The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1897-12-23
We1ser, Idaho.
II dare not" was the answer, come
aboard and fetch me-"
surprise you.

II dare not" was the answer, come
aboard and fetch me-"
Does the senior still wish as to
stay?" asked the boatswain calmly
Listen, You cur" shouted the senior,
''the ship is sinking and will take us
with it. At the word three, give wav.
men. Now, will you come or not?
One, two
IT come" said the Mexican, and
driven to it by despair he cast himself
into the sea.
With difficulty tho senior. assisted by
an Indian with boathools, succeeded
in getting hold of him as he was
washed past on the swell. There,
however. the matter rested for the pres
emit, for just then the deck of the Santa
Maria burst with a rending sound, and
she began to go down bodily.
Row for your lives" shouted the
boatswain, and they rowed, dragging
Don Jose in the wake of the boat.
Down went the Santa Maria, bow
first, making hollow In the sea that
sucked us back toward her.
So soon rs this great dancer had
gone by the sailors lifted Don Jose into
the boat. where he lay gasping but
uniarmcd. Then arose the question
OF what we could do'to save our lives.
Asst was, we must have been swamped
many times over but for the stanch-
ness of the boat, which, fortunately,
was new one, and the seamanship
and ceaseless vigilance Of the Indian
bOatswain who commanded her. For
hour after hour he crouched in the bow
of the cuttcr, staring through the
sheets OF rain and the darkness with
his hawks eyes and shouting directions
to the crew as he heard or caught sight
OF whitc-crcstod billow rolling down
upon us. when we would be flung up
toward the Sky to sink deep into the
trough on the furtheT side. sometimes
half full Of water, which must be baled
out before the next wave came
was very thankful when, at length
overcome by cold aud exhaustion,
sank into Inconsistencies or swoon.
How long | remained il this merciful
state Of oblivion | do not know, but
was reused from it by Molas. who shook
that trcmbled with cold or joy. or both:
Awake, awake, we are saved!'
"Saved?' | said, confusedly. "What
from?"
From death in the sea. Look lord"
Whore are we?' asked.
In the Usumacinto river, thanks
be to Godl'' answered Molas. "We
have been driven across the bay in the
dark and at the dawn found ourselves
just outside the breakers. Somehow
we passed them safely and there be-
fore us is the blessed land
As for the Indians, the men to whom
we owed our lives, they were utterly
worn out. Two OF them appeared 20
have swooned where they sat, three
others lay gasping beneath the seats,
but Molas held the tillcr by my side.
and the boatswain still sat upright in
the bow, where he had faced death for
so many dreadful hours
Say, lord, he asked, turning his
face that was hollow with suspense and
suffering to speak to me, "can YOU
row? If SO, you take the oar and pull
us to the bank, while Molas steers, for
our arms will work no more?"
Then | struggled from my scat, and
with great efforts. for every move
ment caused me pain, | pulled the cut
ter to the bank.
Some Indians appeared belonging to
rancho, or village, half a league away,
and, on learning our misfortunes ana
who we were, these men hurried home
to bring us food, having first pointed
out to MS a pool of sweet rain water.
OF which we stood in great need. for
our Threats were dry. When they had
been gone nearly an hour women ar
rived from the rancho bearing with
them baskets laden with tortiilas or
meal cakes, frijole beans, a roast kid.
and bottle Of good aqua ardicntc, the
brandy of this country. On these FRO i
visions we fell to thankfully, and be-
fore we had finished our meal the
alcaldc, or head man of the village, pre-
sented himself to pay his respects and .
to invite us to his house.
Now whispered to Molas, who had
some acquaintance with this man, to
take him apart and discover my rank to
him. and to learn II perchance he had
any tidings of that stranger whom We
came to visit, DR.. Zibalbay. He nodded
and obeycd. and after awhile rose
and followed him behind some trees,
where the alcalde, who was of our
brotherhood, greeted me with rever-
ence.