Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-02-02
THE PEOPLE
OF THE MIST
BY H. RIDER HAGGARD.

By H. RIDER HAGGARD.
copyright, 1898, by the Authorl
/ Returning to the veranda, he stood by
the chair, and taking an empty glass in
his hand by way of an auctioneer's ham
mer began:
Gentlemen, am going to offer you q
very choice lot, 30 choice that it makes VI
all the sale. The lot is white girl, hall
English and half Portuguese by blood.
She Is well educated and devout. AS to
her docility can say nothing. That will
be for her husband to attend to. OF heI
beauty need not speak. You can all sec
1t for yourselves. Look at that figure,
that hair, those eyes. Have any of you
known their equals Well, this lot will be
to him among you who is inclined to make
me the largest present In compensation
yen, yea he may take her this very night,
and my blessing with her. But there are
conditions. He whom approve must be
lawfully married to the girl by the priest
Francisco here, " and turning he pointed
to small, melancholy looking man, with
a womnnish face and dark blue eyes, who
stood in the background clothed in q
priests robe. Then shall have done my
duty by her. One more thing, gentlemen.
We are not going to waste time in little
bids. The upset price will be 80 ounces. >
silver" said voice.
"Silver2 No, of course not Do you
think you are bidding for niger girl,
fool' Gold, man, gold! Thirty ounces of
gold, and payment to be made on the
nall y .~s.
There was groan of disappointment,
and one man cried out:
| What are we poor fellows to dos Thir-
ty ounces for beginningi Where is our
chances''
What nre you to dor Why, work hard
at your profession and grow rich, of counsel
Do you suppose that these prizes are for
the poorf Now, then, the fair is open
Who bids for the white girl Juanna9 Thir
| ty ounces is offered What advance, what
sdvances''
| Thirty -fser' said wizened little man.
with a hectic cough, who looked filter for
burial than bridal.
| "FortyP cried another, O pure bred
Arab Of stately appearance and saturnine
expression, who wished to add to his
! harem.
Forty flvei" answered the wizened
man.
Then tho Arab bid so, and for awhile it
seemed that these two alone were competi-
tors
When the bids had reached 20 ounces,
the Arab muttered 'Allahi' and gave up.
He preferred to wait for the hours.
KNOCK her down." said the wizened
| man. "She is mine"
Wait awhile, my little friend" said
the great Portugee, Xavier, who had pass
cd the water gate before Leonard and mis-
companions. II am going to begin now
Seventy -flvei'
Eighty said the little man.
"Eighty-1yep' answered Xavier.
"NinetyP' screamed the other,
Ninety -1vel" said Xavier.
"A hundred" yelled the small man.
"a hundred and fivel' replied Xavier
triumphantly Gaping his bid.
Then, with curse his antagonist gave
up also, and the mob shouted, thinking
that Xavier had won.
KNOCK her down, Pereira," said
Xavier In his turn as he surveyed his
prize with affected unconcern.
"Wait moment" put in Leonard,
speaking for tho first time. II am going
to begin now. A hundred and TEMP
The multitude shouted again, The con-
test was growing exciting. Xavier glared
ut Leonard and bit his fingers with rage
He was very near his limit of possible ex-
penditure.
Now. then, ''scried Pereira, licking his
lips for joy, since the price had already run
20 ounces higher than he expected. Now,
then, friend Xavier, am l to knock down
this beauty to the stranger Captain Pierre2
1t sounds lot, but she is cheap at the
price. dirt cheap. Look at her and bid up
But mind, it is cash down, no credit-no
not for an ounce
"A hundred and Fifteen" said Xavier,
with the air of man making his last
throw for fortune
IA hundred and twenty" said Leonard
quietly f-s
He had bid to the last ounce in his pos
session, and il Xavier went further he
must give in unless indeed he chose to
offer Soa's ruby in payment. This, need
less to say, he was not anxious to do
Moreover, no one would believe stone of
that size to be genuine. But of all this he
showed nothing in his face; but, turning
coolly, he called to slave girl to bring
his glass, His hand never tremblcd, for
he knew we'll that his antagonist was
watching for cue, and if he showed I'M
certainty all might be lost. But in his
heart Leonard wondered what he should
do IL another ounce was bid.
Meanwhile the spectators were shouting
encouragement, and Pereira was urging
Xavier to increase his offer. For awhile
ha t.,
anna, who stood pale and silent, her head
bowed upon her breast. At this juncture
Leonard turned, the glass still in his hand.
Did you make any advance, senor?'
he asked.
mo, curse you Take her. Twill not
put down another ounce for her or any
woman on the earth. +"
Leonard only smiled and looked at
Pcroira.
"Goingl" said that worthy. 1.-THE white
girl, Juanna, is going to the stranger
Pierre for 1870 ounces of gold. Going
Come. Xavier don't lose her. If you do,
you will only be sorry once, and that will
DO always. Now for the last time" and he
lifted the glass in his hand and paused.
Xavier made q step forward and opened
his lips to speak. Leonards heart stood
still, but presently the Portugee changed
his mind and turned away.
"Goner' screamed Pereira, bringing the
glass down SO heavily ON the arm of his
chair that 1t flew into fragments.
CHAPTER VIII
"Gonel' said Pereira again. "And
now, friend Pierre, before We ratify this
little mattel BY the aid Of holy church,
perhaps youwill table the gold. This is a
cash transaction, remember.
"Certainly, answered Leonard. Where
is that black dog of mine, the dwarf All,
there he Isl Dog, weigh out the stuff. II
you have not enough, here is more, and
he unbuckled his belt, from which he had
been careful to extract the ruby, and
threw 1t to Otter.
Now, gentlemen and companions" he
went on, for l hope that We may do bust
ness together by and by, drink my health
and my brides. / have paid pretty dear
for her, but what of its A gentleman Of
our profession should always be ready to
back his fancy, for II his Is apt to be a
short life he may as well make 1t merry
one" I,
She will think tho better of you, and
you of her, for 1t, cried a voice Here
is to Captain Pierre and the girl, and
they drank, shouting aloud in their half
drunken merriment.
Meanwhile Otter, advancing with obse-
quious steps, was pouring handful after
handful of gold coin and ingots into the
large scales which Pereira caused to be
kai4 hafo htxS, all ha IN,