The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-10
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hand toward the water. My eyes fol-
lowed the motion, and there among
floating timbers and broken cases l
saw a body.
We got that body ashore and buried 1t
in the soft sand and then there was
nothing more that we could do Coat
less, hatless, and shoeless, as we We're,
IL was necessary that we should seek
for food and shelter. Thompson said SO,
and it was so evident that he was right,
that / made no demur and we started.
The country seemed to be familiar to
my comrade, and we soon found our
way from the secluded beach on which
we had been thrown up, over a wooded
ridge, into what had been cultivated
country, now deserted by the inha BIZ
tants. My companion explained that,
although within less than forty miles
of Havana itself, it had been the scene
of rebel raid two months before that.
1t was evident that there were not
many people of the superior classes left,
but by and by we succeeded in getting
both food and shelter at the house of an
overseer, besides a good deal of sym
Tathy as shipwrecked sailors from the
negroes.
When, at last, we started to find our
way W TIE CdDlldi, we Hdu ODldlHGl
both shoes and hats, and, in the course
of our long tWo-dayS' tramp. we We're
fortunate enough to get substitutes
for the coats we had discarded. 1t was
my comrade who thought of an expla-
nation of our appearance on the coast,
which he warned me was our only pass
port to liberty, and from time to time
he repeated the story of the shipwrecl<
nf thp SphOOnar 'Trgvplpr her
age from Kingston to Key West, till
both of us We're familiar with the char
dcters in which we We're to appear, if
questioned. In spite of this, we were
careful to avoid Spanish guards and
patrols, of Whim there We're plenty OH
nearly every road, and made our walk a
good deal longer in leaving the road to
avoid the risk of meeting them. The
more | thought of 1t, the stronger had
become my feelings Of gratitude to my
companion, for the efforts he had made
to save my life, and l was readily re-
signed myself to his guidance. only
promising myself that when we
reached Havana,I would make some at
tempt to repay him for his good Offices.
l had friends there, I said to myself,
and | was conscious of a keen sense of
delightful anticipation. as l contemplate
ed the welcome which | hoped to re-
CeiVe from at least one person. l am
afraid that it went far to reconcile me
at once to the failure of my mission for
the universe" and to the fate of my
unfortunate shipmates. 1t is marvellous
how quickly the future can obliterate
the past, especially the future radiant
with hope, when set against a back
ground that is dark and somber.
Thompson was to take me to a place
of safety, where he said that friends
of his would shelter me for a day or
| two, till we could arrange, either for
my safety in Havana, or for some
| method of getting away. AS we stole
into the suburbs, just before moonrse
/ could not but feel grateful for the
cleverness and care he had taken to
insure my safety. 1t was dark-the
breezeless tropical night, when all ma
ture seems to be waiting for the rising
of the moon-and / soon began to
| fancy that even in the darkness |
| could recognize some of the Well-re-
membered landmarks of the place
| War seemed not to have touched it at
| all, and 1t would have been hard, in
| deed to imagine anything more peace
full than the scene dimly visible in the
shadows of the trees. Yet, surely, |
knew the place. Another minute, and
| l was certain of it. We were in the