Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-11-16
CHAPTER v.
TIE BEGINNING OF THE QUEST.

CaAPIEH v.
TIE BEGINNING OF THE QUEST,
Something more than a month 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 to take us to
Frontera.
At Vera Cruz we purchased such
ney, not many, for we could not be sure
of finding means to carry them. Among
them were hammoclss, three guns that
would shoot either ball or shot, with
ammunition, as many revolvers, 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 us, car
rying it 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 to 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?"
"Oh, certainly, senor,' he said, as he
pocleted 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 to Frontera week later.
Among the passengers was one,
man of not more than thirty years of
age, who particularly attracted our at
tention. He was large, handsome and
coarse and had Indian blood in his
veins, as was shown by the darkness of
his color and the thick, black eye
brows that gave 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 waylaid 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 bad man."
While Molas was talking a bell had
been rung for dinner, but 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 Mexicans-I am Spaniard
myself, and do not care-hate to sit at
meat with an Indian, SO if you insist
upon coming in there will be trouhle.n
Not wishing to make a stir, bowed
and turned away. Meanwhile, it seems
that Senior Strickland, missing me in
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,"
'sCaptain," answered Senior Stricls-
land, ''if my friend is an Indian, he is
rs good gentleman as you or anybody
else in this cabin; moreover, he has
paid for first-class fare and has a
right to first-class accommodations.
| Insist upon q seat being provided for
| him at my side"
''As you WILL" answered the captain,
| smiling, for he was man Of peace,
''only If 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,
saying:
have kept your place here by me. Sit
bowed to the company and obeyed,
and then the trouble began, for ali
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 he
consulted hastily with a neighbor On
his right, then addressing the captain,
said in a low voice:
"There is some mistake, it is not
usual that Indian dogs should sit at the
same table with gentlemen"
The captain shrugged his shoulders
and answered mildly:
sPerhaps the senior will settle the
| question with the English senior on my
left. To me it does not matter; am
only poor sailor and accustomed to
every sort of company.
'sSenor Strickland" said Don Jose,
.'be so good as to order your servant to
leave the cabin"
| was quick, ~ will see you IN hell be-
| fore do So"
"Caramba," said the Mexican, laying
hand upon the knife in his belt. you
shall pay for that, Englishman."
"When and how you will, senior.
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 it by his plate.
"Senors, BOTH" he said in soft voice
and with gentle smile, 81 am 10th to
interfere in the quarrel of two esteemed
/ passengers, but though l lam only poe,
sailor it is my duty to see that there is
no hloodshed on hoard this vessel
Therefore. much as regret 1t, shall
/ be obliged to shoot dead the tirst mar
who draws a weapon" and he cooked
the pistol.
/ Now the Mexican scowled and
Senior Strickland laughed outright, fol
it was curious thing to hear Il man
I with face like sheep growl and
| threaten like wolf. Meanwhile,
had risen, for this insult was more than
could bear.
Seniors" l said, speaking in Span
ish, ':as see that my presence is un
welcome to the majority of those here
hasten to withdraw myself. But be
fore go wish to say something, no,
by way of Boosting, but to Justify my
| friend, the English gentleman, in his
action on my behalf. However wei
born you may be, my descent is noble,
and more ancient than yours, ant