Vasco, Our Little Panama Cousin

l-shaped. His long, coarse, straight black hair hung loosely upon his shoulders. He was not very tall, but ou

ins. This, too, probably accounted for his living alone. He was a member of the Tule or San Blas tribe of Indians, which not many years ago liv

successfully their attacks. In consequence, he had no love for the white man. His hatred, however, did not include

ming between his thin lips. He gave them a warm welcome, and invited them into th

co, "and Enrique said you would be glad to sho

o hot. Go in and lie down. By

ven up to Harlan, while Vasco and Enrique made themselv

his deliberate way, to prep

companions, "that this place where there wer

ing air-castles or dreaming over past events. The historic associations of this place brought to his mind much

ss about the history of the country and of their ancestors than did their American friend. But Vasc

very many people li

f the Pacific Ocean Balboa founded the city, and thousands o

Indians, but he happened to think that Vasco and Enrique were both descen

ond their wildest dreams, and right here where you see th

sco, "how did it happen that the c

am not sure that I could tell it

sure we would both like to hear how Old Panama was destroyed. You may be certain that n

ularly over the control of the sea and its commerce. It was a long fight between the English and the Span

hen it came to a fight neither side stopped to ask which was right or wrong. The men who sailed the ships on both sides

the Spanish vessels even at times when the nations were supposed to be at peace, though of course with no d

never heard about this Morgan, though I have heard my father say that some of his

from books of adventure that father has given me. If you only could read English I woul

ld pirate chief himself was a Welshman, and if I rem

r, and so he left home when quite young. He joined t

se of his awful cruelty to his enemies in later years. He fel

Enrique. "I've heard my father tell some things abou

ings of slaves in Morgan's time. Probably his case was no better than others, but, as matters turned out, he succeeded after a time in getting

treasure-ships in these waters. You can easily imagine that Morgan's part in this business wasn't small. He never t

ved his booty, and in a little while was able to buy a ship. In thi

was in command of a fleet of fifteen vessels, with over five hundred men,-men

on the land, and a good many native and Spanish settlements in the West Indies and on the shore of South or Central America suffered. Wherever the pirates suspected Span

sco, who, though interested in Morgan's history, wa

y could not capture Panama, which was then the chief city of all this region, and was famous everywhere

ed as it was, and defended by Spanish soldiers. But they didn't know much about the spirit w

rovisions, they took up their long march through forests and over the mountains and across the streams. They could not move very fast, and the men were nearly starved. I remember

ow was wondering if Juan had dinner nearly ready, could not restrain an exclam

d, then dipped in water, and afterward beaten between stones. The morsel would then be b

out parties of soldiers to meet them and hinder their march, though the defenders of Panama knew very well that they would lose a pitched

to find anything to eat whi

rts of this city. What they saw there was very pleasing to these hungry men. On the broa

made a rush for t

rlan, "and so hungry were the men that th

what a shout went up! The pirates, tired as they were, tossed their caps in the air and rushed forward with cheers. Drums were

but their leader gave wiser counsel, and the pirates went into ca

d to attack the city," said Vasco, "for there mus

his real thought. He simply said: "The pirates were the most desperate men on earth, and in their position it

ts of schemes to defend the city. Among other things, they collected a great herd of bulls and drove them into

lains who were greedy for gold. No mercy was shown, and death was

ely the search for treasure was begun. Every house and building was ransacked, and if any inhabitant

ed those who were unable t

stores of silver and gold, in many houses they were unable to find anything of value. This was because some

father tell of seeing people come here to dig for buri

o, sharply. "I want to hear how Morgan succe

fire to the city. At the same time they went on killing the people. Special vengeance was visited on the prie

land and in the harbour. It is said that when he finally left the pl

Morgan finally

ed by King Charles the Second of England as deputy governor of Jamaica. Afterw

h for him!" was

he doorway of the hut. "Come, boys,

m cared to refuse, and they respon

er with Vasco's boiled eggs, potatoes, plaintains, and all sorts of vegetables and fruit. The sail and the long

about the best tasting fish I ever ate.

the compliment, but a significant look and a grunt of satis

ar draught he added a seasoning of chili pepper. This he drank boiling hot,-a process which would have terribly scalded the

told them that in years gone by it was the fashion of his forefathers to sit upon the

OF THE OLD

ploration of the old city. This was agreed to by the others, and under Juan's guidanc

ry ground, and how back and forth Spaniards and buccaneers had swept in bloody battle. All the military ardour which had been born in his breast was aroused, an

d that here was a market-place, and there was the residence of some rich old Spanish trader. Over

boys went and gazed with awe upon the ancient altar on which Pizarro, the adventurous explorer

nd it was Enrique who discovere

he said to Vasco, "if we a

s anxious to start immediately, for he knew

took up their homeward march across the old bridge and along the coast. Not so much tim

e blue waters of the bay. The sail was a delightful one, the cool breeze fanning their cheeks while the slanting rays of

negro labourers was busily transferring the freight from its capacious hold to the cars which stood alongside on the dock. On the other side of the Isthmus the process would hav

t went on in Panama. A small schooner from up the coast had brought in a cargo of live pigs for the Panama market. The vessel was not made fast to a wharf and the pigs taken out over a gangplank, but it was moored as

ng to Vasco and Harlan, and they watched with glee the u

ing pigs those a

Vasco

are, and what lon

that the way

t they could hardly move. These pigs are not at all like them; though I have he

him. Not long afterward he went to bed, thoroughly tired, but very much pleased with his day's outing. If he dreamed