The Holly chieftain., 1905-02-24

bcn6. harg.ns over Laro'5 bunk,
caught their eyes.
1t was a bracelet which the Indian
had always worn upon his naked arm
since the day Laro placed it there.
in burst of gratitude to Ehewah fol
having saved HIS life.
Both Laftte and Garonne knew
enough Of the Indians tribe-lore to
understand that this was Ehewah's
mute nourcement of ended friend
ship and loyalty.
He doubtless stole, in here to per
form what to him was a religious rite.
ard having hung Laros gift where We
found it, went his way. intending to
attempt that which he has now &C.
complished." mused Lafitte aloud.
Then, as if struck by an after
thought, he went to Laro's bunk, and
throwing aside the rich draperies. dis
closed a heavy wooden locker.
| Its lid was, contrary to custom.
locked; and when Lafitte opened it,
disarranged collection of papers and
canvas bags showed within.
1T is as | supposed-not coin nor
i jewel touched, but charts and papers
| gone that are of more Importance
than all the valuables. The rascal
knows the way to the Barra de Hero:
| and the charts he has taken will in
form others. showing them where to
| find what now belongs to the Senorita
Lazalie"
Garonne. forgetful of his usual re-
straint when in Iafitte's presence, now
broke forth into a flood of curses,
which the latter checked at once.
The mate turned to the cabin door.
where he paused. and asked in voice
trembling with the anger he dared
not show, Have you any orders for
me. captain?"
| None, save to let the men have
their supper at once, and see to it that
only half-allowance of grog is served
The fog is coming in. and we will sail
as soon as may be-
| Like an army of shrouded ghosts,
the fog was again about the BLACK
Petrol" enclosing her in world
where she was the sole tangible thing.
But, as over a path familiar to blind
eyes, the hands that manned her
| Couiu sHdpe HI uueITiuS course LOT
their secure haven.
Long before midnight she was feel
ing her way north, toward the mouth
of the treacherous channel that would
bring the crew to their island strong
hold. the Barra de Hero.
The early morning air was heavy
with odors of aromatic shrubs grow
ing beyond the beach, and the carol
of wakening birds was filling it with
music, when Lafitte came ashore, leav
ing Garonne in charge Of the brigan
tine.
| His course lay inland at first over
waste fields, and then cultivated ones
of sugar cane, coffee and tobacco
Then came some banana and fig plan.
tations. interspersed 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 stone
building, surrounded by a high wall,
with circular towers at the angles.
Lafitte crossed the open space, and
stopping before stout oaken door in
the wall called for admission. But
there was no response: and, after a
longer silence than suited his humor,
| he fell to striking upon the door, while
he called still louder.
This resulted in its soop being
opened cautiously, to show stalwart
giant, whose black face and naked
| arms showed all the darker by con-
trast with the white cotton of his raj
ment, draped in barbaric fashion
that told of its not having known
thread and needle.
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-
piled, Greetings to you, Ezrah. Is it
all well here?"
Yes, my young captain. All is well;
but it will be more than well, now
| that you have returned"
Lafitte 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 I.aro's body would be
brought ashore later in the day. for
burial.
Ezrah listened with face showing
no emotion whatever 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;