New-York tribune., 1921-05-08

~ U0G1Gy or En0ES ef&GF RfNf
around the crowded deck, where grounx os
somnolent Magellans lay stretched cut full
length. "These men are all Nationalist be
said. "They could persuade you to swim haek
to Panama, dare say. But propose to let
you go on to Magella. You viii have time Ia
regret many things"
Thanks" said Pug
"Not at ALL
Gonelli nodded and walked away with tb.
leisurely, disdainful tread of his class.
Then for three days Pug watched Gonelr
and his Nationalists. While the little steamer
sprawled down the hot, glittering sea toward
Magelia they squatted in the meager shade
of the awnings stretched over the Liberts's
dirty decks, playing mysterious games with
greasy packs of dog-eared cards.
The days passed in the deadly nacnotony
of glaring sky and sea. Pug heard the words
Columbia" and ''Bianchi' rise from the babel
Of Magellan tongues like sparks, never failing
to kindle a roar Of invective. Once he heard
his dads name spat like an oath from this lius
of big Portuguese. And he remembered what
his dad had told him: "The Magellans have no
respect for Fairchild." Apparently not. YET
Pug was left alone. If Gonelli had picked him
out for eventual assassination the straw-hstted
NatlonalIsts were immensely patient
Night after night the red-hot sun rolled
down into the brown sea and Pug slept un1no
Tested in the hammock that had been glune for
him on the forward deck. All about him the
Magellans slept side by side in grotesuue,
oddly collapsed attitudes Of profound repose,
their arms outspread, their upturned bare feet
pointing heavenward like the feet of so many
pathetic corpses. Pug closed his eyes and
trusted to luck and to the divine uartiaIity of
his guardian angel.
One morning he opened his eyes TO q gsudy
sunrise and sat bolt upright to start across
the polished sea at blue shadow lying on the
horizon, irregular, hazy, as unsubstantial as
mirage. Land! MagelIa probably! All his
life Pug had dreamed Of those saw-toothed
mountains, the fabulous peaks of the Santa
Christina. He had heard Of them when he was
IN ms cradle; they were the substance Of his
boyish longings. He slipped out of the ham
mock and went to the rail to stare at the ghos
of them floating on the horizon, half LOST in
the glory Of the, early morning light.
When he turned around he found the eyes
of Gonelli's NationaIists fixed on him. They
were watching him quietly-not particularly
hostile, but very alert.
The little City of Magella appeared suddenly,
while squares against background of luscious,
troplc green. The Liberia turned at right
angles with a tremendous splash of her ridicu-
ious propeller and steamed into the harbor be
tween two gray, lonely lighthouses that guard
ed the furthermost tips of the protecting half
moon of land
Gonelli's band of Nationalists had crowded
around their chief and were watching him
eagerly, like comic opera brigands waiting for
their cue. Pug winked at them and turned his
head to look at Msgella. little fotils Of
fowboats had put off from shore to meet the
Liberia. Before them, racing through the
water at top speed, motor launch flying the
Stars and Stripes hurried out to the steamer,
"heilbent to get there first" Pug thought. he
could see a man standing upright iR the bow,
his white clothes conspicuous against the
dazzling blue of the harbor. Pug's heart
leaped. 'Bu1ly for the Consul" he thought.
Hes coming out for me. No one else would
NSi LAC WGNCO Ills tldiLu dIfU ShNoS-''s
sprang up on the rail, balanced there brief
second and made a clean, straight dive over
board. He came up, shook the water out o.
his eyes, and swan with all his strength 70
meet the iaunch.e Gonelli's Nationalists, GET
ting their cue too late, sent an erratic, crazy
volley of shots after him, shots that fell wide
of the mark, like handful of futile pebbles
The Consuls launch made a wide turn ana
came up behind Pug He looked up and saw
the flag rafting smartly against the sky ara
the Consul's astonished face peering dewn A.
him.
"Are you all right?'
"All right Lend me hand"
The Consul, grasping Pug's hand, dragsee
him on board with an air of immense sa''s'
faction. II thought they had you" he SAID q
the launch turned and rushed toward snois