The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1895-01-30
Of the Captain Diaz.

there was something to be seen IN CE
path, for as we walked looked up, an
before me, standing with folded arms al
apart from all men, was De Garcia. h 81
scarcely thought of him for some days,
full had my mind been of other matte
but at the sight of his evil face / RENE
bered that while this man lived sorrowa
danger must be my bedfellows.
He watched us pass, taking note of "a,
Then he called to me- who walked last
Farewell, Cousin Wingfeld. You h
lived through this bout also and wo
free pardon, you, your woman and W
brat together. If the old warhOrse who
set over us as captain had listened to IN,
you should have burned at the stake, every
one Of you, but so it is. Farewell for
awhile, friend. am away to Mexico to
report these matters to the viceroy, who
may have word to say"
made no answer, but asked Of our con
ductor-that same Spaniard whom had
saved from the sacrifce-what the senior
meant by his words.
"This, Teule: That there has been
quarrel between our comrade Sarceda and
our captain. The former would have grant
ed you no terms, or failing this would have
decoyed you from your stronghold with
false promises and then have put you to
the sword as infidels with whom no oath
Is binding. But the captain would not
have it so, for he said that faith must be
kept even with the heather, and we whom
you had saved cried shame on him. And
so words ran high, and in the end the Sc
nor Sarceda, who is third in command
among us, declared that he would be no
party to this peacemaking, but would be
gone to Mexico with his servants, there to
report to the vicerOy. Then the Captain
Diaz babe him begone to hell if he wished
and report to the devil, saying that he had
always believed that he had escaped thence
by mistake, and they parted in wrath who,
since the day of noche triste, never loved
each other much, the end Of it being that
Sarceda rides for Mexico within an hour
to make what mischief he can at the vice
roy's court, and I think that you are well
rid Of him."
Father" said my son to me, "who is
that Spaniard who looks so cruelty upon
usl'
'That is he Of whom have told you, :
son, De Garcia, who has been the curse Of
our race for two generations, who betrayed
your grandfather to the holy office and
murdered your grandmother who put me
to torture, and whose i'll deeds are not
done with yet. Beware of him, son, now
and ever, beseech YOU"
Now we were come to the palace, almost
the only house that was left standing in
the City of Pines. Here an apartment was
given to us at the end of the long building,
and presently command was brought to
us that and my wife should wait upon
the Spanish Captain Diaz.
So we went, though Otomie desired me
to stay behind, leaving our son alone in
the chamber where food had been brought
to him. remember that I kissed him be-
fore I left, though I do not know what
moved me to do so, unless it was because
I thought that he might be asleep when
returned. The Captain Diaz had his quar-
tiers at the other end of the palace, some
900 PAGES away. Presently we stood before
him. He was rough looking, thickset
man well in years, with bright eyes and
an honest face, like the face of peasant
who has tOiled a lifetime in all Weathers,
only the fields that Diaz titled were fields
of war, and his harvest had been the lives
Of men. Just then he was joking with
some common soldiers in a strain scarcely
suited to nice ears, but so soon as he saw
us he ceased and came forward. I saluted
him, after the Indian fashion, by touching
the earth with my hand, for what was I
but an Indian captive?
''YOur sword" he said briefly as he
scanned me with his quick eyes.
I unbuckled it from my side and handed
it to him, saying in Spanish:
''Take it, captain, for you have con-
quered; also it does but come back to it's
H.