The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1897-12-23
HEART OF THE WORLD.
BY II. RIDER HAooARp.
Strange Story Manuscript Bequeathed by
10 Comrade
EngIshman lam


his lbOcktt, lulu IL by MS pldte.
"Senors, both" he said ia soft voice
and with gentle smile, II am 10th to
interfere in the quarrel Of two esteemed
passengers, but though am only poor
sailor 1t Is my duty to see that there. Is
no bloodshed on board this vessel.
Therefore. much as l regret 1t, shall
be obliged to shoot dead the first man
who draws weapon" and he cooked
the pistol.
Now the Mexican scowled and
Senior Strickland laughed outright, for
1t was curious thing to hear a man
with face like sheep growl and
threaten like wolf. Meanwhile,
had risen, for this insult was more than
could bear.
''Senors," ! said, speaking in Span
ish, ''as see that my presence Is un-
welcome to the ma jority Of those here,
hasten to withdraw myself. But be-
fore | 90 wish to say something, not
By way OF boasting. but to Justify my
friend. the English gentleman, in his
action on my behalf. However well
born you may be, my descent is nobler
and more ancient than yours, and
therefore 1t should be no shame to you
to sit at the able with me, and least OF
all should the Don Jose Moreno, whose
tnther Is murderer, highway rob.
Der and q man without shame, and
whose mother was half-breed NEST
tia slut. dare to be insOlentto me who.
as any Indian on board this ship can
tell you. am prince among my own
ncorle." ff
Now every eye was fxed on Don Jose.
His snllow complexion turned to a
whitish green as he listened to my
xyT1-6e n nd for n l,a L. In, .lr
in his chair overcome with rage. Then
he sprang up once more, gripping at his
knife.
you dogl" he gasped. ''let me but
come ut yon and I'll cut your lying
tongue OUT
You will do nothing OF the sort.
Don Jose Moreno" answered. fixing
my eyes upon his face; what have
said about your father Is true: more
there is Il man on board this ship,
whom, not three months since, he
robbed with violence. Ii the gentle
men, your companions, would like to
hear the story l can tell it to them.
am we'll able to defend myself. More
over, this vessel is manned by Indians
who know me, and should any harm
come to me or to my friend Senior
Strickland, l warn you that you will
not reach your home alive. Gcntlcmen,s
! salute YOU" and l bowed and left the
cabin. ts3
"Friend, thank YOU" said to the
senior when he came upon deck after
dinner was ended. Knowing who L
am and seeing how l, In common with
my race, am accustomed to be treated
by such dogs as that, can you wonder
that am not fond of Mcxicans?r
ttNA H.,
the same | advise you to be careful of
this Don Jose. He is not man to kiss
the stick that beats him, and will make
an end Of you. and me. too, for the
matter OF that, If he can"
"Do not be afraid, senor.n answered
laughing; "besides the steward and
Molas there are twenty Indians on
board, and they will watch that man
day and night, SO that he can never
come near us without finding them
ready for him. Only we shall do well
to sleep on deck and not below"
That night we spent, wrapped in our
serapes, upon two coils of rope on the
forecastle OF the Santa Maria, with
Molas sleeping close behind us. 1t was
a lovely night, and we whiled away the
hours in telling tales to each other OF
our adventures in past years, and in
wondering rs to those that lay before
us, till at length we fell asleep, fearing
nothing, for we knew that our safety
was watched over, to be awakened by
the sudden stoppage Of the vessel.
Fearing that something was wrong
Senior James went to the captain and
asked him why they had stopped.
because the engines won't go any
more and there is no wind to sail
with" he answered, politely.
Presently tho engine begun to work
again, though uncertainty. Toward
three o'clock in the afternoon Molas.
pointing to q low coast line and a spot
on the sea where the ocean swell was
tipped with white, told us that wonder
was the bar OF the Grijalva river, and
that beyond it lay the village of From
terra, our destination.
Good" said the senior, ''then think
that will get my things on deck +" and
going TO his cabin he brought up a sack
some wraps and food.
why do you bring your baggage?'
asked the captain, presently. you
may want 1t tonight"
That is why | brought it up" he
answered. II do not wish to land at
Frontera with nothing"
Land at Frontcrn, senior? No one
will land at Frontcra from this ship Tor
another six or seven DAYS. We pass
Frontera and run straight on to Cam
pechc, which by the blessing of the
saints we shall reach tomorrow even
ing" '1'7
But | have taken tickets for From
terra, said the senior. THE agent paye
them to me, and insist upon being
put on shore there"
That is quite right, senior. All be-
ing well we shall call ut Erontera this
day week, and then you eau 90 ashore
without any extra charge, but before
this my orders are to put into no port
except Campeche. that is unless a
norther forces me to do So"
That evening we dined together upon
leck, Tor neither of MS was in any mood
70 descend to the cabin and meet Don
Jose Moreno, OF whom we had seen
nothing since the previous night. AS
[aded and the sky grew curiousIv dark
while suddenly to the north there an
pearcd rim of cloud IL was an angry
red and glowcd like the smoke from y
furnace at night.
Another two hours had passed with
,ut much change, except that the night
grew darker and darker, and stiiler
Ind stiller
Then vivid flash OF lightning
pierced the heavens above us, followed
~ a deafcning peal OF thunder. Bv its
ierce and sudden light we could see the
cast some three or four miles away. 1
ma almost ahead of us the holder out,
Inc OF Point Aicalango. The sea about
'ur ship was dead calm. A mile or 20 I
Q windward, however, was n different 1