Vasco, Our Little Panama Cousin

one morning a few days later, "I want

t want to get up

er, "you'll want something to

as the process of dressing was a very short one wi

me to get this m

and rice and half a yard of beef," his m

did not think so, though, for in Panama beef, instead of being sol

all ready to start h

with you?"

if you want

tted out of the hous

, for her visits to the market, especiall

ing over there," said the little

ong, and at night, when their masters and mistresses have sold all their stock, they r

cted Inez's attention, and

ed and yellow and green and bright colours of al

ne his errands and with Ine

sco would go out with his mot

earned, they went to the plaza and listen

itary duties, and would go with his family. Then Vasco was supremely happy, for he was extremely proud of t

ch patriotic music had been played at these conce

family except little Carlos were listening to Vasco's tales of the sights he had seen in

erested in what Vasco said about the t

often hid their ill-gotten gains in caves in the sand on the shore or upon some barren island. Then they sailed away, and sometimes never returned to secure their treasure. If the st

hidden gold. I remember hearing my grandfather tell of a neighbour wh

onfided to an old countryman, a carpenter by trade, t

ors whom Enrique and I know have mentioned it. The island is sever

e dying pirate gave him. He thought surely that his fortune was made. No more hard work for him! All he

e him, father, do

up a pot or two of gold myself, though I don't believe that we take so muc

ld be necessary to have a ship, a good store of provisions, and tools with which to do the digging, to say nothing of a company of men to help him. All this required much money, and our poor ca

band of men who made up the carpenter's com

with a dense growth of trees and vines, the search was a heartless task from the beginning. The men, howe

d?" asked Vasco, his face

st, box, silver, or gold was found. Day after day the search continued. Finally the provisions becam

rd. You would have wondered what it was, and perhaps have been a little fr

quake!" c

et. A startling clatter breaking the stillness of the evening proved

" cried the lieutenant, and

en, and, while the mother rushed into the bedroom after Carlos, Va

whole family w

Vasco's father. "The tiles are li

where they were quickly surrounded by a noisy

eks and moans of frightened women and children were accompa

cite pity in the most hardened breast. It was only by the utmost efforts and constant reassurance that no harm would com

mily returned within their house none the worse for the adventure, and went to bed, but many of their neighbours lingered in th

night by a terrible shock. The darkness always adds intensely to the terror of the people. On this occasion men and women of all class

nd the air quivered as it had never done in the memory of the inhabitants. Many houses

r several nights the plaza was occupied by tents and all sorts o