The Mena star., 1899-06-01

should De glad 10 accOmmOuaIe our friend if he doesn't mind writing to Manila a brief account of the accident"
 "Senor Capitano, you are un gener- oso. 1 will the letter write tonight. You shall have no fear of un cxamin- cion at Manila. Santisima! have not the casualidad myself seen?"
 "Muy bueno padre; I will land you safely at Tanapag in the morning. and. gobernador. l hope to see Guajan again before the compania's regular boat resumes the service. feel as though you people were old friends now, and when the Countess is with drawn I may never happen 10 return; so I'd like 10 keep on running here un- til your term expires, anyhow"
 You do us la gran honra, capitano mic. We are made rich by your friend ship; and it shall be that a word is spoken in Administrator de la com pania. Villabos will cable Barcelona, perhaps" and so on, with many as surances of regard and influence, until Halstead seemed in fair way toward arranging matters as he chose. 1t was exceedingly well-handled, the whole af- fair.
 Finally the whistle sounded, and we stepped into the boat alongside. Hal stead said merely: 'So long, old man. be good to yourself;" but there was good deal in our parting handshake. Much was to happen before we saw each other again. The pilot was so cautious in getting clear of the port that we were driving to Agana before he rounded Catalan bank; but as we approached the town the good old Countess, her lights reflected in the water. caught up with us and blew three long whistles by way Of good 5J;r
 That night, in my quarters at the gobernador's house, tried to arrange a plan of action, going over and over the various points until my brain was in a whrl. l had little doubt of being able to find the reef, but ii was mat ter of considerable importance that should do so as near the wreck as pos sible. For this reason it seemed obvi- ous that an examination of the docu ment in Fray Ignacio's coffin was nec- essary. Tie church was in charge of Padre Bartolomeo and three brother priests; good-natured. easy-going churchmen they were, who could sing, drink rum. or wager their pesos upon a cock fight with the next man; and, as some one had mentioned mass which was to be held at sunrise, de- termined 10 hear it. Anxious to be on time. rose half an hour too early, but was amply repaid by the freshness and quiet beauty of the little town.
 Looking north, spur of hills cut off the view of the bay; and at their base flowed a little creek which bounded the town on the east and north sides, crossed by two stone bridges, near the lower of which stood Fort San Rafael. Beyond the fort and alongshore to Port Apra. the view was open to the sea. On account of the shoal water for half 6 mile out. there was no surf, only rip pes which showed the direction of the breeze. Between the church and the infantry quarters there was a small racks. between them and the artil lery magazine, was a broad plaza which separated the bamboo native huts from the more pretentious build ings of coquina, or coral limestone. in- habted by the Spanish element. Out side of the town. the valley and hills were covered with tropical vegetation indescribably beautiful in its wealth of color and delicate tracery against the sky line. The streets. laid out in regular pattern. were wide and clean. At the right of the gobernador's house. looking east, stood the church. q small chapel. and the college of San Juan de Latran at the left. between 1t and the plaza. were San Ramon quarters. the administrators office.' the pharmacy and the tribunal; on the southerly side of the plaza. the military hospital and prison. few miles back of the town and its foothills rose the peak of Mount Tiniquio; and at the southwest the peninsula of Orote poked its nose into the ocean. looked at Orote, its rocks and palm trees glowing red in the early sunrise. for several moments. It was to be the base and starting point of all my calculations.
 A few of the natives were lazily sauntering into the church as stepped across the square, and mass was jsst beginning. ThereHvas a girl ish form kneeling ny the pillar nea rest me. and l recognized Senorita Doro- tea. who greeted me demurely as she