The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-05-03


can spectators, he had prospered enor-
mously and had become a very rich
man. Naturally he had cut himself off
as much as possible from intercourse
with English-speaking settlers, and had
after a time become in MANY ways 50
ihuch OF a Spaniard that the Spanish
community always regarded him as
one of themselves.
About twenty years before our story
begins he had married the only daugh-
ter of Spaniard of old family and
great wealth. When his father-in-iaw
died Don Pedro found that he had left
most of his very great fortune to his
uausnter' VINO only survived him few
months The death of the old Don had
nappeneu only a little over a year be-
Iore the events which form our story
occurred
BY the marriage Don Pedro had had
ulree children. of whom only one was
nVlhg, beautiful girl of fifteen, called
Suahita' after whom the schooner had
oeeh named, and who was aboard of
her namesake.
The relations of Don Pedro's father
in-law were furious at the wealth. the
puik Oh which they thought should
nave PASSED into their hands, going to
one whom they in their inmost hearts
considered stranger and a hereto
ana nnding that they could not by any
regal means take possession of It, had
tried to do 80 by foul. Don Pedro had
several times narrowly escaped assas-
sination; twice his daughter had been
waylaid and carried off, and only res
cued just In time to prevent her being
married by force to a cousin of hers
who bore the worst of charachers. Don
Pedro, though so long among Span
iards, found that he had not fully faith
omed their characters, and when he
applied to some of those whom he con-
sidered his most intimate friends for
advice and assistance, found that their
sympathies were more with his enemies
than with himself and his daughter.
Unable to endure this persecution,
and knowing that If by chance he hap
pened to kill one of his foes in self
defence, 1t would, by means of their
interest, be twisted into a charge Of
assassination against himself, and that
he would be sure to be murdered by
process of law, and leave his daughter
and her fortune without defence, he
made up his mind to leave Valparaiso
as soon and as secretly as possible.
Casting about in his mind how to
effect this. he thought Of an American
merchant with whom he had consider
able dealings. and decided upon taking
him into his confidence. The American.
who while possessed of considerable
Yankee shrewdness, concealed under a
rough exterior a warm and generous
heart, cordially gave his help as soon
as 1t was asked for. A large schooner
which had come from Baltimore with
a cargo of notions, was bought by him
and fitted up as yacht, otensibly for
himself. though the legal proprietorship
after being acquired by him publicly,
was privately made over to Don Pedro
in the office of the British Consul, who
willingly rendered all the assistance in
his power. and promised all possible
secrecy.
The acquisition of the yacht had been
decided upon, as 1t would give Don
Pedro the means of quitting Valparaiso
and leaving no trail behind him. The
necessary alterations and fittings were
rapidly carried out, and all the wealth
that Don Pedro could Immediately real
Use, without giving rise to supicion was
Jewels and part in paper securities,
and slowed away in a strong room con-
structed in what Don Pedro intended
for his cabin.
or course Don Pedro could not be seen
about the schooner, but all this work,
and everything necessary was carried
out by his loyal American friend, to
whom he, before leaving, gave powers
! to realize the remainder Of his proper
ty, to be remitted to him when he
should have settled upon his future
residence.
The finding of a crew was more
difficult matter: seamen indeed of all
nations, heather Chinee, Malay, Negro,
English, American, Spaniard, Dane, or
Swede, could easily enough be picked
up in Valparaiso; but unfortunately
the larger portion of them had either
no character at all or a character about
which the less that Is said the better.
Silas Warner, Don Pedro's friend, did
the best that he could, but the foremast
hands were a very tough lot; but the
man he shipped as kipper was very
dependable he thought all might go
well. Unluckily the day before that
upon which Don Pedro intended to sail,
the skipper went ashore, and was found
lying dead in an unfrequented part of
the town. evidently murdered by some
desperado Mr. Warner urged Don
Pedro to put off his departure, but the
Don had twice been fired at during the
preceding week. and said that he was
! RAPIDLY being driven into madness by
: the constant necessity of keeping
vigilant guard over the safety of his
daughter and himself, and insisted on
sailing at once. A new skipper had to
be found at all hazards, and the only
man that could be obtained, at such
short notice, was a Spaniard named
Herero.
Up to the time when we were picked
up. everything had apparently gone
well, and the "Juanta," had sped mer-
rily on her course toward Australia,
and both the Don and his daughter mad
thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
AS soon as we had recovered from the
effects of the exposure and prlvations
we had undergone, Smithson and I
begged to be allowed to take our share
in the work of the schooner; Nc AL
pine, Of course, nothing was too good
for, in the sight of his brother and
MS nelce, anu ne uroppeu INTO MS new
position as brother of the owner of the
yacht, quietly and easily, as If he had
never in his life roughed 1t in the fore
castle of a merchant ship.
McAlpine insisted that I should Join
the cabin mess, as being the son of q
gentleman. My father, may say, was
a poor country parson, with a large
family and small living, who had
gladly accepted the chance Of providing
for one of the brood, when the owners
of the vandal. one of whom lived In his
-. y,ch offered TO article me as an an