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Higginson, Thomas Wentworth, 1823-1911

"Tales of the Enchanted Islands of the Atlantic"

From that moment the youthful pair met no more for weeks. It seemedalways necessary for Luis to be occupied elsewhere than in the Cathedralcity; as the best architect on the island, he was sent here, there, andeverywhere; and the six other churches rose with more rapidity because thearchbishop preferred to look after his own. The once peaceful nativesfound themselves a shade less happy when they were required to work allday long as quarry-men or as builders, but it was something, had they butknown it, that they were not borne away as slaves, as happened later onother islands to so many of their race. To Luis they were always loyal forhis cheery ways, although there seemed a change in his spirits as timewent on. But an event happened which brought a greater change still.A Spanish caravel was seen one day, making towards the port and showingsignals of distress. Luis, having just then found an excuse for visitingthe Cathedral city, was the first to board her and was hailed with joy bythe captain. He was a townsman of the youth's and had given him his firstlessons in navigation. He had been bound, it seemed, for the CanaryIslands, and had put in for repairs, which needed only a few days in thequiet waters of a sheltered port. He could tell Luis of his parents, ofhis home, and that the northern part of Spain, under Arab sway, washumanely governed, and a certain proportion of Christian churches allowed.


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