The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-28

turtle. was a shifting and difficult mark
but she had hit if. three times. and then
boat had put out ia bring II In.
Wen have turtle steaks tomorrow,
shot"
But she had had enough OF the amuse-
ment, and they were leaning Idly against
the rsil- The captain reverted 20 Merida
Matcho tell you about the paiacio?" he
asked.
HE won't" she answered; ''he says
lie isn't much on talk" he said. APP
proachingly. Hasn't told you about the
girl down below on the spardeck. either'
l suppose?"
We'll" said the captain. shes little
Indian from one OF his plantations down
there--pretty little devil. too. Seems she
I'm love with him and he won't look al
her. So what does she go and do but
scrape the money together somehow ana
take steerage passage and follow him.
She came on at San Jose. but he never
knew she was aboard until after we got
of the Guatemala coast. She's shy
one-and sharp. Then one day when he
was down with the doctor looking at the
hospital she showed herself clasped his
knees and wept. and all the rest % it
made the dickens own row. He acted
very well. but IL put him In a ticklish kind
OF place. OF course we won't let her up
here, and he's mighty careful TO keep
OF the spardeck now. He's going 10
ship her back from Frisco he says" He
pointed To the back OF black haired head
that appeared over the side directly be-
low them. That's her" Evidently the
too.
she's seen you with him and she
don't like you little bit," the captain
chuckled. she calls you names"
Miss Strathmore did not think IL anus
ing az all. The rowboat was near. Miss
strathmore met Merida's eye.
Hell have scramble OF IL getting
up" the captain opined.
The ship was rolling heavily.
And his Mexicans." said the captain.
uneasily; "by heaven, they're half
drunk too. Look at their eyes"
Whether II was that or not IL was GER
tain that they could not seem to manage
TO keep the boat alongside long enough
Tor Merida TO catch the platform. when
Take your time. Merida" the chief
engineer called to him-'take your time"
Apparently the word suggested some
thing TO Merida. He put his hand to his
watch pocket-snd then his face changed.
There were three Mexicans In the boat.
but only two OF them had rowed: the
other had been sitting near him I'm the
stern. steering occasionally with an oar
Merida said something TO this one. The
fellow looked too innocent and shook his
head. Things happened quickly after
that. Merida caught the mozo by the
arm. and that began the fight. The row.
ers shipped their oars. and. urged by the
excitement and the teduila, Joined in. The
boat pitched and plunged.
They'll kill him." the captain called
out. Lower away n boat"
IF they've no knives'--began the pur-
ser But as he said IL a knife was thrown.
and by the little Indian girl on the deck
below.
The captain swore one oath They'll
do him now-sure." he said.
Merida had his man by the throat. but
he was down. and all three were atop OF
him. One OF them jumped up and caught
the knife by the handle as ~ came dex-
terously. He gave IL TO the man who
had Merida under him. and the other
two drew back. A splendid brown arm.
with its hand grasping the knife. rose
high and poised above Merida's breast.
Then ~ fell--but uselessly. limp from the
shoulder bone. There was smoke in the
muzzle OF the revolver in Miss Strath-
more's hand
Merida threw the wounded Mexican off.
bent over him, felt In his sash. and drew
out his own watch. The rowers had re-
sumed their oars. Now" said Merida.
quietly "you take me alongside"
The little Indian on the spardeck had
watched II eagerly. hanging out far over
the side. She turned now. twisting around
lithely upon her back her face upturned
Her dark eyes glowed. her lips apart.
Miss Strathmore. tho revolver still in her
hand. was straight above. The Indian
threw back her head further still and
then laughed. Her right hand went 10
her forehead and came AWAY again with
a sweep. in mock salute-the salute OF
the matador who has missed his stroke
and forSakp the ring The ArRonaut