THE PIRATES IN CUBA.-BY A TRAVELLER, ON THE RAILS.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 29, 22 July 1867, Page 4

THE PIRATES IN CUBA.-BY A TRAVELLER, ON THE RAILS.

(Continued from our last.) “My dear, we must not refuse hospitality to a stranger because we do not like his looks.” “ But you know, grandmamma, we read that ‘ the face is an index to the mind.’ Is it not so 2 ” “ Not always, my child,” xe Then, perhaps, I don’t read that senor’s face aright; if I did, I should tremble.” “ Tremble child!—for what 2 ” “Because I should read murder, and rapine, and everything that is wicked in it.” ‘ The saints be with us, my child ! Go to your studies, and dismiss such foolish thoughts. Did you ever hear anything so absurd, Rosalie 1 ” asked the senora of the eldest sister. “It is silly of Isidora. I dare say, grandmamma; but I confess I do not like that senor’s look it almost frightened me it is so fierce.” “Well, Rosalie you are almost as absurd as your sister, and the padre must talk to you both. I cannot refuse shelter to a person oppressed by the sun’s heat simply because two silly children fancy they do not like is looks.” “I am sorry if I have offended, dear .grandmamma; but do not command us to see that senor again.” “ There is no necessity for your seeing him again; indeed, it would be indecorous for you to do so, as he is a perfect stranger to us; but he must remain here until the heat has moderated, if he pleases to do so.” The young ladies retired, and shortly afterwards the servant who had attended Pinto conducted him back to the apartment in which the aged mistress of the house was sitting occupied with her embroidery. •“ Well, senor, I hope you have recovered from the fatigue that oppressed you. Is it so ? Pray be seated.” “ Thanks, senora, for your kindness; but I must still crave shelter until the intense heat subsides.”

“Youare welcome, senor; but if you ■would prefer it, the carriage shall be brought round to take you to the city.” “ I prefer to walk, senora, as soon as .the air is cool enough." “The senor shall do what is most agreeable, certainly,” said the old lady with a slight bow to the supposed Englishman. “ Beautiful island this,” observed Pinto after a short pause. “It is, indeed, very beautiful. The senor is from Europe, I understand ? ” “ No, lady, I hail from America,” replied the pirate.

“ And are of the sea, are you not, senor ? ” “ Yes, of the sea, ever since I was a lad; ” the word “ lad ” seemed to vibrate through his brain—it sounded so very like the voice of the fisherman, when speaking to his hoys. Diaz rinto fancied he heard a gurgling sound in his throat, and looked wildly around him, “ Surely the senor is ill!—a spasm—•only a spasm—it is over now.” The mistress of the house resumed her enbroidery, and sat silent. She was evidently not pleased with the manner of the stranger, whose appearance as a master of a merchant vessel was scarcely sustained by the roi gh ness and ill-concealed coarseness of ins address. The silence became embarrassing. At length, the senor observed—- “ You have been long at sea, then, senor ? ” “Yes, since last—yes, senora, for more than thirty years.” “ And have you visited Cuba before ?” “ Oh, yes, I have touched at Havana with a cargo several times.” “ Indeed, senor!—and from Europe ?” “Yes.” *

“ And are you now direct from Europe, senor ? ” “ No; I crossed from Rio Yes, senora, direct from Europe. While speaking, the hound that licked the blood from his hand, and could with difficulty be kept from him, "bounded into the room, and again began smelling the hand and the sleeve of Pinto. “ Down, beast, down; there’s no more there’s no more: curse- ” “ Senor!” “Pardon me, senora. We seamen are hut rude company for ladies. I had some biscuit in my hand, when this dog saw me coming from the forest just now, and I gave it to him, and you see he wants more.” ‘ How very strange! I never knew the animal would touch biscuit. Jacopa.’ “ Senora! ” “ Bring a biscuit for Nero.” The biscuit was brought; but the dog would not notice it. “ There! Nero will not take it. How very odd, senor ? Perhaps you will be pleased to offer it.” Pinto took the biscuit, and offered it with the same ill success.

The dog continued trying to lick the hand of tne pirate, thrust his nose up the sleeve of his coat, and sniffed so long and so strongly, that he became unendurable.

“If I had you to myself, young gentleman, I would sood put a stopper on 'T'anriiose,” muttered Pinto.

“ Did the senor speak ? ” “ I observed how valuable such a dog must be in .a place like this,” rejoined the Captain. “ There are ten kept on the estate,” said the lady; “ they are of pure breed —the true Cuban bloodhound—and their sagacity and courage are wonderful. The senor will now 1 take refreshment ? ”

“ You are too kind, senora. T I have no need at present.” “ Then the senor will excuse my absence. The servants will be attentive, if summoned, should you require them.” The aged lady rose and left the apartment.

Diaz Pinto threw himself upon a couch, and endeavoured to bury memory in sleep. It was impossible to do so. That man had shot down, and hacked and hewed to death scores of his fellowcreatures on the decks of his prizes, or those of his own pirate craft, without compunction or remorse. It is true he was then surrounded by a gang of infuriated demons, whose eagerness in the gratification of ther cruelty or their lust left them no time for thought. But he was now alone, and no congenial spirit was near to divert his thoughts from the most terrible of all objects—himself.

Even as he seemed to doze off, the face of the murdered fisherman, covered with gore, met is mental sight; if he turned his head, and dozed again, there were the two lads, whose imploring looks, upturned to heaven, scared his vision. He could not rest there.

The hell he had so often talked of and laughed at had been transferred to his own bosom, with all its torments multiplied a thousandfold. The Senora del Orchellana, on leaving Diaz Pinto, had joined her granddaughters who were with their governess, busy with their studies.

“Do not let me disturb you, dears, I shall bring my embroidery, and sit with you this morning.” “ Thanks dear grandmamma—you are so kind. Has that senor gone yet ? ” “No, love.” “ I wish he would go, I cannot bear the idea of seeing him again—he is so very terrible.” “ You are very foolish, senoretta. I cannot say that I am prepossessed in his favour; but I cannot have the person sent out under this burning sun, Isidore.’ “ I am sure, grandmamma; some evil will occur through that senor.” “ Nonsense ! nonsense, idle child. I must beg of the Senora Governante to give you a punishment-task, if you persist in continuing so foolish and prejudiced.’ “ I cannot help it, grandmamma; and Rosalie thinks as I do, though she has not yet said so. Do you not, Rosalie ? ” “It isquite true, senora, that I shuddered when that man came to the house, and fixed, as I thought, his eyes upoh me while he was addressing you. Oh, I do not like his look or his manner at all!’

“ Well, well, my dear; the sun will soon he less oppressive, and he will then go, doubtless. But I wish the padre nad been here this morning, or that your brother had remained last night. There—don’t notice me—proceed with your studies.”

And the old lady settled down to her embroidery, which she intended to adorn the altar of Santa Maria, in the church of St. lago, as, probably, a last testimony of her piety and devotion to the saints. * ♦ ♦ Pinto could hear the solitude of kis own thoughts no longer—he summoned an attendant.

The man came into the room, followed by Kero, who sprang towards the pirate and tried to lick his hands.

“ Curse this dog! ” exclaimed the murderer, thrown off his guard for a moment. “ Take him away, or I’ll cut his throat!” “ Senor!—what ? ”

“The hound is troublesome, my hand: can’t you keep him out of the room 1 ” “Nero is accustomed to run all over the house, senor, and was not like this before.”

“ Well take him away now, and come back to me. There, take this half-dollar.” Thanks, senor,” said the man, as he led Nero out. In a few minutes he returned. “ Shall I bring the senor refreshment?’ “ No; 1 want nothing: Come here. Whose house is this ? ” “ The Senora del Grchellana—my lady, “Ah ! and thnt is the senora—l have seen her ? ” “ Yes, senor,” “And who are those two girls ?” “Ihe senorettas are my lady’s grandchildren.” “ Oh! that’s it—they are very pretty.” “Yes, senor.” “How old is the tallest one ?” “Senoretta Rosalie is just seventeen, “ I thought so. You have a pretty place here.” J “Yes, senor ; very pretty.” “Are the grounds extensive ?” “They reach to the mouth of the creek, beyond the rocks yonder.” “ Have you no master here ? ” “Yes, senor; the young Senor del Grchellana is our master.” “And he lives here, of course?” ( T °> senor jheis at the college in town.” “At school, eh ? How old is he ? ”

“A year older than Senoretta Rosalie.’ “Yes. This is a portrait of the senoretta, is it not ?” “ It is, senor ? ” “ And a pretty creature she is too.” “ Senor! ” “You have a great many people upon the estate, I suppose ? ” “ Not a great many, senor.” . “It must be dangerous here sometimes, I imagine ? ” “ No, senor; no danger comes near us with the dogs on guard.” “ They are fine animals certainly. What are you called ? ” “ Pedro, senor,” . “Well, Pedro, bring me a glass of sherbert and a biscuit.” While the man went for the purpose, Pinto stocd gazing upon the portrait of Rosalie. “ She’s a duced deal to pretty to be shut up here with that humbling old fool, her grandmother. She’ll be just the thing for the cabin for a cruise or two, and then the fellows, forward may have her, to set them cutting one anotliers throats for first choice. There’s nothing like a pirate craft for finishing off a girl’s education I Hold on, Diaz-Pinto; she’ll ibe a prize worth carrying off; make haste and find a cage for the pretty bird! ” The servant, Pedro, entered the room with refreshments, followed by Jacopo. “ Will you go to your Lady,” he said to the latter, “and say I shall be glad to thank her for her hospitality, and depart ? ” In a few minutes the aged lady entered the room by an opposite door. “She’s the very thing to amuse a fellow, and I’m blessed if I ”

“ Senor! I believe you requested to see me—is it so 1 ” asked the lady, who indistinctly heard something that sounded like a vulgar oath. (To be concluded in onr next)