The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1900-03-17
CHAPTER XIV,
Antonio el Cubano.

AS the strange boat pitched about on
the waves some of our men asserted
that at times they could see a 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 b~oat-hook, and while re-
tanning his hold, Tended off, to pre-
vent her being dashed against ours.
In the bottom of the boat, which
was evidently the clinker-built skifR
of a merchant vessel, and was all
painted yellow, as a preservation from
the sun in a warm climate, there lay
under the thwarts a man, either asleep,
In a stupor, or dead-at first we knew
not which; but he was pale enough to
have passed for the last.
BY his tawny visage and c~oal-black
beard, his long scarlet cap and sash,
in which a sheathed knife was stuck,
and also by the rings in his ears, we
recognized him to be a Spanish sea-
a He was a man naturally of a
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 hoar frost on a bush
in winter.
AS we reused him he grasped his
knife instintiyely 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 Cod.
"Misericordia! o senores-O Ave
Maria, misericordiar'
Here, Jack Spaniard, ship a 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 di-
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 brip
before you take more of this"
"Muchos gracias-many, many
thanks" said the Spaniard, in tones o.
thankfulness.
Enough o that-stow your slack
and come on board if you can," sait
Tom, testify, as he had sulky recol.
lections of our adventures at the
Grand Canary.
Restored by the mouthful of alec,
hol, the Spaniard staggered up, but
with difficulty; and then we perceived
that gouts of blood. dried and encrust,
ed by the sun, were on his person ant
on the inside of the boat, especially OF
one of the thwarts.
What Is this-blood?" asked His.
lop, with an imperceptible shudder.
The Spaniard started and became, i
possible, paler at the question, as b,
nervously clutched the gunwale of hi
boat with both hands, and said, il
broken accents:
MY dog, senores; l killed a dog tina
was with me, because it went mad il
the hot sunshine, and being withou
water"
why did you not throw it into tn
sea-"
1T would have bitten me, senior, AM
might perhaps have come into the boa
again."
Likely enough" muttered one o
bur men.
you could have knocked it owe.
with an oar" said Hislop; "but dic
FOUR dog wear this?" he added, fish
ing up with the boat-hook a cap tina
ay In the bilge water under the sterl
iheets of the skiff.
THAT cap is NINE" said the Span
ard, In a husky voice, while CLOSING
ais eyes, as if wearied or appalled,.
Have you two heads?" asked His
op, sternly.
mo, senior; but-but-"
"What- then 2"