Hutchinson gazette., 1899-03-09


again"
Likely enough" muttered one OF
our men.
you could have knocked II over
with an oar" said ffislop; "but did
your dog wear thls2" ho added, fish
Ing up with the boat-hook n cap that
lay in the bilge water under the stern
sheets OF the skin.
"That cap is mlno," said the Span
lard, In husky voice, while closing
his eyes, as II wearIed or appalled,.
Have you two heads?" asked His
lop, sternly.
mo, senior; but-but--"
"What, thenY
"A man may have two caps for all
that"
Percelvlng that he was on the point
OF sinking again, Tom Lambourno
poured some more OF the rum INFO his
mouth, and we dragged him into our
boat setting the skin, which was quite
useless to us, adrlft once moro,
what was your shipY" asked His
lop, who spoke Spanish iluently,
"The Marshal serrano--a Spanish
brig from Cadlz."
From the Canaries last?" inquired
hastily
"Yes; bound to Costa Rica"
Tom Lambourne gave me rapid
glance, as he spat on his hands and
pushed his oar through the rowlock.
"She foundered and went down with
all hands on board" continued the
Samlshed Spanlard, In broken voice
and with Quiverlng lips,
"All?" reiterated Hislop, slernly and
dublously.
"All save myself, senor," replied the
other, hesltatlngly, and lowering his
hollow eyes. 81 escaped In the sSlff." i"
with your dogY"
ISL, senor'
I'm what latitude did this take
placer
without moments hesitation, the
Spaniard gave us the latitude and
longitude.
II can't make out this fellows story
in any way" said Hislop in English,
"By the theory and law Of storms, we
should have had a touch OF the same
gale which foundered his brlg-if such
gale existed. He has deserted, or
been marooned. don't believe word
he says. What Is your name?" he
asked in Spanish.
Antonio"
l started on hearing II, for my sus-
picions were becoming more and more
confirmed
Antonio? What more?"
"El Cubano, or the Cuban; for sc
nv shipmates termed me, and l have
no other name"
"Quick, my lads!" said Hlslop. LAY
out on your oars"
We were soon alongside the Eugenle
and had our castaway holsted on
board, when, for time, an end was
put to our queries but not to ouI
surmises, by his becoming insensible
We had questioned him already per.
haps too much, considering the weak
ess OF his condition.
He adhered to his original story IN
every particular when examined by
Weston and Hislop day or two aft.
er-that he belonged to the Spanish
merchant brig Marshal Serrano, the
same craft which had worked with us
out Of the roadstead Of Santa Cruz
that she had foundered In a storm, be-
ing overmasted and overladen, ant
that he alone escaped of all the crew
that when his dog became mad he hat
slain the animal and cast the car.
cass into the sea, and that he hat
been floating about In an open boat
without food and without aught Il
cool his parched tongue, save thu
heavy tropical dew OF heaven, where
we found him; and to the truth OF al
this he was ready to swear over two
crossed knives, In the fashion Of hii
country.
In short, we were obliged to con,
tent ourselves with his narrative, which
Hislop duly engrossed in the ships
log. while expressing great disbelief al
to It's authenticity.
In the first place, our mate denied
that any such storm as that In which
the Cuban alleged his brig had per
Ished had ever existed; and he de-
duced from his favorite theory thai
, we were, and had been, In the direc
track of such q storm, and must hav'
felt It's influence long ere this.
, Hence we thought 1t more probable
that the man had deserted In the night
: perhaps in consequence Of committing
! some crime, or for the same reason HI
had been marooned and set adrlft.
The crew were divided In opinion
and Tom Lambourne openly expressed
; his disbelief that the blood which GOV
cred the clothes of the Cuban and tn,
thwart of the boat ever came from tn,
veins of a dog, and Others asserted tina
.. he must have quarreled with an un
fortunate shipmate and killed him, o
,, had, perhaps, assassinated him in hi
sleep for the horrible purpose Of pro
longing his own assistance,
Amid these unpleasant surmises a
to his character and position, In q fev
, days the Spaniard Joined the crew II
-z..t.t.... 4ho ohin apd nrnvaJ bbvooal