Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-26
CHAPTER w

CHAPTER ".
IL was, L suppose, what I demanded of
Fate-to be gently waited into the position
OF hero of romance without rough hands
at my throat. 1t is what we all ask, sup
pose; and we get it sometimes in ten-min-
ute snatches. I didn't know where I was
going. 1t was enough for me to sail in and
out of the patches of shadow that fell from
the moon right aboveeour heads
We embarked, and as we drew further
out, the land turned to a shadow, spotted
here and there with little lights. Behind
US cock crowed. The single crashed at
intervals beneath the feet of large body
Of men. remembered the smugglers; but
1t was as If 1 had remembered them only
to forget them forever. Old Rangsley. who
an unintelligible babble. Carlos and Castro
talked under their breaths.,g
And then old Rangsley hove to, to wait
for the ship, and sat half asleep, lurching
scoundrel. The boat, leaked like a sieve.
The wind freshened, and we three began to
ask ourselves how 1t was going to end.
There were no lights upon the sea.
At last, well out, g. blue CLEAN caught our
eyes; but by this time rold, Rangaey was
helpless. and 1T fell to me- to manage the
boat. Carlos was of no use-he knew it,
and, without saying a word. busted himself
surprised to notice, knew more than Ibid
about boat, and, MANNED as he was, made
himself useful.
ITO me it looks as If we should DROWN
Carlos said at one point. very quietly. Il
am sorry for you, Juan
Castro had hauled the helpless form Of
old Rangsley forward. I caught him NUT
tering savagely:
Further out in the bay we were caught
in heavy squall. Sitting by the tiller, I
got as much out of her as I knew how
We would go as far as we could before the
run was over. Carlos bailed increasingly,
and without word of complaint.
Castro, standing UP unsteadily, growled
1--WE may do it yet! See, senor!'
The blue CLEAN was much larger-it fared
out ghostly parallelograms of ships sails
high above US, and at last many faces peer
ing unseeingly over the rail in our direction
We all shouted together.
may say that 1t was thanks to me that
we reached the ship. Our boat went down
under us whilst was tying rope under
Carlos arms. He was standing up with
the bailer sill in his hand. On board, the
women passengers were screaming, and as
chung desperately to the rope that was
thrown me, 1t struck me oddly that ] had
never before heard so many women's voices
at the same time. Afterward, when stood
Rangsley, who held forth in thunderous
voice, punctuated by hiccoughs:
'"They carried aboord-a-cop-thee lug
ger and sinks in the cold, co-old sea-"
After had made 1t clear that wanted
to 20 with Carlos. and could pay for my
passage, was handed down into the steer
age where a tallow candle burnt in thick
blue atmosphere. I was stripped and filled
with some fiery liquid; and fell asleep; Old
It was new and strange life to me,
opening there suddenly enough.
Looking at my companions at times. had
vague misgivings. It was as II these two
had fascinated me to the verge of some
danger Sometimes Castro, looking up,
uttered vague Calculations. Carlos pushed
his hat back and sighed. They had preoo-
equations, cares, interests In which they
let me have no part.
Castro struck me as absolutely ruffianly.
His head was knotted in a red, white-spot-
ted handkerchief; his grizzled beard was
tangled; he wore black and rusty cloak,
ragged at the edges, and his feet were
often bare; at his side would lie his wooden
right hand AS rule, the place of his
forearm was taken by long, thin, steel
blade, that he was forever sharpening.
Carlos had made Spain too hot to hold
him In those tortuous intrigues of the Army
of the Faith and Bourbon troops and Ital-
ian legions From what could understand,
he must have played fast and loose in an
insolent manner. And there was some wo-
man offended. There was gayness and
eallantry in that part OF It, He had known
the very spirit of romance, and now he was
sailing calamity out to take up his inher-
itance from an uncle who was a great
noble, owning the greater part OF one of
the intendencias of Cuba
HE is a very old man, hear" Carlos
saba little dotins,' and having need of
me- aa.t
II had come as gpdsend to him when
his uncle had sent Tomas Castro to bring
him to Cuba, to the town OF Rio Medic
.The town belongs Ito my uncle. He is
very rich-a Grand d'Espagpe every
thing: but he is now very old, and has left
Havana to die In his place IN his own town.
He has an only daughser. q Dona Sera-
pima, and suppose that II find favor In
HIS eyes shall marry herJand inherit my
uncie's great riches; am the only one that
is left Of the family to Inherit" He waved
his hand and smiled a little. 'vaya; lit
tie of that great wealth would be welcome.
II had had q few pence more there would
have been none OF this worry. and should
not have been in this dirty ship in these
rags" He looked down spontaneously at
his clothes.
"But," I said. ''how do you come to be in
a scrape at all7''
He laughed q little proudly.
ssIn scrape?'' he said. 81 am
In none 1t Is Tomas Castro there" He
laughed affectionately. He Is as faithful
as he is ugly" he said @but I fear he has
been a Villain, too. = What do
know? Over there in my uncIe's town
there are some viIiains-you know what I
mean: one must not speak too loudly on
this ship. There Is a man called O,Brien.
who mismanages my uncle's affairs What
do know? The good Tomas has been in
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