Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1900-02-17


again"
Likely enough" muttered one OF
our men.
you could have knocked II over
with an oar" said Hislop; but did
your dog wear this?" he added. fsh-
ing up with the boat-hook cap that
lay in the bnge water under the stern
sheets OF the sslff.
That cap is mine" said the Span
lard, in a husky voice, while closing
his eyes. as IL wearied or appalled,.
Have you two heads?" asked His
lop. sternly.
No, senior. but-but--"
What. them
"A man may have two caps. for all
that"
Perceiving that he was on the point
OF sinking again, Tom Lambourne
poured some more OF the rum into his
mouth, and we dragged him into our
boat. setting the skin. which was quite
useless 10 us, adrift once more
What was your ship" asked His
lop. who spoke Spanish hueatly
The Marshal Serrano-s Spanish
brig from Cadix"
From the canaries last'' Inquired
hastily.
Yes: bound to Costa Rlea"
Tom Lambourns gave me rapid
glance. as he spat on his hands and
pushed his oar through the rowloek.
"Shs foundered and went down with
all hands on board" continued the
famished Spaniard. In a broken voice
and with quiyering lips.
"All7" reiterated HIslop. stsrnly and
obviously.
"All save myself. senior" replied the
other. hesitattngly. and lowering hi.
hollow eyes. Il escaped In The skin"
With your dog?"
Isl. senor."
In what latitude did this take
place."
Without a moments hesitation, the
Spaniard gave US the latitude and
longitude.
II can't make out this fellows story
in any way" said Hlslop In English.
by the theory and law OF storms, we
should have had a touch OF the same
gale which foundered his briz-is such
gale existed. He has deserted. or
been marooned. don't believe a word
he says. What Is your nams7" he
asked in Spanish.
Antonio"
started on hearing Il. for nv pt.-
picions were becoming more and more
confirmed.
"Antonio7 What mors?~
"El Cubano, or the Cuban: for 40
my shipmates termed me. and have
no other name"
Quick. my laisr' said rIlslop. Lay
out on your oars"
We were soon alongside the Etgsni.
and had our castaway holstpd ON
board, when, for a time. an end was
put to our queries but not to our
surmlses. by his becoming lnssnslbie
We had questioned him already psr-
haps too much. considering the wsak
ess OF his condition.
He adhered to hts original storv -,
every particular when examined by
Weston and Hislop day or two arr.
er-that he belonged to the Spanish
merchant brig Marshal serrauo the
same craft which had worked with as
out OF the roadstea6 OF Santa cruz.
| that she had foundered In a, storm he.
ing overmasted and overladen. and
that he alone escaped OF all the er.v
that when his dog became mad hs had
slain the animal and cast the car.
cass Into the sea. and that hs haa
been floating about In an omen heat
without food and without aupbt m
cool bis parched tongue, save IN.
heavy tropical dew OF heaven WHARF
We found him; and TO the truth OF All
this he was ready TO swear over two
crossed knives. In the fashion of hi,
| country.
In short, we were Obliged tn. ron.
tent ourselves With his nsrrattv. vh,a,
Hisiop duly engrossad in the shin.
log, while expressing great disbelief .,
to Its authenticity.
In the first place, our mat, den,.d
that any such storm as that in Which
the Cuban alleged his brig had mar.
ished had ever existed; and he d..
duced from his favorite theory tina,
We were. and had been. in the dlr,c,
track OF such a storm. and must hay.
felt its influence long ere shls.
Hence we thought It more probab,.
that the man had deserted In the pirh,
perhaps In consequence of commi,,In,
some crime, or for the same r.asoo \,
had been marooned and set aayiY,
The crew were divided in onin,on
and Tom Lnmbourne openly sxnr..s.,
his disbelief that the blood which cov.
cred the clothes Of the Cuban and On,
thwaTt OF the boat ever came from IN,
veins OF dog, and others asserted tho,
he must have quarreled with an un
fortunate shlpmate and killed him y,
had, perhaps, assassinated him in 81,
sleep for the horrible purpose Of nro
longing his own assistance. ''
Amid these unpleasant sirmises =,
to his character and position. in . 20
days the spaniard Joined the crow =,
working the ship, and proved bim.a,
to be steady, Industrious ana ~,