170 WILD SPOETS m THE SOUTH. 



where she has dropped her young. Thus along the bald 

 cliff dashes back and forth the mother eagle, when from 

 below she sees the hunter patiently climbing. 



" The night gradually passed away. The big wave 

 that the Southern tribe declares comes landward when 

 the god of night turns to go back in the sea, had bro- 

 ken along the shore with a hollow roar, and the marsh 

 rosemary had turned its petals to the east to await the 

 rising sun. 



" Yachilane noted these tokens of the hours. She had 

 taught them all to Ortez, and they had heeded them 

 many a night when fishing in the lagoons. He had nar- 

 rated for her the legends of Spain, and the wild Moorish 

 pranks that haunted the old towers of his native town, 

 when the chimes tolled midnight. She had plumed for 

 him his arrows, and softened his tongue to the liquid 

 accents of her language ; and he in exchange had sung 

 her fairy tales, and drawn on the sand the outlines of 

 great houses and sailing ships. He was a handsome man. 

 How his great moustache curled over his chain mail! 

 How he took the arrows and gave the blows in battle ! 

 How proud she had been at village galas ! How sad at 

 distant forays ! How her heart had yearned to him in 

 that second love, when his child had tugged at her 

 breast, and they three had laughed together ! 



"Sad thoughts these to the bitter woman, and she 

 stopped in her walk, and leaned against the palm- 

 biees. 



"Yell, and curse, and seething iron probed in the 



