The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1903-03-14

MArAMH #2aHn HAAAAAAAAAAAM
hind, with powerful arm, pushed
him forward, holding him by tie hair
with the other hand, A heavy roller
caught the pair, hurting Louis M sons an
exceedingly small area CT sandy Beach.
But the Padrone was ncs So fortunate.
He was dashed against g high rock on
one side Of the beach, and though he
managed to crawl over to Louis, his
left knee was painfully crippled. They
lay breathless on the sand for some
time.
Apparently they were in a little
gully, with walls running p%erpendicu-
larly, andthe aoor sloping upward at
a sharp angle.
"Holy Maryl" whispered the Pa
drone. Out Of the mist above came
the sharp bark Of the seal. Louis was
too much exhausted to realize what il
meant. But the Padrone knew. The
seals would soon become alarmed and
come sliding down that narrow slope
seeking the water, after their custom
when alarmed. Several more COM
meneed to bark. The Padrone looked
upward in despair. Several feet above,
on one of the walls, little ledge Of
rock jutted outward like a shelf.
THANK God" muttered the Pa
drone; ST can save him for Mia. Yes,
the old man will save her Louis for his
little girl"
He dragged himself quickly to his
feet, though the sharp pain in his knee
made him vince. The seals were thor
oughly aroused by this time. Rapid
ly gauging the distance with his eye;
the Padrone seized the unconscious
young man in his arms and tossed him
softly up on the ledge.
The Padrone could hear the sound of
the seals hiPpers as they began their
descent. He bowed his head to receive
death, with a prayer on his lips. But
in the kaleidoscope flashes of recol-
lection that come to men at such times,
came the momentary remembrance
of the days when he stood shoulder to
shoulder with the ~red-shirted men in
Italy to receive the charges of Pho
NinO's troops. He liftedyhis head with
fierce pride, and shook his fist de-
family.
viva ~Garibaldi!'' shouted the Pa.
drone, raising the old battle cry with
his last breath. For the seals slid
down upon him in a frenzied mass,
crushing him to death and rolling his
body into the sea.
The story of Louis rescue covered
nearly a page of a certain elterprising
journal, for he was found and brought
back to San Francisco in a specially
chartered tug by two of their report
ers. After they had photographed and
interviewed him to their hearts con-
tent, he hurried off to Fisherman's
Wharf.
where is the Padrone?" was the
first inquiry hurled at him fercely.
Dog! Coward Where is the Pa
drOne p And the fisherman gathered
about him with their fists.
Louis seemed not to see or fear the
angry looks. He had been thinking of
the ordeal of facing Nita with the
news.
ut was at the little owe on Saddle
Rock" he replied, doggedly I was
half dead, and-fre threw me up on a
llads Then the seals slid down and
killed him.
DOG! Beast!o came the angry
chorus. 'How dare you come back to
tell it. Death to the coward!" And
several knives were drawn.
Manuel, a tall, wiry Italian, who,
next to the Padrone, held highest au-
thOrity over the men, pushed Louis
into a shed, where the fish were stored,
and blocked the doorway.
"Wait!" he cried, sharply. Listen
to reason. We will leave the matter
TO the daughter of the Padrone. If
she desires it, we will send him to her.
If Motive will punish. Pedro-gO
and find what she wishes"
A stalwart young fisherman quickly
started on the errand, and returned
with an expression of savage JOY in his
swarthy face, for he had been an adj
mirer of Nita.
''She says hat she does not wish to
see him again" he painted.
A cry of approval rose from the
crowd. death to the coward" they
insisted.
1T is decided, then" said Manuel,
calmly. eve will take him back to
Saddle Rock, to die a towards death,
where he might have died a mans.
We want no towards in the fishing
feet. Pedro, we viii go in your boat"
Four fishermen, turned execu-
tioneers, glided out through the Gold
en- Gate in Pedro's boat. Louis lay in
the bottom bound, suIlen and silent
with bitter resignation. A fresh north
easter brought them ii Saddle Rock
just before sunset.
"Good," said Manuel, eagerly, "the
seals are there. Quick, boys, before
they become frightened"
The sail cluttered down, and two Of
the men bent to the oars. Manuel
picked up the helpless Louis and
hurled him up on the bench with all
his strength, then pushed off with his
leg. The men backed desperately
with the oars, and the little craft drew
off, none too soon, for the foremost
seal collided forcibly with the bottom
of the boat. When the men looked at
the little beach again, it was deserted.
In the little cottage on Telegraph