Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1900-01-25
CHAPTER XIV.

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 boat-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 skiff
of merchant vessel, and was all
painted yellow, as a preservation from
the sun in a warm climate, there Law
under the thwarts 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 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 a Spanish sea-
man. He was 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 bush
in winter.
AS we reused him he erasped his
knife instintively and repulsively. but
relinqulshed 1t, and then stared wildly
at us, muttering in imploring tones:
Aqua, aqua, por amor de Diosr,-
(water, water. for the love OF God,.
"Misericordia! o senores-O Ave
Maria, misericordiar
Here, Jack Spaniard, ship a drop of
this; 1t Is real Jamaiky," said Tattooed
Tom, pouring between the parched Inns
of the Spanfard some rum, which likely
had been put in the boat by the fore
sight of Hislop.
The black eyes of the castawav d.
ated and flashed as the spirit revived
AIM restoring his wasted energies.
ind bringing hectic color to his
cheeks.
Delay now" said Tom; "you must
ret some Thames water from the brig
before you take more of this"
"Muehos gracias-many. manv
hanks, said the Spaniard, in tones ~
Enough o that-stow your slack
nd come on board If you can" said
rom, testify, as he had sulky recol-
eetions of our adventures at the
Irand Canary
Restored by the mouthful Of alco-
ol, the Spaniard staggered up, bat
nth difficulty and then we perceived
hat gouts of blood. dried and encrust-
d by the sun, were on his person and
n the inside of the boat, especially on
ne of the thwarts.
What is this-blood?" asked His
p, with an imperceptible shudder.
The spaniard started and became, il
ossible, paler at the question, as he
ervously clutched the gunwale of his
oat with both hands, and said, in
roken accents
My dog, senores; killed a dog that
90 VIII me, uecduSe III went mad Ia
re hot sunshine, and being without
ater."
why did you not throw 1t into the
"a 2"
1T would have bitten me. senior, and
hight perhaps have come into the boat
gain"
Likely enough" muttered one OF
IT men.
You could have knocked 1t over |
it'll an oar" said Hislop; "but did
our dog wear this?" he added, fish {
lg up with the boat-hook cap that
y In the bilge water under the stern
leets of the skiff
THAT cap is mine" said the Span ,
I'D, In a husky voice, while closing /
is eyes, as If wearied or appalled,. I,
Have you two heads?" asked His :
~, sternly.
mo, senior; but--but--' 1
What, them"