
enveloped the scene in rich glow of
crimson tinted light. bringing into bold
relief the figures on the cliff, and reveal
ing and emphasizing the feminine
charms and loneliness of the beautiful
Spanish girl.
Her awkward efforts to clothe herself
in mans apparel-the contents of the
bundle-seemed to occasion considera BILE
merriment. and both laughed heartily.
The task was finally accom- pllsbed, how
ever. Picking up her discarded garments
she rolled them into q bundle, first p!ac-
ing inside the blood-stained knife and
several stones. This she threw over
the cliff. Then jauntily placing on her
head wide sombrero, she mounted the
and together the man and girl started OH
brisk lope in the direction of the
mountains and were soon lost to view.
A half hour later 7 was picked up in an
insenslble condition and carried to my
bunk.
The next morning l awoke to find our
little craft once more in motion and all
canvas spread. l asked for the captain
and related to him what | had seen. 1t
was plain, however. that he did nor credit
my statements, and considered it all
dream, result of my illness-at least.
he so informed me when | came to leave
the ship several days later. 1t was no
hallucination or dream, however.
x 4
The old gentleman who related the fure-
going strange experience recently passed
away, much to the regret and sorrow of
those who knew him and had the pleas
ure of listening to his tales OF travel and
ealry reminiscences.
From his own deductions it may be
easily possible Tor the reader to supplysa
plot to the above singular tale, but as to
Its correctness who can vouch?
r!usicsI Notes