Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-11

OF cattle The same night we left the ha-
cienda.
1t was a starry darkness. Behind us the
soft waiting of the old woman at the gate
died out:
so far. So very far"
We loft the long street of the slave viii
lage on the left, and walked down the gen.
tie slope of the open glade toward the lit
tie river Seraphina'S hair was concealed
IN the crown of a wide sombrcro and wrap
ped up in a serape, she looked SO much like
a cloaked vaquero that one missed the
Jingle of spurs of her walk. Enrico had
fitted me out IN his own clothes from top
t. toe. He carried a lanthron and We fol-
/ lowed tie circle of light that swayed and
tremblel upon the short grass. There was
ro one c.se with US, the crew of the drogher
being already on board to await COM
irs.
Her mast appeared above the roof of
some low sheds grouped about short
wooden ietty. Enrco raised the lamp nigh
to light us, we stepped on board.
Not word was spoken the five negroes
of the crew (EnI1Co answered for their
fidelity moved about noiselessly, almost In
visible. Blocks ratified feebly aloft.
"Enrico," said Seraphina, do not forget
to put a stone cross over poor Castro 8
grave"
mo, senorita. May you know years of
felicity We would all have laid down our
forget the living. Your childhood has been
the consolation of the poor woman there
for the loss of our little one. your foster
brother, who died. We have given to you
much of our affection for him who was
denied to our old age"
He stepped back from the rail. go with
God" he said.
The faint air filed the SAIL and the out
lines of wharf and roof fell back into the
somber background of the land, but the
lanthorn in Enrico's hand glimmered mo-
tionless at the end Of the jetty till a bend
of the stream hid it from our sight
Two days after we saw a castle on a
sandy hill, and a few small boats with rag
ged sails making for the land A brigan-
| tine, that seemed to have carried the breeze
with her right in, threw up the stars and
, stripes radiantly to the rising sum- before
rounding the point. The sound of bells
slowly on, abreast of the battery at the
We ters edge.
| "A feast day in the city" said the old
negro at the helm. And here is an Fin
l glish ship OF war"
The sun rays struck from afar full al her
| belted side; the water was like glass along
| the shore She swan into the very shade
| of the hill, before she wore round, with
great deliberatlon, in an ample sweep of
| her headgear through a complete half
| circle. She came to the wind on the other
| tack under her short canvas: her lower
| deck ports were closed, the hammock cloths
| made like ridge of unmelted snow lying
along her rail.
| 1t was evident she was kent standing off
and on outside the harbor, as an armed
man may pace 10 and fro before a gate.
She was Rowleys flagship. She had
| thrown the shadow Of her sails upon the
| end of my sea journey. She was the man.
| of-war going for q cruise that day when
Carlos, Tomas and myself arrived in ia
n2aica I'm the old Thames. And there she
was meeting me again, after two years
before Havana. You may not breaE the
| kings peace and be made welcome on board
kings ship. You may not hope to make
| use of a kings ship for the purpose of an
| elopement. There was no room on board
| that seventy four for our romance
The shipping in harbor was covered with
| bunting In honor of the feast day. A six
| cared custom house galley darted out from
| the tier of ships, pulling for the American
| brigantne. One of the uniformed sitters
waved his hand at us, recognized an estate
| drogher. and shouted some directions of
which We only caught the words:
Steps acknowledgements
Our steersman took off his old hat
humbly to hail back, MY bien senior"
/ breathed freely, for they gave US no more
of their attention. Soldiers, alguazil and
| custom house officers were swarming aboard
| the American. as If bent on ransacking her
| from stem to stern in the shortest pos
| sible time, so as not to be late for the pro-
| cession.
Seral ...,.-. crouched on coil Of rope
under the bulwark; old Pedro, at the tiller,
| peered about from under his hand, and I,
trying to expose myself to view as little
| as possible, helped him to look for the
Lion. There she Ia. Yes! No! There she
was A crushing load fell on my chest.