The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-10-31
.Mateho tell yOu about the palaeior,

''Matcho tell you about the palacioT
ne asked.
HE won't" she answered. He says
he's forgotten it,
He isn't much on the talk" he said
approachingly. Hasn't told about the
girl down below on the spar deck
either, | suppose -
She shook her head.
Well" said the captain, shes a lit
tie Indian from one of his plantations
down there-prctty little devil too.
Seems she's in love with him and he
won't look at her So what does she
do but go and scrape the money to-
gether somehow and take steerage pas
sage and follow him. She came on at
San Jose, but he never knew she was
aboard until after we got off the Qua
temalan coast. She's q 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 of
it-made the dickens own row. He
acted very well, but it put him in a
ticklish kind of place. OF course we
won't let her up here, and he's mighty
careful to keep off the spar deck now.
He's going to ship her back from
Frisco, he says" He pointed to the
back of a black haired head that ap-
peared over the side directly below
them. That's her" Evidently the
eyes Of the head were watching the
boat 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 it
amusing at all. The rowboat was near.
Miss Strathmore met Merida's eye.
He'll have a scramble of it 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 it was that or not, it was
certain that they could not seem to
manage to keep the boat alongside long
enough for Merida to catch the plat
form when the ship rolled down.
LAhC SOul lAhltJ -hGIlud, Tic Cultl
engineer called to him-'take your
time"
Apparently the word suggested some
thing to Merida. He put his hand to
his watch pocket, and 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 in the stern, steering occasionally
with an oar. Merida said something
to this one. The fellow looked too in
nocent and shook his head. Merida
caught the moZo by the arm, and that
began the fight. The rowers shipped
their oars and, urged by the excitement
pitched and plunged.
They'll kill him. the captain called
out. Lower away a boatr'
IF they've no knives began the
purser, but as he said it a knife was
thrown, and by the little Indian girl on
the deck below.
The captain. swore one oath. They'll
do him now sur he said
Merida had his man by the throat,
but he was down. and all three were
on top of him. One of them jumped
up and caught the knife by the handle,
as it came, dexterously He gave it to
the man who had Merida under him,
and the other two drew back. A splen-
did brown arm, with its hand grasping
the knife, rose high and poised above
Merida's breast. Then it fell, but use
lessly, limp from the shoulder bone.
There was smoke in the muzzle of the
revolver in Miss Strathmores hand.
Merida threw the wounded Mexican
off, bent over him, felt in his sash and
drew out his own watch. The rowers
had resumed their oars. ''Now," said
Merida quietly, you take me along
side"
The little Indian on the spar deck had
watched it eagerly, hanging out far
over the side. She turned now, twist
Ing around lithely upon her back, her
face upturned. Her dark eyes glowed.
her lips were apart. Miss Strathmore.
the revolver still in her hand, was
straight above. The Indian threw back
her head. farther still, and laughed.
Her right hand went to her forehead
and came away again with a sweep in
mock salute-the salute of the mata-
dore who has missed his stroke and
forsakes the ring.-Argonaut