The San Francisco call., 1898-01-02
Carnavals hurrying to and fro

Carnavals hurrying to and fro.
 When day came clear and bright it was known that Minois. as well as Antoine had vanished. or man Carnaval was in as great rage as the French admiral, who was as keen to hunt down one Jer- sey-Englishman as he had ever been to attack an English fieet-more so, per- haps.
 Meanwhile the birds kept up wild tur- moil and shieking. Never before had any one heard them so clamorous. More than once or man Carnaval had looked at Perce Rock curiously, but whenever the thought of it as refuge occurred to him he put, it away. No, it was impossible No human being since the world began ever stood on that mysterious. lonely and impregnable place, sacred to the birds and the invisible dwellers of the air.
 Yet what was that? His heart thumped under his coat. There were two people on the lofty island wall--a man and a woman. He caught the arm of the French officer near him. Look. looki" he said. The officer raised his glass and looked.
 Its the gunner!'' he cried, and hand ed the glass to the old man.
 Its my Minois," said Carnaval, after a moment. in hoarse voice. But it's not possible-it's not possible!" he added. Nobody was ever there. My God! look at it-look at iti'
 1t was picture. indeed. A man and a woman were outlined against the clear air, putting up a tent as calmly as if it were on lawn, thousands of birds wheeling over their heads, with quer- ulous. fantastic cries.
 A few moments later oI man Carna- val was being rowed swiftly to the French flagship, where the admiral him. self was swearing viciously as he looked oh hfC tola To bod oI the gunner.
 He had prepared to lombard the fishing post and wipe it out of existence if Car naval did not produce Antoine. Well, here was Antoine produced and insult ingiy setting up a tent on this sheer rock, with some snippet of the devil' said the admiral. and defying the whole French fleet. He would set his gunners to work. If he had as good a marksman as Antoine himself the deserter should drop at the first shot--"death and the devil take his impudent face!"
 He was just about to give the order when Carnaval was brought to him. The old mans story amazed him beyond measure.
 Tt is no man, thenr' said the admiral, when Carnaval had done, and an officer had added that all sides of the rock pre- sented an almost perpendicular face He must be damned fly to do it. And the girl-sacre moi! he drew her up after him! I'll have him down out of that. though, or throw up my flag" he added, and, turning fiercely, gave his orders.
 For hours the French ships bombar1ed the lonely rock from the north. The white tent was carried away, but the cannon-balls flew over or merely bat tered the solid rock, the shells were thrown beyond. and no harm was done But now and again the figure of Antoine appeared, and half-doZen times he took aim coolly with his musket at the French soldiers on the shore. Twice his shots took effect-one man was wounded and one killed, Then whole companies of marines returned musketry fire at him. to no purpose. At his ease he hid himself in the long grass at the edge of the cliff and picked off two more men.
 Here was a ridiculous thing-one man and slip of girl fighting and defying a whole squadron! The smoke of battle covered miles of the great gulf. Even the sea birds shrieked in ridicule.
 This went on for three days at inter- sals. With fine chagrin the admiral and his fleet saw a bright campfire lighted on the rock. and knew that An toine and his girl were cooking their meals in peace. A flagstaff, too, was set up, and red petticoat waved defiantly Tn the breeze. At last the admiral, who had watched the business from the deck or the lnvincible. burst out laughing at the absurd humor of the situation. He sent for oP man Carnaval.