VOI-.- xxxvii
J Honey Saving Opportunities, 8
THESE PRICES MEAN 5
m A BIG SAVING TO YOU <F
fc a lis* x t aja n *t h rou? h-
S " U *i^S. , CK>tJ h itndGol?C*pes. «5.W to I15j».
* WABJI BI.iSKKTS —The stock is large and the pri'-es
Sft /lllfl tr*mfoVt "leas you'll find the junket, them- g
•5 UllJl selves. Large cotton blanket-. w"rtli .- -it 2V
TEST \ Scarlet and plaid blanket-.. -"'rtli _ . W
01 I \\kl \ \ All wool white blankets. 33.00. »4 ■'•, r>>
2 \/yT \\ IKTej and fun ' y p 1 Uk
jj UNDERWEAR. $
£II I \ For Men, Women and Children. M
Men's heavy fleeced underwear 50c. )a
Or M< natural wool underwear si 00.
Women's fleeced underwear i& and <'c
10 Women's flue wool under-rear 11.00 and SI.JS. fP
« Children's underwear In cotton and wool at less prices than elsewhere, g
g LINENS. £
Every . arefut housewife worth tlie name. cherishes f"' - /
W handsome You mizht as well have the n« w- a, ffp/,*
\ est desijtns as not. Lots of new ones here. »Ne qnotf *rS^/
fR Just two sample values: Heavy cream damask, • * -jSitSr
- jdfr
Fine bleached double damask. *> Inches wide, all •
m pure linen, worth SI :£> at SI.OO.
|L. Stein & Son,|
S 108 N. MAIN STREET, BUTLER. PA.
Rickel's sHoes
■ W L> .i, V 'if v ■!/ ■> •!/ -1/ >l/ -v •!/
M W M a W jKy.a<}K3K>:>lc>ic>K^:xac'jK3tt^caic
jf/jf'y.y{'jf'j&'y %
1 ■ T> T»
Have you Seen the Pretty Styles in Fine Foot
wear at s' c Ucl's.
Our Fall Stock is all in and is Extr<?ml\) barge.
Grandest Display of Fine Footwear 6ver Shown.
A E. Nettleton's Men's Pine Shoes.
All the latest styles in fine Rox-calf, Patent-calf
Enamel and Cordovan in medium or heavy soles
Sorosis-The New Shoe for Wowen.
All th e latest styles—Dongola, Enamel, Patent-calf,
and Box-calf. Sec our SOKOSIS box-calf shpes for
Ladies, high cut, heavy extended soles. Just the shoes
for this time of the year. Price $3.50 per pair.
SCHOOL SHOES.
High or low cut shoes in Box-calf,
Oil grain, Kip or Kangaroo-calf.
Gokey's High Cut Copper Toe Shoes for Boys.
Sizes 10 to 2, price $1.50 per pair
Sizes 3 to 6, price $1.75 per pair
011 Men's Box Toe Boots and Shoes.
Also a full stock of Army Shoes. At all times a full
stock of Sole Leather aud Shoemakers Supplies Complete
stock of Ladies' and Children's Overgaiters and Leggins.
GIVE US A CAbb.
JOHN BICKEL,
12S SOUTH MAIN STREET. - - BUTLER, PA
\ff I kl/s I buy clothing for the
W I jIM/ \ a JKt ] ourpofe of spending money. They yji
larv t TT f ' eMre to K et t^ e best possible re- Jjj
yUlu tUBy A | »ult» for the money expended. Not
/ all" '■'[ '4s-' 4rx cheap goods hut goods as cheap as
X/lIK they can he sold for find made up
lPj* 7>roy>crly. If you want the correct
II |1 ( thing at the correct price, call and
\ I ,11 & ( examine our large stDck of FALI / y
\ miWJw ml n WINTER WEIGHTS— U
' 1 LATEST STYLES, SHADES
Al II J A Nl> COLORS.
yj Bp K E C K
Fit and Workmanship Guaranteed.
G. F. KECK, Merchant Tailor,
142 North Main Street, Butler, Pa
We Wish to Announce That We Are Having an
OFMEINIING
OF
/Vlid-Winter /Vlillinen) THl weeK.
For the late winter trade we have received a thoroughly new
and 'ip to date stock of everything in the line of Millinery and
Tiimmings and Staple and Fancy Notions. We arc ready to show
you the finest and most complete line of Patterns.
Ladies', Misses' and Children's Trimmed Hats are always a
featuie in our business. We carry the best assortment and greatest
variety of the best shapes of the season—best quality of French Fur
Felt, S'lesian Wools, Chenille Velvet and Monk Fur hats in Short
back Sailors, Walking Hats, Toques, Turbans and Rough Rider ef
fects—all shades and ail grades.
Ostrich Plumes, Tips, Fancy Breasts, Pompons, Birds, Wings,
Aigrrrttes, Winter Foliage—complete in every respect. Our line
Velvet, Velveteen and Velour, Panne (foreign), best made Fancy and
Persian Silks, Fancy Feathers in black and white and natural effects
are very desirable.
ORNAMENTb—See the newest ideas in Rhinestone, Jet, Gold
and Cut Steel.
Infants' Silk, Cashmere and Zephyr Caps are a specialty at our
store. Come and inspect. Style and Price will sell our hats if you
will but yee them
Rockenstein's,
328 South Main Street. ______ Butler, P&
OILS.
LARD,
NEATSFOOT,
CASTOR,
FISH
LUBRICATING,
SPERM,
BLACK HARNESS,
ETC.
OUR PRICES ARE RIGHT
REDICK \ GROH MAN,
109 N. Main St,, Prescription Druggists. Butler, Pa
Pure winter-strained lard-oil is
the best known lubricant for
machinery, as also the best miners
oil obtainable.
Black harness oil keeps leather
| soft and durable and gives it
I color, is equally good for boots
' and shoes.
THE BUTLER CITIZEN.
/ HpILLS\
Eonse r the tor liver, and cure
biliousness, sick 1 headache, jaundice,
nausea, tlon, etc. They are in
valuable to prevent a cold or break up a
fever. Mild, aentle, certain, they are worthy
your confidence. Purely %-egetable. they
can be taken by children or delicate women.
Price 26c. at all medicine dealer® or by mail
of C. X. HOOD Co., Lowell, Mass.
CATARRH
LOCAL 1 DISEASE
and is th® result o* coldr ano , CflterCOWl
sudden climatic changes. Oh
For your Protection ? 'A
we positively state tiiat t.; s -y J? r*
remedy does xr>t contain
mercury or &nj other injur- fifl
Ely's Cream Balm®2^3
is ackuowledced to \>e the roost thoronch cure for
Kaial Catarrh, Cold In liesd and Hay Fevtr of a.l
rerocdiri. It opens and eYanse* the nana) pawaze*.
allays pain and indammat.on. hcala the Bore*, pro
tects the merabrai.e from coM». reatores the f - f-»
•fUCean-Ume::. PrreS--.at Dmcs -'jorbvma.l.
ELY BKOTlliilib, 03 Warren Street, New York.
\ The Cure that Cures [
p Coughs,
v Colds, j
p Grippe, §,
V Whooping Cough. Asthma, 1
;s\ Bronchitis and Incipient A
jjf Consumption, Is
I oTJos]
A Tt\e German remedy" £
P Cur«\.Wtra\. \u?\% &\Mases. j
A a\\ 25&50 as
"Butier Savings Bank
J'tttler, r j a.
Capital - s6o,urjo.oo
Surplus and Profits - - $200,000 co
JOS. LPPRVIS Pr«»idei't
J HENRY TROUTMAN Vjce-Prenide.'it
WM. CAMPRFXL, Jr Caihwr
I.OPIS B.BTF.IN "...le'ler
fHKFUTORS-.liweph
Tro'-.tfoatJ. W. I». I!ran<loii. W. A. Stein, .1 H.
Cfimotiell.
""he Hutler Saving* Bank Is the Oldest
Blinking Institution', n Butler County.
General banklnic business transacted.
We solicit accounts of producers, mer
chants, farmers and others.
entrusted to us will receive
prompt attention.
Interest t<aUl 'in tlin« deposits.
TH K
Butler County National Bank,
Butler Penn,
Capital paiJ in - - fsoo, coo.o
Surplus and Profits - $60,000.0
los. Hartman, President; J. V. Ritts,
Vice President; John G. McMarlin,
Cashier, A. G. Krug, Ass't Cashier.
A general banking business transacted.
I uteres*, paid on time deposits.
Money 1 .aiind on approved security.
We Invite you to open an account with tnu
hank. ....
DIRECTORS—Hon. Joseph Hartman, Hon.
W. H. Waldron, Dr. N. M. Hoover. H. Mc-
Hweeney, C. P. Collins, I. G. Smith, Leslie P.
Hazlett, M. l'lriegm. W. 11. I.arkln. Harry
Heaslev. Dr.'W (J. McCundless. Ben >lns
xeth. W. J. Marks, J. V. Bltts. A. L. Itelbfer
TH K
Farmers' National Bank,
BUTLER, PENN'A.
CAPITAL PAID IN, $100,000.00.
Foreign exchange bought and sold.
Special attention given to collections.
OFFICERS:
JOHN YOIJNKINH President
JOHN HI Mt'HKKV Vice President
C. A. BAII.KY Cashier
K. W. 11l NO H A M Assistant Cashier
J. F. IH T/.LKK Teller
DIRECTORS.
John Youriklris. D. L. < Iceland, E. E.
A brums, C. N. Hoyd, W I". Met/.ger, Henry
Miller, John Humphrey. Thus. Hays, Levi
M. Wise and Francis Murphy.
Interest paid on time deposits.
We respectfully solicit vour business.
DROP I'.'
wJw l\#l of the People's
122-3 ar »d
W. B. McGEARY'S
new wagon, ruuning tojand from his
Steam Carpet-Cleaningi
establishment, will call at your honse
take away your dirty csqicls and return
them in a day or two as clean as new.
All on a summer morning—Carpets,
rugs and curtains thoroughly cleaned on
short notice.
NEW IIOtiHE NEW FCBNITUKR.
sss&
Central Hotel
SIMEON NIXON, JR., 1 „
J. BROWN NIXON, I K
BUTLER, PA
Opposite OourtlllMine.
Next Door to I'sirk Th<;atr«
Sunday Dinners A Specialty.
Meals 25 cts. Rooms 50 cts.
Regular Rates sl.
Local and Long Distance l'hones.
South McKean Street,
Hotel Waverly,
J. W LHAWORTH Pron'r.*
BUTLER, I'A
Stesm Heat and Electric Light
The most commodious office in the
city.
Stablinj; in Connection.
Karl Schluchter,
Practical Tailor and Cutter
125 W. Jefferson, Butler, Pa.
Busheling, Cleaning and
Repairing a Specialty
The Keystone Orchestra,
I# now ready for engagement* for Par
ties, Picnics and Dances, and Guarantee
the best of music at reasonable rates.
Address,
Prof. Gus Wickenhage-i,
1 228 Ziegkr Ave., liutlei, Pa
BUTLER, PA., THL'RSDAV, NOVKMBKR 29, 1900
VVV.VVVV.V.VV.V.VVVYV.V
! JOHN mATE I!
A. t OOPTUIOFTT. 1900. BV WXATHF.RBT CHESWEY AND ALICK MTTSBO. J
f U.LUiTRATIONS BY H. C. COCLTAS. |
A)
* , - «•- ••f
CHAPTER VIII.
The stout ship Bristol Merchant. 118
tons burden. Alexander Ireland, mas
ter, has dropped down the channel in
three tides, has taken her departure
fro:.l Lundy island and is uow well
out of domestic navigation. Astern is
a thin black wavy line rising above
the waste of waters, the last we shall
see of the iron bound coast of Devon
for many a long day. Ahead, now
blocked out of sight by the straining
spritsail beneath the boltsprit. now
dazzling our eyes with its flashing
glory, is the burning yellotv sun, just
diving over the edge of the world,
luring us on, as it were, with visions
of a land where everything is bright
and golden as himself. What a bea
con for a crew of eager gold hunters!
The worthy master. Peter Waltham,
had gladly availed himself of our pro
posal Fitting out began leas than 12
hours after the pagan had told his
tale, and in a fortnight we were ready
for sea. Ninety-three men were lying
about the decks, drunk as lorJs. when
we lirst loosed our two topsails to
drop down the river and three sober
ones and live < fleers. 101 all told, am'
a crew of whir.' we were proud
• •««»•«
We made a bad hunt to begin with,
getting up past the l.teward islauds
and into the great - if wi:!ch ties lie
yond them bef ire Hie wes; A ard course
was given i:p 1 ni convinced
that we had over !mi <e.:r mark and
thai the river of our s. -1: «-Ii was b.-
hind us. Alee gave the tv.nd 10 'bout
ship, and we ma le our way slowly
back a'gnin iu the face « f a teasing suc
cession of easterly winds
The heat at times was awf .1. and
crowded as we were the atmosphere
'tween decks was anything but restor
ing to our unfortunately numerous sick
men. Scarcely three days passed with
out some poor scurvy rotted corpse l>c
ing thrown to tl • ' <. whose black
fins never stlrre our wake.
Matters got we. aud worse till the
grumbling of the crew came to a head
In open mutiny.
The sultry heat of the day was al
most killing. Not a breath of air
tarnished the brazen sea. but over the
mangrove bushes which fringed the
low shore to westward hung a sullen
White steam which shut out the coun
try from our eyes. One would have
thought that the weather *'as too hot
for any exertion that coult" possibly be
avoided, but discord, like the devil, can
live in any elime, and on this broiling
day the sound ones of the crew made
their way aft In a body.
A little Irishman whom Alec had
taken In pity from the streets of Bris
tol. where he was statvlng, was their
spokesman, and bis election to that
post was not undeserved, as he had by
his vaporings stirred up the whole
mutiny.
The brown faced crowd surged
against the break of the poop on which
there were only us five officers and
the steersman standing beside bis Idly
swaying tiller.
"Stop, men! Far enough!" cried Alec
iu authoritative tones. "What Is It
you want?"
"Many things, Masther Captain,"
wild the Irishman, with an Insolent
laugh; "everything a mnn can want
health, comfort and wealth. There's
scurvy marks on Ivery wan av us, an
no wondher, seeln that the only green
food that, has passed the lips av us
since leavln Bristol river Is the sloime
off the wather butts. A daclnt pig
would turn up his nose at our quar
thers. And 11s for threasure, yez might
as well seek It in the great bog av Bal
lyvore as here. So, savin yer honor's
prisence. all hands forrad means to
take a Jaunt ashore on the olland we
dhropped yestere'en an thin to cruise
for what we can git higher up on the
Spanish main. There's 110 call for
throubl-j or head breakln," he added,
turning to the rest of us, "though sure
It would be a pllsant diversion, but
whin a score av honest lads has died
like sheep wid the rot It's toitne for
the rest to spake. An so my mates
here has Insthructed me to say ihat av
they doesn't git their way given, why,
thin they'll Jist take It."
All eyes turned ou Alec, who bad
heard the fellow out with a patience
which surprised me. He went a step
or two farther aft, leaned on the rail
of the little stairway which led to the
cnbln below nnd then answered them,
speaking quietly and without allowing
a tinge of nnnoynnce to show Itself In
his voice.
"You make matters far worse than
they are," be said. "A few men have
died, nnd that I grieve for, but scurvy
always bonrds a ship on a long voyage
like Ibis, and not a man of you but
knew that when he pocketed Ills boun
ty on Bristol quay. Now bear what I
have to say. We must be very near
the mouth of the river we seek, and
we hIuiII find It. For six days the
Bristol Merchant will sail southward.
If by that time the pagan has not
pointed out the river's mouth to you I
shall steer north again and harry tho
Spanish towns. Now back with you to
your own end of the ship!"
A sullen murmur rose among the
crew, and several of the bolder spirits
began to climb the poop ladders, head
ed by the spokesman. Without mov
ing from the cabin stairs Alec hold up
Ills hand for silence. The fools thought
he was going to give way and halted
to listen.
"Hear me!" he cried In ringing tones.
"You think to take possession of the
ship by mere weight of numbers. Well,
"Choline )ur ynuTntlvrx Mutlnrrm altall
never CMmnund llir, lirlgtul Mm hunt."
you may do It, and If you do you may
hold her for perhaps 30 seconds not
more. Before a hand can rench mo I
shall be down this ladder and Into the
tiowder room, and one shot from this"
and he drew a wheel lock pistol from
Mh pocket "will blow us all Into eter
nity together. Choose for yourselves.
Vou know what my word is worth, and
1 swear to you that while Alexander
Ireland lives mutineers shall never
command the Bristol Merchant Now
come on if you will!"
The mob of men wavered a moment
and then drew back slowly to the
waist
"Good!" said Alec. "You think bet
ter of it. But lam going to make an
example of the arch mischief maker.
Send that man aft"
Half by persuasion, half by blows,
the Irishman was forced up the poop
ladder.
"Boafswain, heave him overboard!"
"Aye. aye, sir."
Willie Trehalion's knotted left hand
grasped the little Irishman by the
neck, and his iron hook slipped into the
baud of his breeches. A struggling
body shot through the air, bumped on
the bulwark and slid with a splash into
the warm sea beneath. There was a
scurrying of black triangular fins, a
shriek of agony, a few ruddy bubbles
rising to the oily surface, and the great
est enemy to the ship's peace was si
lenced forever.
A hush fell on the crew. Each man
looked at his neighbor, and then they
all stole quietly forward again and had
the calm continued more mischief
might have been hatched among their
whispering groups. But Alec's keen
eye detected a TO tiling of the glassy wa
ters to the northward, and that was
our salvation.
"Trim sail, the watch!" he cried.
There was not a pause. The men
sprang to their stations, braced round
the yards to catch the first of the com
ing breeze, and in ten minutes we were
bowling merrily along. The mutiny
was a tiling of the past
The wind lifted the mists from the
shore, and l.efore we bad way on the
eliip an hour the p who was stand
itig in the beak. be;;au to dance and ges
ticu.'ate iu the most extraordinary
manner, and pointing with his
liii.:-. rto tii" hind ou our bow. Half a
dozen of r.s climbed Into the round
tops and thence aloft till we perched
ou the yards, from which eminence we
could see a long steellike ribbon of wa
ter stretching away through the dark
forest till it was lost in the haze of the
dim distance.
That shining thread was the river of
riur search. T'p its windings lay the
kingdom of El Dorado and Mauoa, its
capital, the city that was built of gold.
CHAPTER IX.
At the sight of that band of shining
water a spontaneous cheer arose from
every throat on board. Discord and
dissension fled discomfited before the
advance of the visions of wealth that
onr hopes saw mirrored In the glassy
surface of the river.
We hauled our wind somewhat and
suited to the mouth. Job Trehalion
(grinning till his scar jagged up like a
saw) was sent with an eager boat's
crew to sound, and before the first star
»f night had thrown Its reflection in
the water round us we were anchored,
and the ripples that lapped against our
wooden walls bad not n grain of salt In
them. We had left the trackless ocean
to follow where the river should lead
us.
Nets of mangrove roots formed an
Impenetrable thicket on either bank,
though it was no easy task to tell
where the slug flowing water ended
and the liquid mud of the shore began.
Loathsome reptiles which some of us
took to be dragons, till the knowing
ones told us they were only crocodiles
—lay half in and half out of the evil
smelling brown water, winking their
lazy eyes at us and taking charge In a
slow, cumbrous way of every scrap
that was flung overboard. Tree toads
barked, beasts of prey howled In the
distant forests, foul night birds croak
ed from the thickets of the shores, and
from the evil smelling stream there
arose a putrid yellow mist thick and
rank enough to choke one.
"It's a fever trap we've got Into,"
growled Willie Trehalion, shifting his
tangled black wig from the pocket
where he hud carried it during the heat
of the day to his head, "an If we've
no rnore'n half a score o' men down by
morning's light we'll be uncommon
lucky, say I."
"Don't croak, you unsatisfied old ra
ven," said Alec lightly, but he looked
grave none the less.
"The pagan," put In Job, with bis
usual grin, apologetic In meaning this
time, "says this Is only one o' the
mouths, an we s'll opeu Into a great,
broad river >»oon, where you can't see
both banks at once. An there hain't
any o' these yere mists on It, he says,
but llmmlns on the trees an other fruits
enough to feast an army, an all for the
plucking of them."
"Go to the forecastle anil tell them
that. Job," cried Alec, "and Herve out
n good, Htirr dram to all hands and nay
that they can kill the stench by firing
a few grains of powder now and then.
Stay; I'll come with you and tell them
that he who keeps a stout heart may
laugh at fevers. They only attack cow
ards."
lie went forward, and Willie Treha
llon, the other two officers and I went
down to the cabin for our meal, where
we were shortly Joined by Alec, who
reported that the crew were all as mer
ry as pipers at the prospect of making
another step toward our golden goal.
When the meal was over, the devil
came and whispered In my ear at least
on no other view can I explain my folly
In taking up the dice, satan's own
bones, they say -and proposing a throw
apiece to sample our luck, sinister or
dexter.
Alec, saying with a laugh that he did
not believe In such omens, neverthe
less humored our folly. He rattled the
box first and flung on the table deuce
ace.
One of the ofllcers threw n pair of
deucesl
The other threw a pair of aces!
Willie Trehallon threw deuce ace!
The heat had worn off. and the cabin
was full of cold, clammy mist, but the
IM-rsplration streamed from my face as
though the sun were high above our
mastheads. My hand trembled like a
palsied dotard's as I took up the fate
ful leathern box, and for n full minute
I rattled the box without daring to
turn them down.
The others waited In breathless si
lence and watched Intently. At Inst I
took a deep breath, clapped the mouth
of the box down on to the table and
then slowly withdrew It.
"Aces again!" cried Willie Trehallon
"The Lord have uiercy ou me. a sinful
mariner!"
Willie's cry was followed t>y an in
terval of dead silence. We stood star
ing at one another as though spell
bound.
A shout of laughter from the fore
castle broke the charm, and in a burst
of sudden frenzy Alee threw box and
dice together through a porthole into
the fog without and began to chaff us
for our superstitious fears.
"Cheer up. Jack," he cried, clapping
me hard on the shoulder. "The devil
hasn't got us yet."
1 shuddered and drew back without
answering.
"Cotne. come." said Alec, with some
show of anger. "Don't let us have
any more of this nonsense. 1 was a
fool to take any part In your child's
game."
"The Koinan admiral threw his omen
giving chickens overboard," said 1
gloomily, "and two-thirds of his fleet
was destroyed."
Alec turned to me sharply, and there
was a taunting smile on his face.
"Turned pedant. .lack? I didn't know
you were such a scholar. Perhaps
you'll favor us with an account of the
circumstances. The foolish birds re
fused their corn, if I remember rightly.
Correct me if ! am wrong."
"I'm no scholar," I answered angrily,
for his tuuut annoyed me. "Alec Ire
land was the goody boy that did his
lessons."
"While his friends amused them
selves with tap wenches and pastry
cooks' lasses."
"Maybe." said 1 with a sneer. "But
Jack Topp is gallant enough to prefer
a pretty lass to a Greek root any day."
"Both good things in their way. But
tome. Jack, stand up, put your hands
behind you aud tell us all about this
heathen fellow. Don't tremble so, man.
There's no schoolmaster behind you
with the birch. I'll correct all stupid
errors you may make. Ha, ha, ha!"
How long this unseemly wrangle
would have continued I do not know,
probably tHI it came to blows. The
two other officers had been listening
with silent dismay, and honest Willie
Trehalion had been looking from one
to the other and pulling the skin cap
about over his smooth head till his
sconce fairly shone. What It was all
about he knew uo more Mian a powder
tub, but he thought it about time to
break into the quarrel, and maybe he
was none too soon.
"Masters, masters!" he cried. "Ha"
done with this unseemliness! The quar
rel on deck there might be excuse for;
the quarrel down here none. Here
you're going at it tongs an hammer,
hammer an tongs, fathom o' one, six
foot o' t'other, till there baint a bean
to choose between you. And this, too,
when we ought all to be knit together
by reason o' common enemies."
Alec turned away Impatiently, but
he did not. Interrupt the boatswain,
who went on:
"Captain Ireland, many a good ship's
been cast away through her captain
quarreling with his officers. Master
Topp, an officer who can't keep a civil
tongue for Ills superiors ofttlmcs gets
hanged. Job, you graceless loon, what
cause to come grinning down hero
for?"
"Glass run out, uncle. My watch
over."
"Captain Ireland, then It's your next
watch, an I hope you'll pardon an old
mariner for plain speaking when It was
needed."
Without a word Alec left the cabin
and went on deck.
Through the whole of that watch I
lay In my bunk brooding, brooding,
brooding. To quarrel with my sworn
shipmate, and about such a trifle too!
Kool that I was! That we had had a
serious wrangle aud one whose conse
quences might, easily bode 111 for tho
success of our venture there was no
doubt, but on looking back on what
had passed I was almost as much fog
ged as Willie Trehalion to know what
the cause of It all was. Fool. I called
myself, and, again, fool!
Nep came to me and shoved his cold
nose against my cheek, and I rubbed
his coarse, scrubby coat and coaxed
him to He down. I was grateful to
him. for I felt less wretched with a
companion, though he were nothing
but a cat But then Nep was not as
other cats.
After his watch was out Alec came
below, and by the dim light of the horn
lantern which hung to the beams I
could see him pacing the other side of
the cabin thwart ships. He could uot
see me. and I gave no sign of being
awake. Presently be began to smile
to himself, and then, turning his gait,
made straight for my bunk.
"Jack, old boy, I was the bigger fool
of the two."
"No. Alec; I was by far."
"No, I. It wns my throwing the dice
box through the port thut started It."
"I proposed the dice."
"Come, come; we won't dispute
again. I'll test you with jacks of ale."
We tied; I won, nnd from that mo
ment the quarrel was never mentioned.
Next morning nine men were down
with fevers, several others were un
doubtedly sickening for them, aud the
rest were so scared that they were
pretty sure to catch the 111 on the first
opportunity.
There was no wind to drive the fetid
mists awtiy, and so we had to get a
boat and tow the Bristol Merchant up
stream by our own exertions. Any
thing ■was better than letting the men
stand trembling In Idleness. But It
was not till past midday that the stew
ing nlr wns tempered with a breeze
from the sea, which filled our sails aud
gave us headway ngalnst the sluggish
current.
For tlvo days did wo tow, polo and
fall through tills awful canal. Nino
men died. Almost all were sick, and
but for the promise of tlio pagan and
the dread of Alec's pistol In the maga
zine they would have turned the ship's
beak to the sea again at any hazard.
On the afternoon of the sixth day
we opened out Into a broad, clear flow
ing river, and before nightfall we were
anchored In a Hiuig little bay with a
pile of bright colored fruits oil deck,
whose luscious freMhness tempted the
men to bravo a sudden death from
overeating.
None, however, was any the worse
for thin change of diet, though the sur
geon shook his head and suggested a
(rood bloodletting all arouud as a pre
ventive of posnihle evils. The sick
men, except one who was too far gone
to recover, memled i\n though under a
spell.
lulling our voyage up the mighty
stream we were able to revel In fresh
meat, too, for- the forests abounded
In game, and the Devon and Somerset
icen, who lind poached scores of noble
stags on brown, boggy f&xmoor. sent
their cloth yard arrows and the crous
l>ow bolts Into many a line water buck
lis he came from the deep covora, to
gaze wonderlngly with Ills great eyes
on the <1 range craft that was furrow
ing the surface of Ills 'unfilled river.
Ho fat venison stews smoked In the
mess kids, and tough, brine fosslled
bee I became but a distant memory.
The navigation was easy, but slow
Alee was emitjouv aliijiit going ti »i fast
for fear «>r pleL'ng up a shoal and get
ting tightly luibeiUlcd oil It, so he kept
the snip uncier easy canvas, very orxeu
brailing up our courses altogether, un
less there seemed every prospect of a
Jeep fairway.
Thirty-four days of this easy progress
brought us to the great cataract which
barred our farther advance. The pa
gan had told us jf it beforehand, and
we heard the tbinder of the waters a
full day l»efore we rose them. Anx
t i'.is. however, to satisfy ourselves that
rlie b.irrier really was impassable, we
held uu until the current grew too
strong to force the ship against it un
der s::il alone, and then we bore away
into a vast lagoon on the northern
bank, formed by the back swirl from
the fall, and dropped our anchor in the
midst of it
CHAPTER X.
Next sunrise saw 50 of us ashore.
We took nothing with us but our arms
and accouterments, trusting to the
wealth of the forest to provide us with
all necessary provender by the way.
Of the 101 men who had sailed out of
Bristol river 24 had died, aud the re
maining 2L who were all weak from
various ills, were left behind to guard
the Bristol Merchant till our return.
"You will be quite safe," said Alec to
them as they stood about the ship to
watch our departure, "if you keep a
bright lookout. There's small chance
of men disturbing Merchant
in her present berth, and callers won't
be so frequent as to be a nuisance. If
you do have a visit from any one of
the pagan tribes, try kindness first, and,
if that fails, cannon. How long we
may be gone I cannot say, but wait for
us here three years at the least. You
are in a land of plenty. The shores
teem with duck and deer, the waters
ripple with tish. the trees of the forest
are bending with their load of fruit.
Take. then. God's gifts that are offered,
hold [teace among yourselves, keep
your culverins loaded, and no 111 can
befall you or your ship save old age
and the ordinary maladies of life."
The men on the ship raised a cheer.
We answered them from the shore.
And so we parted.
There was no path through these vir
gin forests, for the wild beasts that
held them never retrod their own foot
steps, and man had not as yet pene
trated their solitudes. To force a pas
sage was a work of time and Infinite
ly hard labor. It was hew and hack,
hack and hew, wherever the big trees
flourished, for the llanes which every
where abounded had woven themselves
Into one solid mass of interlacing net
work. It was like breaking through a
never ending wall of the strongest
wlckerwork, and I rather think that
after the first 20 miles of this sort of
tunneling many of our band of 5G en
vied the lazy lot of the 21 who were
left behind to guard the Bristol Mer
chant
On the second day out a piece of
misfortune befell us which left us
without the guide on whom we had re
lied to lead us to the golden city. Our
pagan allowed himself to be bitten
by a venomous serpent and so died.
It was like breaking our compass at
sea, as without this brown fellow for
guide we could only drift, wandering
hither, wandering thither, up moun
tains whose tops were capped with a
hood of glistening snow, through ra
vines where the surging waters hardly
left us standing room, now making
bridges of felled trunks, now twisting
ropes of tough llanes, now killing a deer
for dinner and now taking a great de
light In rolling over a spotted jaguar
who had marked one of us for his own
meal.
It was weary work, though, and there
were times when we almost gave up
the quest In despair, for often after a
long day of painful hacking and hew
ing we bad to go all the way back
egalu to get round a swampy morass
or a precipitous ravine. The disheart
ening almlcssnesß of our toll went very
near to quenching the fires of the gold
en beacon which each man's hopes
held up before his eyes.
Occasionally we would come across
a village of Carlbs or other savages,
and, though they generally Bhowed
fight at first, as soon as they learned
that we were enemies to the Spaniards
they at once became as friendly as pos
sible. Job Trehalion was our Inter
preter, for, having a fancy for giving
orders to his servaut In his own lan
guage, he hnd picked up a great deal
of the pugan speech on the voyage out,
and so now by a mixture of scrappy
sentences and dumb show he was able
to parley with the savages. As none
of the rest of us knew a word of their
talk, Job wns Immensely proud of his
accomplishment, nnd by dint of prac
ticing It on every possible occasion he
eventually became quite a good Inter
preter, or at least If he misinterpreted
we were not competent to point out his
errors.
Weary, weary days they were, and
utterly profitless seemed our search
through these trackless forests. Every
tribe of Indians we met made signs
that they knew Manoa and willingly
pointed out the direction In which they
thought It lay, but a search always
brought us to another village, whose
Inhabitants would In their turn declare
that the golden city lay In a wholly dif
ferent direction.
And so we were sent to the vnle be
yond the mountain chnln, from It to
(lie great river which lies half a moon'a
journey toward the setting sun, from
that to the fire mountain, whose snowy
tippet never melts, and from thnt again
toward the great northern sen. Weary,
weary daysl
But running through nil this concert
of discouragement there was one re
curring harmony which heartened us
and kept us constnnt to our senrch.
All the pagans with whom we spoke
of the golden city gave the same tale
In the main, though they garnished It
with mi Infinitude of conflicting em
bellishments. One would say that the
king was white like us, another that he
was bronze colored like themselves;
this one might say that he ato flesh,
aud that one would swear that his food
was wholly vegetable, but all agreed
that the city lay by a great lake or on
an Island iu the midst of It aud that
the worship of tlu* people somehow
centered on the lake. And, greatest
spur of all to us hungry gold hunters,
nil earnestly affirmed thnt the treas
ures of the city were beyond the power
of man to count.
And why should we disbelieve the
tale? Cortes and bin eouciulstadorcs
found Just such another city and Just
such another worship In Mexico, as
also did i'lzarro and his crew of ban
dits in IVru. No Kuropeiin had ever
trod those paths before tliem, and
when their ships touched the shore of
the now world they had no better evi
dence than an Indian tale to show
them what empires lay beyond. Were
we to be more unbelieving «»r more far
seeing than they and to declare that
the great Inea the pagans told us about
was a myth, a wltl-o'-the wisp or.
worse still, a sorcerer who could vanish
at his pleasure?
We canvassed the question often
over our evening entnpllre. \\ llllc I re
hallon said we were fools and that we
should well deserve a Spanish halter
when at last we felt It challng our
necks. But the rest of us believed
i (,till and so held sturdily on.
Thus we traveled and travailed for
a year and seven months and a week
and two days, till we came to a small
valley, barren as a Norfolk sand bank
and cut up by a brawling rivulet,
which sprawled from side to side
across it. The valley was bounded on
either side by tall, frowning cliffs,
which it would have puzzled a rat to
climb, and it lay on the western flank
of a range of mountains running north
aud south, which we were trying to
cross to what rumor said was the
certain site of Manoa. on the opposite
side.
For a day and a half we tramped
up this stopv desert and then came to
a wall of rock at the head, so steep
that the stream which leaped over'it
was torn by the air fiends to frag
ments in its fall aud dropped into the
pool at the bottom as a rainbow
stricken shower of shimmering mist.
We looked round In dismay. Willie
Trehalion took off his skin skullcap, laid
It on a rock, sat down beside it and
screwing his mouth up into a knot be
gan to whistle dolefully. Job, as usual,
grinned.
Alec went forward to reconnoiter,
hoping to tind some practicable spot,
but in vain. "Back again" was the
word, and with tightened belts, too, for
our provisions were all consumed, and
there was no chance of getting any
more till we came again to the wooded
country we had passed through two
days before.
Such a march, fasting, was enough
to make the cheeriest of us shudder,
but no one grumbled; there was noth
ing to be gained by It. So with an
empty feeling about the waistband and
the comforting knowledge that that
feeling would soon become a gnawing
pain back we trudged, until we came
to the pass where a narrow ledge of
rock, jutting out from the steep cliff
and overhanging the water, bad form
ed our path on the way up. None but
a sailor or a goat could have passed
along it, and, as single file was impera
tive, our procession was straggling.
We were toilfully feeling our way
along this dangerous mouse walk when
a shout of dismay from In front told
us that some accident had happened to
the leaders. The Jutting elbow of
rock prevented us from seeing what
was wrong, but the word was quietly
passed down the line that a large body
of Spaniards held the open ground in
which the track ended and had captur
ed Alec (who was leading) with a
noosed cord before he could draw Iron
in his own defense.
Willie Trehalion and I were bringing
up the rear. The rest struggled back
to us and asked what was to be done.
"They call on us to surrender," said
the lad who had been close on Alec's
heels.
"Knowing that there's no food here,
en knowing we can't come to hobest
blows," added Willie Trehalion, polish
ing his head thoughtfully, "the dons
lave us on the hip. Master Topp."
"What do you advise, Willie?" said I.
"Don't know." he answered. "I'd
liefer die, though, than yield to the
Spanish devils."
"Quick, thcu!" I cried. "Follow me,
those who dare, and let the rest guard
the path."
It was a desperate chance that I
tried, but It was Just possible that
lome of us might be able to flounder
through the rocks and falls and rapids
ind so come out on the Spaniards far
ther down the river. If we could only
ake them tinnwares from behind, we
might get the better of them yet And
*o, with 40 of the stout fellows after
me, I slipped into the tearing current
Sometimes we swam, sometimes we
waded, sometimes we were borne along
like so many helpless logs of wood,
down cataracts and through eddies,
Every trlhc of Indiana we met made sbjnt
that they knew Manoa.
and of those that escaped ifrowning flit
were bruised aud battered till their
flesh was like a jelly or their bones
broke like water rotted twigs. And of
the survivors, though It is wormwood
even now to speak It, as the current
carried their half drowued bodies
ashore not one escaped instant or sub
sequent capture
(TO BK CONTINUED.]
The IMnce of flir Hurl.
Mrs. Mlnata Walter Myers, In her
"Itooionce and Keallsm of the South
ern Gulf Coast," gives au account of
one of the last challenges to a duel
which occurred In Louisiana. The af
fair was between M. Marlgny, who be
longed to one of the oldest families of
LoulNlatiu, and a Mr. Humble, a Bturdy
ex-blacksinltb of Georgia, who had be
come a man of political consequence.
M. Marlgny took offense at some re
marks of the Georgian and sent him a
rhallengo. The big ex blacksmith was
nonplused.
"I know nothing about tills 0' 'ling
business," he said. "I will not fight
him."
"You must," said his frlcrul. "No
gentleman can refuse."
"I tin not a gentleman," replied tho
honest son of Georgia. "I am only a
blacksmith."
"But you will bo ruined If you do not
fight," urged his friends. "You will
have the choice of weapons, and you
can choose so as to give yourself an
equal chance with your adversary."
The giant asked time In which to
consider the question and ended by ac
cepting. He sent the follow! 04 reply
to M. Marlgny:
"I accept, and In the exercise of iny
privilege, I stipulate that the duel shall
take place In Lake I'ontchartraln, In
six feet of water, sledge hammers to
be used ns weapons."
M. Marlgny was about live feet, eight
Inches In height, and his adversary
was seven feet. Tho conceit of the
Georgian so pleased M. Marlgny, who
could appreciate a Joke as well ns per
petrate one, that he declared himself
satisfied, and tho duel did not tako
place.
Rubber Neck—Now, what's the dif
ference between the Atlantic and Pa
cific oceans?
Sage of the Nea —Tho United Slates.
"Pa. I know that ma wants ine to be
come a sleight of hand artist." remark
ed the light of tho household, who was
Just about to shift for himself.
"Infinite rot!" stammered the dls
gusted pater.
"Well," was the reply, "she tells me
1 should learn always to keep some
thing up my alcove." —Yonkera lleruld.
No. 47
PEACH CULTURE.
IVotea From One of sew Jtrfrj'n Moat!
SorrrsNful Grower*.
In a very practical paper read before,
the New Jersey Horticultural sociot.rj
Mr. S. S. Yoorbees advised concerning
peacb orchards:
At the time of setting trim off all the
branches ami cut back the main stem,
to about two feet. During the sum-j
mer rub off the buds, allowing but oil©
shoot to grow. The following spring
leave live buds as near together as pos
sible around this stem about 3VB feet
from the ground. After that trim year
ly aud when you think you have A'im
ined sufficiently take off as much more.
As the Irishman said. "Cut off the big
limbs while they are small.'' There is
little danger of trimming too much.
Make tin- tree the shape of an egg with
the big end up. If you trim thorough
ly. there will be less need of thinning
the fruit. 1-ast summer I picked 14
peaches that occupied as little space
on the limb as in the basket. But the
liuil) that bore the fruit was not cov
ered by half a dozen other limbs. The
fruit had room to develop, and every
peach came to perfection.
But thinning Is sometimes necessary.
It Is a good rule that if there are 1,000
peaches on a tree to take off at least
half. Three hundred peaches will
make three baskets of medium sized
fruit and five if they grow large. And
your chances of getting large fruit are
Increased by the thinning, which
should be done In June before the pit
begins to harden. If any one has the
patience to pick off the surplus fruit. I
would advise him to pick off that
which hangs under the limbs, as that
which grows above the limbs will
stand bad weather much better. A
much quicker way is to use a pole.
One or two sharp blows against the
larger limbs will cause the fruit to fall.
I have found the hay rake the most
effective means for removing the
brush. Hake It to open spaces in or
at the edge of the orchard and burn at
once. If sufficient trimming is done
each year, the removal of the brush
will give little difficulty.
Support FOP Tomatoes.
Tomatoes need a benchlike support,
so that the vines can spread out to the
sun and air and yet be held up from
the ground. An excellent plan Is
WIRE A KITING SUPPORT FOR TOMATOES.
shown in the cut from The Farm Jour
nal. A low, wooden support like that
shown la placed at Intervals of eight
feet along the row, and across the top
Is stretched two strips of 12 Inch wire
poultry netting, leaving space between
for plants to grow up through.
Irrigation of Cabbajre, Etc.
On a farm near Boston where celery,
beets, lettuce, early cabbage and other
market garden crops are irrigated es
pecial success has been experienced in
the Irrigation of early cabbage, accord
ing to a writer In American Agricultur
ist. It has been found that the first
crop could be got off early and the
ground wet for the seeds or plants for
the second crop, thus securing two
large crops in one season. Early cab
bage is irrigated by flowing water be
tween the rows. Mr. Stoddard's motto
Is, "Wet thoroughly or not at all." He
has doubled the early cabbage crop for
several successive years, as proved by
leaving a plot not irrigated, and has
harvested the cabbage in time to set
out celery-
Honey Ptrkicn.
Where extracted honey can be sold
to consumers In CO pound lots not at
fancy prices a wooden pall answers our
purpose quite well. Enough of second
hand candy pails may bo picked up
during the summer at our different
grocery stores to store several tons of
honey. Their cost Is only 10 cents, and
tliey need but little cleaning.
I have used regular butter tubs for
the same purpose. The wooden pall I
would not till until the honey Is about
ready to granulate. As soon as it is
■olid the covers may be nailed on and
the net weight marked on each of the
packages, when they will bo ready to
ship, says F. Greluer In American Bee
Journal.
Fred For a Few Hods.
The eastern farmer who keeps a few
hogs to use up ills skimmllk and other
farm waste does not wanl his hogs
running about and usually has no more'
pasture than he needs for his other
Btock. But with a little labor he can
have all the advantages of the pasture
without Its Inconveniences. Let him
take a small patch near the pig yard
and sow a part of it with flat turnips.
They may not be lit to send to market,
but if they are wormy tho hogß will eat
them and be glad of them. Then plant
another part to sweet com and when
the turnips are gone begin to cut up tho
rorn and throw a handful Into the pen
every day.
Agricultural Brevities.
Delaware and Maryland farmers
have formed a farmers' produce asso
ciation for the purpose of systematiz
ing and economizing In the handling of
fruits and vegetables aud to secure
honest packing of every package of'
produce IcaviDg their farms.
Spray with parls green for canker
worm in («pi.le orchards.
The buckwheat crop Is said to be
steadily decreasing In this country, and,
one reason suggested for this Is the lar
ger use within the past few years of
cereal preparations, especially wheat.
Side I.lKht* on Life.
Conscience makes cowards of US all—
unless we are lawyers.
Some men rise because of their grav
ity, and some sluk because of their lev
ity.
If you would keep your enemies from
knowing any harm of you, don't let
your friends know any.
An old bachelor says that a man Is
sometimes ininured by the same kind
of extravagant dressing in a woman
that he kicks about after murrlage.—
Chicago News.
Mint Tow n Men Need Rxerolie.
When a farmer comes to town to at
tend a circus, he brings his youngest
team und ties It on the uialn street
where the parade will pass. Then he
goes (iff to enjoy himself, knowing that
when the purade passes live or six
town men will hold his horses.—Atchi
son Globe.
The Abunrdlty of It.
"I tell you," said the practical clti
sen, speaking with emphasis, "the se
cret of permanent roads is"—
"How did you get the Idea that I was
interested In the subject of permanent
roudsY" interrupted the paving con
tractor, with a frosty smile.—Chicago
Trlbuuu. <