SAINT AUGUSTINE.

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CHAPTER I.

THE DEPARTURE.

EARLY in Spanish American history, Havana, Cuba, became a flourishing commercial city, eclipsing all competitors, until she reached what she is to-day, the metropolis of the West Indies. As early as 1561, before any permanent settlement had been made within the present territory of the United States, Havana was doing a flourishing trade, and her magnificent harbor was crowded with ships from Europe. The magnitude of America was still unknown. As yet the Spaniards were the only people who had crossed the ocean to plant colonies on the western hemisphere. The West

Indies had been subjugated, Darien was under the dominion of Spain, and Mexico and Peru, those wonderfully civilized empires, were subjugated by the Spaniards with a sacrifice of life and cruelties shocking to the modern historian. Other nations of Europe were becoming aroused to the importance of American discoveries. Magellan's expedition around the world had established the proof that the earth was globular, a fact disputed by learned men about half a century before. The Cabots, sailing in the interest of England, and seeking for that chimerical northwest passage, which even modern navigators believe to exist, explored the Atlantic coast and Labrador. Verazzani, Cartier, and others, sailing under the French flag, had made some discoveries and taken possession of what is now Canada in the name of New France; but, as yet, there had been only discoveries. No permanent settlement had been formed except by the Spaniards.

All Europe, at this moment, was quaking with. internal strife, which had much to do with deterring others from taking part in the conquests of America. The world was just on the eve of a revolution in religious thought. At the opening of our story Europe was just entering on the most important period of the world's history since the advent of the Saviour, the great Reformation.

Religious discussions as yet had not disturbed the New World. The Spaniards were a people of one faith. To them, the Roman Catholic Church was the door to heaven, guarded by St. Peter, and the only entrance for the soul into that eternal rest. To rebel against the church established by the Apostle Peter, from whom the Pope, in regular succession, received his authority, was, to the Spaniard, equivalent to a rebellion against God. puted questions were in those days settled by argument or the sword, and more frequently by the latter than the former. With religious feelings aroused, the quarrel became personal, and the persecutions bitter, while the oft-repeated words of the Master, "Peace and good will` toward men," seemed to be forgotten..

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To the Cubans, the struggle in Europe was a holy war, and many a battle-scarred pioneer, who had fought under Cortez, Pizarro, and De Soto, wished himself in Europe to take part in the struggle. The groans from Piedemonte, Toulouse, and other persecuted districts were heard around the world, but awoke no feeling of sympathy in the breasts of the bigoted Catholics of the West Indies.

One of the best families in the metropolis of the New World at this time was a family named EsteThey did not occupy a high official position, for they had been constantly on the frontier, con

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quering, exploring, and colonizing, instead of courting the preference of kings and princes. The head of the family, Christopher Estevan, a namesake of Christopher Columbus, was the first child born of white parents in the New World. From infancy he had been associated with men whose names are familiar in history as conquerors. When a child, he sat on the knee of Cortez and Don Diego Columbus, who succeeded his father as admiral. He was with Pizarro in Peru, and attended the funeral of De Soto. His father, Hernando Estevan, had come with Columbus on his first voyage to America, and had always been a warm bosom friend of the great discoverer.

Christopher Estevan had removed to Havana from St. Jago several years before the date of our narrative, 1561. He was not old in years, being only fifty-two, but long exposure and numerous wounds received in battle prematurely aged the

veteran.

A fortune amassed by his father in Mexico enabled him to live at ease with his beautiful wife, Señora Inez, one of the rarest flowers plucked from that land of beauty, old Spain. His home was a model of peace and happiness. Two sons and one daughter blessed his household, and he had retired from the field of battle and adventure covered with glory, and settled down to the enjoyment of a long,