Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-17
1be ISLE oftbeWINDS
g g By S.R. CROCKETT 9 9 9

UNI, that 1t seemed as if many cardinals
robes had been hung out to dry. Beyond
the palmettoS in the square. through whose
leaves we caught the CLINT of metal, they
were building something huge and white.
/ could see long string of men carrying
mortar IN wooden boxes on their shoulders
The fierce sun sparkled upon something that
connected the files and swung in midafr
between them, while to our ears came the
faint tinkle of metal. The men were
chained together.
AT that moment, from the gable of the
church "a beahive-lille prominence of which
formed the belfry) bell began to ring, and
we heard the low chant, the words of which
seemed to begin with Ora pro nobis!
Ora" And 1 recalled enough of my
Latin to know that that meant Pray for
usi'
Still we followed our guide, passing close
by the chain gang. We now saw that the
men were guarded by swarthy musketeers.
each with a gun over his shoulder and
sword grit by his side. Gigantic negroes,
armed with whips, stalked along the ranks,
each with dignity of a Nero cut in ebony.
Will Bowman had fallen a little behind
with Ebcrra, so l FASTENED to place myself
beside the monk who had brought US thith-
err The hymn had put it into my head
that 1 would try him with some of my
scanty Latin.
who are these mem" was what tried
to say
He stopped in an establishment as great
as If his ass had spoken to him.
he pronounced the words differently, vet 1
understood him well enough whereat I
began to be glad that Umphray Spurway
had made me learn by heart George Buch-
anans Latin psalms, one each day for a
whole year. which he declared to be the
only worthy literature that Scotland hath
ever produced.
mo. l am no cleric" replied
1t was wonderful $50 thoughD how east
ly the speaking of Latin came to me! And
on the spot began to plume me my tall
ent for languages.
Convent bred, them" he continued.
glancing sideways down at me-
81 am not said I.
How, then. do you speak Latin?''
pointed silently to Will. who had come
up with Eborra. We had halted under a
tree, and there was now only a fountain
with many jets between us and the chain
gang The swayipg leaves and the hush
were certainly most soothing. But some
how that continuous tinkle of swinging
links over by the new building misled me
greatly. Also, 1 was anxious about my
mother.
The monk, on whose face there appeared
Will. -
You are learned?' he said, in the same
VIII modestly denied it, but struck in
boldly.
He is very learned scholar" I said.
Of this l will inform the abbot" he
SAID and again turned to precede us. But
L pointed to the gang of laboring prison.
ers. from the far end of which had lust
come sharp cry, as the knotted lash of
the black overseer's whip fell across the
naked shoulders of a lad hating under a
burden. 1 trembled to kill the brutal
striker.
Who are these?" I said Indignantly,
and by what law are they chained and
beaten? Are they murderers?"
The monk cast one contemptuous glance.
and one only, in the direction of the chain
gang. ''--'
These are heretics," he said as If the
fact explained ALL
And as 1 followed the trailing skirt Of
MS brown robe mot daring to raise nv
eyes lest I should see some further hor-
ror) l was by no means so sure that the
deViiftsh had done good turn in deliy-
ering US from pirates and bringing US from
the Isle of Winds to underlie the tender
mercies of the monks of the Monastery of
San Juan de Brozas