Rocky Ford enterprise., 1905-02-24


had always worn upon his naked arm
since the day I.aro placed ii there.
in a burst OF gratitude To EheWah foI
having saved hi. life.
Both LahJIs and GaTonne knew
enough Of the Indians iribelore ia
undsrstani that this Was EheNah's
mute announcement Of ended friend
ship and loyalty.
"He doubtless stole In here To per
form what To him was religious rite,
ard having hung i.aro's gIft where No
found H. Wcnt his way. intending TO
attempt that which he has now ae-
complishod.' mused LATTE aloud.
Then, as II struck by an after
thought. he went to iRro's bunk. and
throwing aid" the rich drapsrles. dis
closed a heavy wooden locker,
its lid was, contrary To custom.
locked: and when Iaiitt. opened II. II
dIsaTTansci collection OF papers and
canvas hags showed within.
1T ls as ! supposcd-not coin nor
jewel touched. but charts and papers
gone that are OF more importance
than all tn. vaiuabics. The rascal
knows the way to the Barra dc Hero:
and III" charts he has taken will In
form Others. showing them where To
nrd what now belongs to the Scnorita
Iazalic"
GaruEnc. forsc,ful Of his usual rc.
SIraint when In Lafittc'S presence. now
broke forth into flood Of curses.
which II" latter checked at once.
TIL. mate turned 10 the cabin door.
where h" paused. and csked In voice
trembling with the anger he dared
no, show. Have you any orders for
| me. captain"
None. save TO let tho men have
their supper nj once. and see to IL that
only haifaliowancc OF Erog IL served.
The fog II coming In. and We will sail
aS soon as may be-
Like an army OF shroudcd ghosts.
tho fog was again about the "BiacE
Pctrcl." enclosing her In u world
where she was the sole tangible thing.
Hut. as over n path familiar to blind
eyes. the hands that manned her
could shape nm uncrr!ng course for
their secure haven.
Long before midnight she was feel
Ing her way north. toward the mouth
OF the trcaehcrous channel that would
bring the crew To their island strong.
hold. the Barra de Hero.
The early morning mir was heavy
with. odors OF aromatic shrubs grow.
Ing beyond the beach. and the carol
J of wnkcning birds was filling II with
music. when Latte came ashore. icnv
Ing GaTonrc In charge OF the brlgan'
tine.
His course lay inland. nt first over
waste fields. and then cultivated ones
OK sugar cane. coffee and tobacco
Then came some banana and iig plan.
tatIOns. Intcrsperscd with groves Of
palms and cocoanut trees. until. after
walk Of twenty minutes. he reached
clearing In which stood many small
huts. evidently dwellings: and apart
from these rose the walls OF n stonc
building. surrounded by high wall
with circular towers at the angles.
I.aiitte crossed the open space. and
! stopping before stout oaken door In
the wall. called for admission. But
there was no response: and. after n
| longer silence than suited his humor.
| he fell to striking upon the door, while
he called still louder.
This resulted in It's soor being
opened cautiously. to show a stalwart
| giant whose black face and naked
arms showed all the darker by con-
trast with the white cotton Of his raj.
mcnt. drapcd In n barbnric fashion
that told OF its not having known
| thread ard reedlc.
My young captain!" he exclaimed
| in Spanish. pleased surprise lighting
his grave face: and catching Lafitte's
hand. he kissed It as the latter re-
pllCd. Greetings to you. EZrah. Is 1t
all well herc?"
Yes. my young captain. All is well:
| brt 1t will be more than well. now
that you have returned"
afitte waited until the Arab (for
such he was) had closed and barred
the gate: and then, in few words,
he told him of what had taken place,
adding that Laro's body would be
brought ashore later in the day. for
burial.
Ezrah listened with face showing
no emotion whatevc~. save perhaps
that of anger that the nation his mas
ter had taught him to hate should
have been the means of the formers
death.
His Young mistress. the Senorita
Lazalie. was of course not yet awake:
end Lafitte. after bidding the Arab to
leave her undisturbed. went to his
own apartments.
Iazalie was row sixteen; and, since
leaving n convent school in Seville,
two years before. her entire time had
been passed upon the Barra de Hero,
to which Laro-her only living rela-
tive-had brought her. and where she
had seemed fully coutented with her
luxurious and independent life.
Laro, of necessity. passed much of