The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-24

ibid actually promise itf'
'You promised. sigior.'
Then. In that casa. the pistol Il yours"
PLEASE hand 1t to me"
Her eagerness to obtain the weapon was
but partially hidden, and the young man
laughed 40 he weighted the firearm In his
band. holding Il by the muxsle.
ut 10 too heavy for q slim girl Ike you
to handle" he said at last. lit can hardly
be called lady'e toy
You intend, then. to break your word"
said the girl. with quick Intuition. guess
Ing with unsrring instinct his vulnerable
point.
"Oh. no." he cried. but I am going to
send the pistol half way home for you."
and with that holding II still by the bar
rel, he flung II far out On the sandy plain.
where II fell, raising little cloud of dust.
the girl was about to speed to the fort.
when. for the third time. the young man
grasped her wrist. She looked 1T him
with indignant surprise
Pardon me-" he said, "but in case you
should wish to Are the weapon. you must
have some printing. Let me pour a guam
THY Of this gunpowder into your hand"
Thank you" she said. yelling her eyes
to hide their hatred. He raised the tiny
hand 70 his lips without opposition. and
then into the tiny palm. from his powder
horn. he poured a littis heap Of the black
grains.
"Goodby. sgnor," she said. hurrying
awny. She went directly to where the
pistol had fallen stopped and picked 4
up. He saw her pour the powder from
her hand on its broad. unshape;y pan.
She knelt on the sand. steadIed the
clumsy implement. resting her elbow on
her knee. The young man stood there
motionless. bareheaded. his cap in his
hand. There was cash and loud re-
port. and the bullet cut the foliage behind
him. little nearer than he had expected.
He bowed to her. and she. rising with an
angry gesture. flung the weapon from
her.
"Donno Rafaela," he shouted thank
you for firing the pistol. It's report brings
no one TO the walls OF San Carlos. Your
fortress Is deserted, Donna. Tomorrow
may / have the pleasure Of showing you
how TO skoot?" The girl made no an
swer. but turning. ran as fast as she
could towards the fort.
The young man walked towards tbs
fort. picked UP the despised weapon,
thrust II In his belt, and returned to the
camp The scouts were returning. and
reported that, as "a. as they could learn.
the $40 Nicaraguans had, IN a body, aban-
doned Fort San Carlos.
1T is some trick" said the colonel
I've must approach this fortress cautious
~ as II the $40 were there"
The hosilla neared the fort in a long
line. Each boat was filled with men, and
in each prov was ieveled a small cannon,
a man with a lighted match beside 4.
ready tie fire the momfnt word was given.
Nelson himself stood up In his boat and
watched the silent fort. Suddenly the
silence was broken by a crash Of thunder.
ard Nelson's boat and the one nearest to
It was wrecked. many of the men being
killed and himself severely wounded
Back, backf' cried the commander.
Row out OF range for your livesv' Tho
second cannon spoke, and the whole Inc
OF boats were thrown into !nextricao.s
confusion. Cannon after cannon rang out.
and Of the go men who sailed up the
River San Juan only ten reached the ship
alive
The commandant OF the fort lay III In
his bed, unable to move. but his brave
daughter fired the cannon that DESTROYED
the fiotflls- Here Nelson lost his eye ard
thus on a celebrated occasion was unable
to see the signals. Thus victory u,,,-
masely rose out of disaster.
The king OF Spain decorated Donna
Rafsela Mora, made her colonel and
gave her a pension for life So recently
as 1857 her grandson, Gen. Martinez va.
appointed president Of Nicaragua. solely
because he was descendant OF the girl
who defeated Hcratio Nelson.