Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-12-30

is my grapdfather's. Still, since it is
oil in the family, may as well tell it,
aud, besides, it has special interest
now, when so many people in this land
are looking and longing across the Pa
cifc to where our flag floats over Ma
Mia bay.
In the year l8i2 my grandfather, n
young man Of 20, shipped as common
sailor on tho three-masted ship Polly
Ann of New Bedford, bound from New
York to the Philippines with cargo
Of -four. The voyage was uneyentful,
aud 1876 days after passing Sandy Hook
the Polly Ann dropped anchor in Pasig
river, Manila.
During the ship's stay there, grand
father, who was of an investigating
disposition, looked the city over pretty
well and, believing there were chances
for wide-awake Yankee to make n
fortune in the islands, he quilted the
ship and took service with a trading
firm on the harbor front. In ten years
he was manager of n business Of his
own and man of influence among the
foreign traders. The Spanarus, too
looked up to him and respected him.
As his business grew lie was unable
TO manage all the details OF the in
creasing trade and SO called to his help
young Filipino named Juan Aguado,
bright young man, half Spanish,
half Malay, who hal formerly been an
assistant in the packing house. Aguada
possessed polished, courtly manners
and a good education; he had received
his schooling Mt monastery, ~
grandfather trusted him implicitly Tor
in the course Of time. -, made him
chief clerk and adviser.
Aguado was absolutely fearless that
was where his Malay, blood showed
out, grandfather would remark when
he himself had occasion to refer to the
story. They were out hunting one
day in jungle tract some ten or fif-
teen miles away from the city when
they were charged bya maddened buff
falo that dashed out Of water hole
upon them. They both ran for cover,
but grandfather by some misstep
tripped on vine and fell, and before
he could regain his feet the animal
was upon him. 1t was no time to use
gun--they were armed with nothing
but light fowling pieces for pigeon
shooting. When grandfather fell,
Agualo, who was little behind him,
made leap to one side TO pass him;
but he wa, not thinking of saving
himself. Quickly drawing his kris,
which was another mark OF the Malay
In him, he rushed back upon the buf.
falo and stabbed II through the neck
again and again with all the d.xterity
of q veteran matador. The buffalo fell
dead in its tracks, aud grandfather
e.sax !!eesa , away with broken arm.
From that time on the two men
we're like brothers. Juan seemed
glad that he had ha an opportunity
70 show his regard for his employer
and benelactor, and grandfather was
too much OF man to be anything but
generous TO one who had saved his
life.
But il was about the end Of their
comradeship. One day a native from
mp country called at the warehouse
for Aguado. They retired 10 a dis.
tAnt part of the building aud talked
long and quietly together. Then the
stranger went away and the clerk no.
Anrned TO his desk.
That night, when il came time for
hiQg, Aguado said: ''Senor,
Alye, you. am wanted at home,
Fill be useless to try to detain
bdfathsr surprised beyond
hlmost; but he did not try TO
tie him. He paid his arrears OF
added a handsome bonus and
good bye to the Only man in the
: ,7of whom he was truly fond.
1.-Two years passed and not word
came from Aguado; but that was not
very strange, for the province where
he lived had been in open revolt for
some time, and as the fighting on both |
sides was constant aud relentless, |
communication with Manila was prac-
tically cut of.
However, as time went on the rebel. |
lion was crushed, and the insurgents
we're scattered or captured. The leader
OF the revolution, one Luiz Berceo, was
man OF considerable generalship and |
resources, for without munitions or
money he had held his ground against
AZ = Ga osar1a for n LONG ti,na aud hal