The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-01-20

silent, brooding, sometimes bright
with febrile gaiety.
Angustias was watching her mis-
tress doubtfully, gauging her tenn
per, her experienced weather eye
reading infallible signs that her la
dy's nerves were frayed to a break
ing point, and that hurricane was
due to break.
eff she can only wait until we
meet Don Pedro" she prayed. ''She
needs her husband at time like
this"
The hurricane arrived before the
Governor.
One evening, just before nightfall,
the storm broke.
They had been travelling for days
among the lofty Calmalli mountains,
that stretch along the waist, or mar
rowest part of the peninsula.
Eulalia, shivering as night came
on, for now the nights were as cold
as the days were hot, rode beside
little Pedro. Behind came Angus
tias, cuddling her monkey as they
both dozed. At the head of the van
rode the Captain. Little Pedro
leaned closer to his mother and
whispered.
Eulalia frowned. "On my soul,
child We can not stop nowi Con-
troll yourself"
But the child would not be con-
trolled. He stopped his burro,
threw the reins toward Angustias,
and disappeared in the brush.
Angustias, startled from her nap,
made lunge at the reins, missed
them and brought her hand sharply
against Chichi's face. The terrified
monkey, in turn awakened rudely
from his little snoozing, leaped
straight for Pedro's burro, and the
burro bolted off the trail.
"Chichi!" screamed Angustias,
trying to get from her clumsy side
saddle. "Chichi! Baby!"
But the little burro and his detest-
ed frightened burden went careen-
ing away in the dusk.
Captain Canete wheeled to Eula-
las side, just as Angustias slipped
on to the dusty trail, screaming and
crying.
"My Lady," exclaimed the Capt.
tan. "What is the matter?"
But Eulalia only pointed after her
fleeing companion.
"Will you help herr" she asked,
struggling for control. "Will you
help her to catch that fool little
Chichi? He has eloped with Pedro's
burro!"
ooh, damn that ape, and damn
that ass! Oh, pardon me, Sonora
but I-are you all right, my Lady,"
eyes, yes, of course. Oh, here
she comes!"
Out of the dusk came Angustias,
trying to hold the monkey which
struggled and clawed in furious
panic. It had pulled the woman's
gray hair in tatters over her face,
and she looked like a witch emerg-
ing from the night.
HE doesn't know mel He is mad
from fright! Oh, my little darling,
my sugar-plum, you are safe in your
mothers arms. There, there!"
The Captain exploded.
"By the holy bones of Saint Bar
tholomew, woman! Why didn't you
get the burro? Here you," to an In
dian, fetch back that animal"
Grinning, the Indian loped away.
He hated and feared Chichi as the
rest of the natives did.
Angustias climbed on to her horse
again, soothing her weeping treas
ure.
The Captain heaved sigh.
'Well," he said, care we all"
But suddenly a piercing Shrek
came from somewhere, long high
wall that ended in, "Ma-a-a-ama!"
Eulalia slipped from her jennet.
PEDRO, Pedro! What is it! My
God"
Before the Captain could reach
her, she had met the child and had
him clasped in her arms.
Mama, look! Look, mamaI Al,
al! I am hurt! All, al, all" u..
what has happened? What is it?
Do no cry, speak to mel"
He held out his hands to her.
''Look, cactus! All the needles
ran in me! Ouch, al, al, all"
The Captain took the child from
his mother and set him on his own
knee as he squatted on the trail.
eyes, yes. What happened?"
81 was back therein the bushes
"a big black something came after
me and ran, and stumbled into the
cholla-ouch, ouch!"
| His face and arms were swelling
from the hundreds of needles that
had penetrated his skin, singing
him to agony as he strove to scratch
them out. Canete took firm hold of
his wrists.
Don't scratch! Dona Angustias,
let down your hair!"
| Angustias put her hand to her
scant gray locks in bewilderment.
| "But-why?" she stammered.
Because you must help this suf-
fering child. Only long hair will
draw out cactus thorns. Quickly!"
But young Pedro was already en-
veloped in a flood of black tresses
as his mothers hair tumbled about
him, soothing his stings, and draw
ing, by some strange attraction, the
needles from his flesh.
At last his cries dropped to sobs,
and his sobs to whimpers. Then he
sniveled softly in his mothers arms.
'Now, my brave little man, will
you smile at Mother? Poor darling,
poor little soldier!"
81 want drink of water" whim-
pered Pedro.