Their Mariposa Legend | Page 3

fleet, and if so be that
we must fight, thou wert better hidden in the cave. We shall see."
Bending her head in mute acquiescence the girl moved away to join the
group of women now almost ready to depart.

Meantime the vessel's long boat, driven onward by the stout arms of
three strong sailors, steadily approached the bay.
"What think'st thou then, Rufus Broadmead, of this fool's errand to the
savages?" inquired one of these, resting upon his oars for a moment
that he might the better listen to the tumult on the shore. "Wot ye not
that if water had been the only boon he craves the captain had fared
much better on the mainland? Besides, did not I myself overhear the
Apache only yesterday tell him of a certainty that the tribes over there
were away on the warpath? But no, by the mass, here must we risk our
precious scalps to row into the very teeth of the heathen, and that to
humor the whim of as obstinate an Englishman as ever sailed aboard
Her Majesty's fleets!" and without awaiting any reply he lowered his
oars in disgust.
The others laughed.
"Hast been, then, so stupid, brother Giles, for all thy listening with thy
big ears, as not to know 'tis Spanish treasure ever and naught else our
captain seeks? Water, - pouf!" the speaker made a rough grimace,
"water may well serve as an excuse, and what to bold Sir Francis were
the lives of half a dozen seamen when booty for the queen lies in the

balance? The Apache told him, too, - thou see'st thou hast not played
the listening game alone, for, hiding behind the fo'castle door myself, I
heard him say it, - that here lay that famous island, San - how is't they
call it? San Catlina - I know not how 'tis spoken, - some Spanish lingo
not fit for English tongues! At any rate 'twas here your Spanish robber,
Don Cabrillo, and, for the matter of that, his precious son as well,
stopped to seek direction ere they found the land of gold. The savage
sware besides they were a gentle tribe, not given to war and murder like
the rest. I hearkened well, forsooth, knowing past doubt I would be een
one o' those chosen to try 'em out. The devil take the Apache an he
lied," he added fiercely, "I'll break his head across till even he shrieks
out for help when I get back!"
He paused to gaze fearfully at the stern cliffs now looming close at
hand, beneath which the excited natives still ran back and forth,
pointing with frantic gestures at the boat.
The third man spoke. He was smaller than the other two and darker,
with a sly look about his eyes and mouth in strong contrast to the bluff
frankness of his comrades. So far he had appeared content to listen in
amused silence, but now with a short laugh he interrupted.
"The Apache did not lie. This is the island Santa Catalina, though that,
mark you, is not the Indian name. And right well can the chief who
rules here direct our captain also to the goldfields of the north. But
hearkee, comrades. 'Tis not Drake will reap the profits this time!" He
lowered his voice mysteriously as though fearful of being overheard,
albeit nothing was nearer than his two companions and the clear, green
stretch of water. "Have ye not observed the boy who travels with the
captain? - the boy I serve, - the one they call Sir Harry? To my mind,
cub though he be, 'tis he who rules the ship. Hast never noticed how the
great Drake himself bends to his slightest wish?"
"Aye, marry, that have I! And who, then, is he, think'st thou?" inquired
the man who had spoken first.
"Some close kin to the queen, - that much I know," the other answered
quickly, "the heir to some great dukedom, mayhap, in disguise to see

the world and make a fortune. 'Tis his desire we land, so much he told
me, and 'tis to learn more than directions, my hearties, and that I'll
warrant ye! But, look ye, the water grows too shallow! We can use the
oars no longer."
And even as he spoke the boat grated upon the pebbles. An incoming
breaker would have carried it ashore, but before the sailors could take
advantage of this help or even so much as ship their oars, half a dozen
swarthy youths had waded out and, with shouts and gestures, whether
of welcome or hostility the Englishmen had no means of knowing,
pushed it high upon the beach. At once, then, for well they realized the
danger of delay, and with a stolid courage