Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1899-05-19
CHAPTER XIV.

h. ~ IL b. -
As the strange boat pitched about on
the waves some Of our men asserted
that at times they could see mans
head above the gunwale. Others ex-
pressed their doubts Of this. and In
the midst Of such discussions we
sheered alongside. Hislop caught the
bow by the boat hook. and while re-
tanning his hold, Tended of, to pre-
vent her being dashed against ours.
In the bottom Of the boat, which
was evidently the clinker-built skin
OF a merchant vessel, and was all
painted yellow, as q preservation from
the sun In q warm climate, there lay
under the thwarts man, either asleep,
In q stupor, or dead-at first we knew
not which; but he was, pale enough to-
have passed for the last. s5
BY his tawny visage and coal-black
beard, his long scarlet cap and sash,
in which sheathed knife was stuck,
and also by the rings In his ears, we
recognized him to be Spanish sea-
man. He was q man naturally OF
tall and powerful frame, but Of for
bidding aspect-of great personal
strength, but wasted apparently by
toll, by exposure and famine. =
/, "A dark and coagulated crust Of some
thing like blood appeared on his baked
lips and thick mustaches, on the black
ness Of which the saline particles OF
the sea foam, dried by the tropical sun,
glittered white as boar frost on bush
in winter.
AS we reused him he grasped his
knife instintively and repulsively, but,
relinquished it. and then stared wildly
at us, muttering in imploring tones:
Aqua, aqua, por amor de Dios!''
water, water, for. the love Of GoU.
"Misericordia! o senores-O y. Ave
Maria, misericordiav'
B. "Here, Jack Spaniard, ship q drop OF
this: it is real Jamaiky," said Tattooed
Tom, pouring between the parched lips
Of the Spaniard some rum, which likely
had been put in the boat by the fore
sight of Hislop.
The black eyes Of the castaway d.
lated and flashed as the spirit revived
him, restoring his wasted energies,
and bringing a hectic color to his
cheeks.
Delay now" said Tom; "you must
get some Thames water from the brig
before you take more Of this"
"Muchos gracias--many, many
thanks, said the spaniard, in tones OF
thankfulness.
Enough O. that---stow your slack,
and come on board If you can" said
Tom, testify, as he had sulky recol-
.lections Of our adventures at the
Grand Canary. II. 5-.
~ Restored by. the mouthful of alco-
hol, the Spaniard staggered up. but
with difficulty; and then we perceived
that gouts OF blood. dried ana encrust-
ed by the sun, were on his person and
on the inside OF the boat, especially on
one Of the thwarts. 5535 !. n.
e What is this blood y asked His
lop, with an imperceptible shudder.
. The Spaniard started and became, IL
possible, paler at the question, as he
nervously clutched the gunwale OF his
boat with both hands, and said, in
broken accents: 4.s5
y My dog, senores; killed q dog that
was with me, because 1t went mad in
the hot sunshine. and being without
water.
why did you not throw It into the
sea ~ 81 ;t NJ
ut would have bitten me, senior, and
might perhaps have come into the boat
again. s3
\ Likely enough I muttered one Of
our men. e.
/ You could have knocked 1t over
with an oar, said Hislop; .but did
your dog wear tllis?" he added, fish,
Ing up with the boat -hook cap that
lay In the bilge water under the stern
sheets OF the b ss u
s THAT cSr 10 mime, 4 said the Span
lard, In . husky voice, Whiles elosing'
MS syes, 60 Il wsafied a appallsd.
HAYS you Two IA rs sksd HIS
ss's.s llli A.s
~ txt6
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