The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-04-25
CHAPTER ".


Something more than mOntn from
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 10 take us to
Frontera.
At Vera Cruz we purchased such
articles as were necessary 10 our jour
ney. not many, for we could not be sure
of finding means to carry them. Among
them were hammoclxs, 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 as, car
rying II 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 10 trade with passen-
gers and cargo between Vera Cruz and
the ports of Frontera and Campeche.
where for?" asked the agent of the
Senior Strickland, as he filed in the
tickets.
''Frontera," he answered. "Your boat
stops there, does she not?"
s'0h, certainly, senor," he said, as he
poclxeted the dollars, and yet all the
while this shameless rogue knew that
she had orders TO touch at Campeche,
which is the furthest port, first, and re-
turn 10 Frontera week later.
Among the passengers was one, a
man of not more than thirty years OF
&c, who particularly attracted our at
tention. He was large, handsome and
coarse aud had Indian blood in bis
veins, as was shown by the darkness of
his color and the thick, black eye
brows that gave a truculent expression
TO his face. While / was wondering
who he might be, Molas made sign to
me to come aside and said:
"You see yonder man with the silver
buttons on his coat? He Is Don Jose
Moreno. the son OF that Don. Pedro
Moreno who waylnid and robbed me of
the nuggets which the old Indian gave
me. Beware OF him, lord, and bid the
Englishman do the same, for, like his
father, he Is n bad man."
While Molas was talking bell had
been funE for dinner, bat 7 waited till
he had finished before going down. At
the door of the cabin met the captain,
a stout man with face like full moon
and bland smile.
What do you seek, senor?" he asked.
"My dinner, senor," answered.
ut shall be sent TO you on deck" he
said, not without confusion. II do not
wish to be rude, senior, but you know
that these Mcxicans-I am n Spaniard
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, II seems
that Senior Strickland. missing me in
the cabin, asked the captain where
was, saying that perhaps / did not
know that the meal was ready.
"If 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 Strick-
land, s'if my friend is an Indian, he Is
as good gentleman as you or anybody
else I'm this cabin; moreover, he has
paid for a frst-class faro and has a
right TO frst-class accommodations. i
him at my side"
'.As YOU will" answered tho captain,
smiling, for he was a man OF peace,
''only II he comes there will be trouble"
And he ordered the steward TO fetch me.
Seeing me In the doorway, Senior
Strickland called me In loud voice,
aYou are late TO dinner, friend, but
have kept your place here by me. Sit
down quickly, or the food will be cold"
bowed 20 the company and obcyed,
and then the trouble began, for all
present had heard this talk. Now, al
most opposite me sat Don Jose Mo-
reno, the man OF whom Molas
had told me. AS / sat down no
consulted hastily with n neighbor ON
his right, then addressing the captain,
said In n low voice:
"Thcro Is some mistake, IL Is not
usual that Indian dogs should sit Mt the
same table with gentlemen"
The captain shrugged his shoulders
and answered mildly:
'sPcrhaps the senior will settle tho
question with the English senior on my
left. To me 10 does not matter; am
only n poor sailor and accustomed TO
every sort OF company.
''Scnor Strickland" said Don jose,
''be so good as TO order your servant TO
leave the cabin"
"Scnor," he answered. for his temper
was quick. II viii see you In hell be-
fore do So"
'sCarnmba," said the Mexican. laying
hand upon the knife In his belt. "you
shall pay for that. Englishmnn."
"When and how you will, senior. 1
| always pay my debts"
| Then the captain broke In In strange
way. First he put his hand behind
him. and drawing large pistol from
| his pocket laid Il by his plate.