Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-18
CHAPTER II.

Inc entrance to the common prison of Ha-
vana was sort of lofty tunnel, finished
by great, iron-rusted, wooden gates. A
civil guard was exhibiting the judges war
rant Tor my committal to a white haired
man, with red face and blue eyes, that
seemed to look through tumbled bushes
of silver eyebrows-the alcyade of the pris-
on. He bowed, and ratified two farcically
large keys The venerable turnkey. a
gnome in a steeple-crowned hat, protruded
a hand backward in the direction of the
postern.
Senior Cabellero," he croaked ~ pray
you to consider this house your own NV
servants are yours. If the senior will fol-
low me, l will do the honors of this hum
Die mansion, and indicate a choice of
rooms
We went up steps, and through long.
shadowy corridors, with here and there
d dark, lounging figure like a stag seen
in the dim aisles of a wood The alcyade
threw open a door.
The occupant of the room looked up.
His cheeks shone in the candlellght like
polished yellow leather his eyes were nar-
row Sits, his face iugubrious. He scruti-
nlzed me intently, then drawled.
MY! You? Hang me If 1 didn't
think it would be you"
He was the second mate of the Thames.
Nichols. the real Nikola Ell Escoces!
He was chewing toothpick, and at the
ruminant motion of his knife-jaws l seem
his bunk, instead of upright there in red
trousers and blue shirt an immense
lank-length of each. He surveyed me now
with twinkle in his eyes, his yellow jaws
as Shiny-ShaVen as of old; his arms as
much like semaphore. He said hooking
ly:
80 you went there, after all? And now
he's got you" 1 did not answer him. II
know all about yeh," he added
It's more than do about yeh," I said
He rose and suddenly jerked the door
| open. peered on each side of the corridor,
and then sat down again.
Pm not afraid to tell he said defiantly
I'm not afraid of anything. I'm safe I'm
efe." Nichols repeated. II know too much
about our friend the raparee." He lowered
his voice They say you're to be given up
binary anxious leer. You are now, eh d?
For how much? Can't you tell man?
We're in the same boat! 1 kin help yehi
I'm not afraid of any d-n thing he SAID.
I've got hold on that man. He dursen't
give me up. / kin see! He's going to give
you up and say you're responsible for 1t
all"
II don't know what he's going to do" 1
Nichols leered at me. We're all in the
same boat"
l expect he noticed that wasn't moved
| by his declaration. He continued:
Let us be open. Let's have a council of
| war. This Juez hates me because l
wouldn't fire on my own countrymen." He
| glanced furtively at me. II wouldn't" he
asserted; che wanted me to fire into their
| boats; but / wouldn't Don't you believe
| the tales they tell about me! They tell
| worse about you Who says would fire on
my countrymen? Where's the man who
says it, He was drinking brandy and
| glared ferociously at me. None of your
! tricks. my hearty" he said. None of
| your getting out and spreading tales.
| o Brien's my friend; he'll never give me
| up. He dursen't. ! know too much. You're
a pirate! No doubt 1t was you who fired
| into them boats. BY God, I'll be witness
against you IL they give me up. I'll show
| shouted. Never! / shot Yankee lieu
tenant-Allen he was-with my own hand.
| That's another thing. I'm not a man to
IL Why. I've papers that would hang
| O'Brien. I sent them home to Halifax. !
know q trick worth his. BY God, let HIN,