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diff --git a/24770.txt b/24770.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cacc5fb --- /dev/null +++ b/24770.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9032 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Prisoner of Morro, by Upton Sinclair + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: A Prisoner of Morro + In the Hands of the Enemy + + +Author: Upton Sinclair + + + +Release Date: March 6, 2008 [eBook #24770] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRISONER OF MORRO*** + + +E-text prepared by Steven desJardins and the Project Gutenberg Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Transcriber's note: + + "Ensign Clark Fitch" is a pseudonym used by Upton Sinclair. + + + + + +A PRISONER OF MORRO + +Or + +In the Hands of the Enemy + +by + +ENSIGN CLARK FITCH, U. S. N. + +Author of "Bound for Annapolis," "Cliff, the Naval +Cadet," "The Fighting Squadron," etc. + + + + + + + +[Illustration: A Prisoner of Morro by Ensign Clark Fitch, U. S. N.] + + + +Street & Smith, Publishers +79-89 Seventh Ave., New York City + +Copyright, 1898 +By Street & Smith + +A Prisoner of Morro + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS + +I. SIGHTING A PRIZE. 5 +II. A LONG CHASE. 10 +III. AN OLD ENEMY. 19 +IV. IN COMMAND OF THE PRIZE. 28 +V. A HAIL FROM THE DARKNESS. 32 +VI. REPELLING BOARDERS. 39 +VII. A DESPERATE CHASE. 46 +VIII. A DASH FOR THE SHORE. 51 +IX. THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY. 56 +X. A STARTLING DISCOVERY. 63 +XI. A RUNNING FIGHT. 67 +XII. THE FIRST PRISONERS OF WAR. 72 +XIII. IGNACIO'S PLOTS. 78 +XIV. BESSIE STUART. 85 +XV. IN MORRO CASTLE. 94 +XVI. IN THE DUNGEON VAULTS. 99 +XVII. OUT OF THE DUNGEON. 104 +XVIII. CLIF FARADAY'S SACRIFICE. 112 +XIX. A FAREWELL. 120 +XX. AN UNEXPECTED PERIL. 127 +XXI. RECAPTURED BY THE ENEMY. 133 +XXII. CUTTING A CABLE. 139 +XXIII. A PERILOUS DETAIL. 146 +XXIV. THE CUBAN COURIER. 152 +XXV. "IN THE NAME OF HUMANITY AND THE SAILORS OF THE MAINE!" 158 +XXVI. A GAME OF BLUFF. 164 +XXVII. IN WHICH CLIF MEETS WITH A SURPRISE. 170 +XXVIII. A STRUGGLE AGAINST ODDS. 176 +XXIX. CLIF'S SECOND EXPEDITION. 182 +XXX. THE BATTLE IN THE BRUSH. 187 +XXXI. CAPTURED. 194 +XXXII. CLIF FARADAY'S TEST. 201 +XXXIII. THE MYSTERY OF THE UNEXPLODED SHELL. 208 + + + + +A PRISONER OF MORRO + + +CHAPTER I. + +SIGHTING A PRIZE. + + +About noon of a day in May during the recent year the converted tug +Uncas left Key West to join the blockading squadron off the northern +coast of Cuba. + +Her commander was Lieutenant Raymond, and her junior officer Naval Cadet +Clifford Faraday. The regular junior officer was absent on sick leave, +and Cadet Faraday had been assigned to his place in recognition of +gallant conduct. + +The ropes were cast off, and slowly the tug glided away from the dock +and out toward the open sea. + +It was not very long before the harbor of Key West was left behind, and +then began the long trip to Havana. It was over a hundred miles, and +that meant seven or eight hours' journey for the Uncas. + +But the Uncas was a good, stout vessel, unusually swift for a tug, and +she made the water fairly fly when once she got clear of the land. + +Clif leaned against one of the rapid-firing guns in the bow and gazed +longingly ahead; he was anxious to reach his destination. + +There were wild rumors concerning Spanish fleets, Cadiz squadrons and +Cape Verde squadrons and Mediterranean squadrons, which were continually +being sighted or heard of nearby; and for all Clif knew the decisive +battle of the war might be fought at any time. + +And he felt that if it took place while he was absent he would never +cease to regret it as long as he lived. The Uncas could not do much in +such a battle; but she was anxious to do her share. + +It was possible, also, that Morro might succeed in provoking an attack. +The guns of the Havana defenses kept blazing away at anything that came +near, and the American sailors were fairly boiling over with impatience +to get a whack at them. + +And at any time Admiral Sampson might give the word. + +So Clif was restless and impatient as he stood in the bow of the swift +tug and gazed southward. + +It was a rather damp place of observation the cadet had chosen, for it +had been blowing quite a gale that day, and the Uncas was plowing her +way through a heavy sea. + +The spray was flying over the decks; but who would have thought of going +below at such a time as that? + +It was not Clif's turn on duty. Lieutenant Raymond seemed to think that +after his struggle on board the Spanish monitor the young cadet deserved +a rest. But he was too eager and wide awake just then to wish to take +it. + +When the tug was well under way the lieutenant came out of the pilot +house and joined Clif again. + +"Thinking of the weather, Mr. Faraday?" inquired Lieutenant Raymond. + +"No, sir," replied the cadet, "I was thinking of Ignacio. I don't know +how he happened to get into my thoughts, but he did." + +"Who is Ignacio?" + +"He's a Spaniard I've had some trouble with," answered Clif. "You may +have heard about one of his exploits." + +"Which one is that?" + +"He made an attempt to assassinate Rear Admiral Sampson." + +"Oh, yes, I heard about that," said the officer. "The admiral told me +about it himself. I believe you were the person who interfered." + +"I had the good luck to be standing near," said Clif, modestly. "And of +course, I sprang between them." + +"And the spy stabbed you?" + +"Yes. In the shoulder, but he did not hurt me very much." + +"He must be a desperate man." + +"He is. That stabbing business seems to be a favorite trick of his. I +hope I shan't have to face him again." + +Whether Ignacio was a Spaniard or a traitor Cuban, no one could say. +Clif had first met him trying to lead astray an American officer who had +been sent with dispatches for Gomez. + +And Clif had foiled the plot, and had been Ignacio's deadly enemy ever +since. Clif had been keeping a careful watch for him. He knew that the +vindictive fellow would follow his every move; Ignacio was acting as a +spy for the Spaniards, and so must have found it easy to keep track of +the cadet's whereabouts. But so far Clif had not met him. + +"We are likely to have a wild night of it," said Lieutenant Raymond. +"The clouds seem to get darker every minute." + +"It'll be a night for the blockade-runners," was Clif's answer. "We may +have some excitement." + +"We'll have it anyway," said the other. "I don't know of anything I less +rather do than weather a storm while in among the vessels of the fleet. +It will be necessary to stay on deck every instant of the time keeping +watch for our very lives." + +"I know how it is," the cadet added. "I was on the Porter dining one +such night. And we captured a prize coming out of Havana after almost +running her down in the darkness." + +"I heard about it," said Lieutenant Raymond. "You may repeat the +performance to-night if you have a chance. We aren't likely to meet with +anything till we get there." + +As the lieutenant said that he turned and gazed ahead; the broad sea +stretched out on every side of them, without a sign of smoke or sail to +vary the monotony of its tossing waves. + +"But it always lends zest to a trip like this," the officer added, "to +know that it's possible you may run across a stray Spaniard at any +moment. It pays to keep one's eyes open." + +"And then you have the pleasure of chasing two or three and finding +they're some other nation's ships," said Clif, with a laugh. + +"That's about all we've done so far," said the lieutenant. "But we're +still hoping perhaps you'll bring us good luck." + +"I'll do my best," the cadet declared with a smile. + +"Better get ready for it by resting a bit. Your dinner's ready below." + +Clif took the hint and went below. The boat was pitching so violently +that he found eating a very difficult operation, and it was generally so +unpleasant in the little cabin that he was glad to go on deck again. + +And then later in the afternoon, at four o'clock, it came time for him +to go on duty. After that he had to remain outside whether he wanted to +or not. + +The gale grew considerably stronger, and as the darkness came on it got +much chillier, but Clif still paced up and down the deck with the glass +in his hand watching for a sign of a passing vessel, or of the +approaching Cuban coast. + +He was left almost alone on deck as the weather got rougher; for the +crew made themselves comfortable below, knowing what hard work lay +before them through the stormy night. + +It was not the custom on the vessel to keep the whole watch on duty +except at night; and Clif had only the two sailors at the wheel and the +lookout in the bow for company. + +But if he felt any jealousy of those who were below out of the cold, he +had the grim satisfaction of being able to disturb their comfort before +very long. + +It was about half past four in the afternoon, and suddenly the lookout +turned and called to Clif. + +The eager cadet knew what it meant. He seized the glass and hurried +forward. + +He followed the direction of the man's finger. + +"I think I see smoke, sir," was what the sailor said. + +And Clif took a long look and then turned, his face betraying his +excitement. + +An instant later his voice rang through the ship. + +"Steamer ahoy--off the starboard bow!" + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +A LONG CHASE. + + +There was excitement on board of the Uncas the instant Clif's cry was +heard. The sailors came tumbling up on deck, Lieutenant Raymond among +the first. + +He took the glass eagerly from the lad's hand and anxiously studied the +sky in the direction indicated. + +"It's too far west to be near Havana!" he exclaimed. + +And he stepped into the pilot house to direct the vessel in a new +direction. At the same time the smoke began to pour from the funnel, +showing that those down in the engine-room had heard Clif's hail. + +And so in a few moments the Uncas was speeding away in the direction of +the stranger. And after that there was a long weary wait while the two +vessels gradually drew nearer. + +All that could be made out then was the long line of smoke which always +indicates a distant steamer. But it took a sharp eye to make even that +out. + +"This will be a long chase," said the lieutenant. "If she takes it into +her head to run we'll have a hard time to catch up to her before dark." + +Clif glanced significantly at the bow gun. + +"If we can only get within range," he thought to himself, "we won't have +to wait to catch up to her." + +The lieutenant was standing by the pilot house with the glass in his +hand, and every once in a while he would make an attempt to catch sight +of the stranger's smokestack. + +"It may be one of our own warships," he said, "and if it is we don't +want to waste any coal chasing her." + +But such was not the case, and it was only half an hour or so before the +lieutenant found it out. The Uncas rose as a high wave swept by; and the +officer, who had the glass to his eye, gave an eager exclamation. + +"She's got one funnel," he exclaimed, "and it's black, with a red top; +and so it's not an American warship." + +And after that there was nothing now to be done except wait until the +two approached nearer. + +It was evident from the gradual change of course the Uncas was obliged +to make that the vessel she was following was headed in a southerly +direction. + +"That would take her toward the western end of Cuba," Clif thought to +himself. "Perhaps she's sighted us and is running away." + +She must have been a very shy vessel to have taken alarm at so great a +distance; but from the slowness with which she came into view that +seemed to be the case. And Clif paced the deck impatiently. + +It was not very much longer before he went off duty again; but he did +not go below. For perhaps an hour he remained on deck watching the +strange vessel. + +It seemed an age, but Clif had his reward. The chase loomed gradually +nearer. The black and red smoke pipe came into view, and then, when the +Uncas rose, the top of the black hull as well. + +And suddenly the lieutenant handed the glass to Clif. + +"You may see now," he said. "She is a merchant steamer, and she flies +the Spanish flag." + +Clif nearly dropped the glass at those startling words. The lieutenant +said them as calmly as if he were telling the time of day. + +"You don't seem very much excited," the cadet thought. + +And yet the lieutenant's statement proved to be true. It was several +minutes before Clif got a favorable view; but he kept his eyes fixed on +the smoke and he finally caught a glimpse of the hull. + +And sure enough there was the hated red and yellow ensign waving +defiantly from the stern; it was blown off to one side by the breeze, +and could be plainly seen. + +Clif was fairly boiling over with excitement at that discovery. + +"We've got our prize!" he chuckled. "I brought the luck after all." + +Lieutenant Raymond was not nearly so little moved as he chose to +pretend; he had announced his discovery in that careless way half in a +spirit of fun. + +The news got round among the crew, and however the officer may have +felt, there was no indifference there. + +The engines of the Uncas began to work even more rapidly, and cartridges +were hastily brought up for the rapid-firing guns. Nobody meant to let +that steamer get away. + +She must have suspected her danger by that time, for the smoke grew +blacker. But the crew of the Uncas knew that there were few merchant +ships could beat that tug, and they rubbed their hands gleefully. + +There is something very aggravating about a race like that. In a rowing +race you may break your back if you choose, trying to catch the boat in +front; and even in a sailing race you may do something. But when it +comes to steam you can only grit your teeth and walk up and down and +watch and try not to let anybody see how anxious you are. + +In that way half an hour passed away, and mile after mile of the +storm-tossed waters. + +By that time the hull of the vessel was plainly visible on the horizon; +and the Spanish flag was still waving from her stern. + +Clif had been gazing every once in a while at the lieutenant with an +inquiring look upon his face, but the officer had only shaken his head. + +"Not yet," he said. "Wait a little." + +And Clif would then take another stroll across the deck. + +But at last his inquiring look brought another answer. + +"Go ahead," said the lieutenant. + +And the cadet made a leap at the gun. + +It was already loaded, and he sighted it himself. He was no longer +nervous and hurried; it was at least a minute before he rose. + +And then at his signal the sailor pulled the firing trigger. + +There was a flash and a loud report, and every one looked anxiously to +see the effect. + +Lieutenant Raymond, who had the glass, was the only one who could tell; +for the sea was so wild that the slight splash could not be noticed. + +The shot of course fell short, for the vessel was still out of range; +but it hit right in line, and the officer nodded approvingly. + +"Now we'll wait," he said. "She may give up." + +But she didn't; so far as those on the Uncas could tell the shot had no +effect whatever. The vessel kept straight on in her course. + +"She's counting on the darkness coming," said the lieutenant. + +But that was not the only reason why the Spaniard did not give up; those +upon the Uncas discovered another shortly afterward. + +"The Cuban coast," exclaimed the officer. + +Yes, the long, faint line of the shore was at last visible just on the +horizon's edge. It lay to the southward, directly ahead. + +"What good will that do her?" asked Clif. + +"If she finds she can't get away," answered the other, "she may make a +run for one of the ports or try to get under the shelter of the +batteries." + +For a while after that nothing more was said, and the tug plowed its way +through the tossing water. When the lieutenant spoke again it was to +point to the gun. + +"Try it again," he said. + +And Clif did try it. The two ships were then not over three or four +miles apart, and when the cadet fired again he heard the lieutenant give +a pleased exclamation. + +"They're within range!" + +And then Clif got to work with all his might. + +Had he had a calm sea he could have raked that vessel without missing a +shot. He had only to experiment and get the aim just right and then +leave the gun to stay in that one position while he blazed away. + +But the Uncas in climbing over the waves was now up and now down, so +that sometimes the shots fell short and sometimes they went high. + +But every once in a while he had the satisfaction of hearing that he had +landed one. + +After that the chase was a lively one, for the Uncas kept blazing away +merrily. The people on board that fleeing vessel must have had a very +large time of it that afternoon. + +It was just what Clif Faraday liked; he was beginning to be quite an +expert in target practice, and he was willing to experiment with that +ship just as long as the ammunition held out. + +But his opportunity did not last very long, for the land in front was +neared very rapidly, and after that there was less fun and more work. + +The stranger headed round gradually to the west. She evidently had no +idea of being driven toward Havana. + +The Uncas swerved more sharply, in order to head her off. Lieutenant +Raymond was in the pilot house, and Clif soon saw by the way he managed +things that he was an expert in all the tricks of dodging. + +And those who were handling the merchant ship saw it, too; they would +have been soon headed off. So they turned in another direction quite +sharply, making straight in toward shore again. + +Under ordinary circumstances with the short range that he had by that +time, Clif could have riddled the vessel in short order; but aiming in +that sea was so far a matter of luck that comparatively little damage +could be done. + +No one knew what the enemy's last move could mean. + +"But we can go in any water that's deep enough for them," thought Clif, +grimly, as he blazed away. + +And so thought the lieutenant, too, for he was soon racing in. For +perhaps ten minutes pursuer and pursued kept straight on, the firing +never ceasing for a moment. + +"Perhaps she may run on shore on purpose," said the lieutenant, coming +out of the pilot house for a moment. + +"On purpose?" echoed Clif. + +"Yes; so that we can't get the cargo." + +"But she'll be beaten to pieces on the rocks," Clif objected. + +"They may chance it anyhow; you see they aren't more than a mile or two +from the shore now, and they're running in still." + +"If that's the trick they try," Clif thought to himself, "we can stay +out and pepper her to our heart's content--and help the waves to wreck +her." + +But the Spaniard had a far better plan than that, as her pursuers +learned some time later. + +Clif studied the coast in front of them, as well as he could see without +a glass; there was simply a long line of sandy shore without a bay or an +inlet of any kind. And there were no towns or batteries visible. + +"I don't see what she can be hoping for there," he muttered. + +But he had no time to speculate in the matter, for it was his business +to keep firing. By that time the range was short and he was beginning to +do damage. + +It took an expert to fire at the instant when the tossing ship was +level, but Clif had time to practice, and he soon got the knack of it. + +And then it must have been exceedingly unpleasant living on that ship. +One after another the heavy six-pound shots crashed through her stern; +and even at that distance it began to exhibit a ragged appearance. + +The cadet expected at any moment to reach the engines or the rudder of +the fleeing ship, and so render her helpless. But probably her cargo +served to protect the former, and the rudder was very hard to hit. + +"She must have something important in view to stand all this," Clif +thought to himself. "But I can't see what it is." + +The chase at that time was a very exciting one. The Spanish merchantman +was dashing in shore at the top of his speed. And a mile or two beyond +it was the Uncas tearing up the water, plunging along at her fastest +pace and banging away half a dozen times a minute with her bow gun. + +Lieutenant Raymond's eyes were dancing then; he had taken the wheel +himself and was hard at work. And as for Clif, he was so busily engaged +that he seemed to see nothing except the high stern of that runaway. + +"But she's a fool," he growled to himself. "She'll be so torn to pieces +she won't be worth capturing. I wish I could kill the captain." + +But the captain of that vessel knew his business, as those on the Uncas +found later on. He was a Spaniard, and simply gifted with Spanish +cunning. + +He had no idea of running his ship aground; but he knew that coast +perfectly, and he used his knowledge. + +When he neared the land the tug was still some distance astern. As that +did not suit the Spaniard's purposes, he very calmly slowed up. + +And that in spite of the fact that the tug was so close that the +rapid-firing gun was hitting him every other shot! + +That the vessel had slowed up, Lieutenant Raymond of course could not +tell. But he wouldn't have cared anyhow, for he had made up his mind to +go in there no matter what was there, torpedoes or the very Old Nick +himself. + +And he went; for perhaps five minutes more the Uncas dashed in at full +speed, and the merchantman still never swerved. + +"They're within a quarter of a mile of the shore!" gasped Clif. + +He turned to his third box of cartridges with a grim smile on his face. +For he knew that something must happen soon. + +It did, too--very soon. + +It began when the merchantman suddenly swung round to starboard. + +"Aha!" chuckled the cadet. "They're as close in as they dare. And now I +suppose they'll run down shore awhile." + +Lieutenant Raymond was much puzzled to think why the vessel had risked +going so close in that storm; but he wasted no time in speculating, but +drove the wheel around with all his might. + +The Uncas swerved and sped over to shut the merchantman off; at that +same instant the reason of the whole thing was seen. + +The Uncas was not a mile from shore, and as she turned her broadside to +the land a masked battery in the sand let drive with a dozen guns at +once. + +The whole thing was so sudden that for a moment it quite frightened the +Americans. Clif even stopped firing long enough to stare. + +But the sudden alarm did not last very long; it left the men on the +Uncas laughing. For they had quite forgotten the character of the +Spanish gunners' aim. + +A shot tore through the tug's funnel, another chipped a piece from her +bow, half a dozen shells whistled over her. And that was all. + +Clif turned calmly to his gun again. + +"If that's the best they can do," he thought, "they're welcome." + +But that was not the best. + +It wasn't that the batteries were aimed better next time. They were +aimed far worse in their eager haste. They did not even touch the Uncas. + +But an instant later something happened that showed that the captain of +the Spanish merchantman had one more string to his bow. + +He not only knew the location of the batteries, but he knew the location +of the sand bars. While his own vessel sped on in safety, on board the +Uncas there suddenly came a grinding thud, and an instant later the tug +stopped short, so short it almost sent Clif flying over the top of the +gun he was working. + +And at the same time a shout was heard from Lieutenant Raymond, one that +made the sailors' hearts leap up into their throats: "We're aground! +We're aground!" + +And in front of a Spanish battery! + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +AN OLD ENEMY. + + +It would be hard to imagine a vessel in a much greater predicament than +the Uncas was at that moment. Everything was in confusion in an instant. + +That is everything except one thing. Lieutenant Raymond was too busy to +notice the coolness of one person on board; but he remembered it +afterward, and with satisfaction. + +It was Clif Faraday; he picked himself up from the deck where he had +been flung and took one glance about him. Then he turned to the guns. + +Whatever the position of the tug his duty just then remained the same. +He could not free her, and so he did not waste any time rushing about. +There was that Spanish merchantman calmly walking off to safety. + +And there was a gleam of vengeance in the cadet's eye as he went to the +gun again. + +Those on board of the fleeing vessel had seen the success of their +clever plan and they gave a wild cheer. It was answered from the shore +batteries. + +The steamer turned at once and headed out to sea; that put her broadside +to the Uncas, and instantly the six-pounder blazed away. + +That was the time to do the work, too. The vessel was quite near, and a +fair mark. The Uncas was now steady, too, Clif thought grimly to +himself. + +One of the sailors saw what he was doing, and sprang to aid him. They +banged away as fast as they could load. + +At the same time the Spanish batteries opened. They had a fair mark, +likewise, and plenty of time to aim. It was a race to see who could +smash up their prey the quickest. + +Clif would certainly have disabled the fleeing vessel if it had not been +for an unfortunate accident. What the accident was may be told in a few +words. It spoiled his chance. + +He turned away to get more cartridges. And at that instant a shell +struck the six-pounder gun. + +It was a miracle that Clif was not hit; his uniform was torn in three +places and his cap knocked off. The sailor next to him got a nasty wound +in the arm, made by a flying fragment. + +And that of course made the merchantman safe--she steamed off in +triumph. + +It was bad for the tug, too, for it showed the batteries were getting +the range. + +The plight of the Uncas was a desperate one. She was being tossed about +by a raging sea and cut up by the fire from the guns. Whether she had +struck on rocks or sand or mud no one had any means of telling. + +But her engines were reversed the instant the accident occurred. And a +hasty examination of the hold showed that whatever the danger was there +was no leak. + +But that seemed cold comfort, for at the rate the heavy batteries were +blazing away there was likely to be a number of leaks in a very short +while. And even a steel tug will not hold together long with a sea +pounding over her like this one was. + +Yet as it actually happened, that sea was the only thing that got the +vessel out of her unfortunate predicament. + +They were a great deal luckier than they would have dared to hope to be. +For when they realized they were aground there was not a man on board +who did not think his last hour was at hand. + +But as it actually happened, the sand bar upon which the tug had driven +lay some distance beneath the surface. And it had caught the vessel by +the keel. + +The engines throbbed wildly, doing their noblest to pull the vessel off; +and then one after another came the great waves, tossing her this way +and that, wrenching and twisting, lifting and lifting again, while every +one on deck clung for his life. + +There was a minute or two of agonizing suspense, while the shore +batteries kept up a galling fire and the merchantman steamed out to sea, +proud of her triumph. + +And then suddenly came a wild cheer from the imperiled Americans. Then +men fairly shrieked in a transport of delight. + +"She's moving! She's started! She's safe!" + +And the men fairly hugged each other for joy. Slowly, then faster, then +faster still, and finally at full speed backward. The gallant tug had +torn herself loose from the grip of the sand--and was free! + +The baffled Spanish batteries redoubled their fire at that. One could +almost imagine the gunners grinding their teeth with rage as they saw +their prey escaping. + +But grinding their teeth did not seem to sharpen their eyes. Their aim +was as bad as ever, and the Uncas seemed like the proverbial man in the +rainstorm who keeps dry by "dodging the drops." + +The confusion on board of the "escaped" vessel may be imagined. How that +triumphant captain must have sworn Spanish oaths. + +It was a ticklish task that Lieutenant Raymond had before him then. He +knew there were sand bars about. But he did not know where they were. +And the task was to avoid them. + +He did it by creeping along very slowly, in absolute indifference to the +galling fire from the shore guns. He knew that there must be a channel, +for he and the Spaniard had come in by it. + +He had only a vague idea where it was. But the Uncas stopped and then +crept slowly forward, heading north. + +And after five minutes of torment they knew that they were safe. They +were far enough from shore to start up again and get away from those +Spanish guns. The gallant tug was quite battered by that time, but +nobody cared for that in the wild rejoicing that prevailed. + +The vessel swung around to port. + +"And now for that prize!" muttered the lieutenant. + +And he went for her, too, full speed ahead. He was mad now. + +The vessel had gotten a start of about two miles. She had apparently +exhausted her resources in the neighborhood of Cuba, for she was heading +north, out to sea again. + +"And so it's only a question of time," chuckled Clif. "We've got her!" + +And so they had. The Spaniards must have realized it, too. + +"Mr. Faraday," said the lieutenant, "try a shot from the starboard gun." + +The shot was fired; and it did the work. + +The merchantman had evidently had enough, and saw that there was no +further hope. + +For in full view of the shore batteries she swung round and came slowly +to a halt, a signal that she surrendered. It made the Americans give +another cheer, and it must have made the Spaniards on shore fairly yell. + +For they began banging away, even at that distance, though they couldn't +come anywhere near the tug. + +As for the Americans, they sighed with relief. They had worked hard for +that victory. And they felt that they had earned it. The race was over +then, and they were happy. + +Clif was so wearied by his heroic labor at that gun (he must have lifted +and rammed some two hundred six-pounder cartridges) that he sat down on +the wreck of the machine to wait until the two vessels drew near. + +And the lieutenant gave up the wheel to one of the men and came out to +look his capture over at leisure. + +She was a fairly large vessel and seemed to have a big carrying +capacity. What she was loaded with no one could guess, but at any rate +she was a big prize for a small crew like that of the Uncas. + +"I think I'll retire from business after to-day," Clif heard the old +boatswain remark. + +That personage had had one arm badly damaged in the struggle that had +taken place in the morning with the Spanish gunboat; but he seemed to +have forgotten his wounds in the general excitement. + +The little tug steamed up boldly toward her big prize, which lay idly +tossing on the waves. One could see her officers and crew standing on +deck watching the approach. + +"I'll bet they feel happy!" Clif muttered to himself. + +The lieutenant loaned him the glass. Then he could see the faces of the +men. + +There was one of them he might have recognized had he been careful; but +he did not recognize it, and so he failed to save himself some mighty +unpleasant adventures indeed. + +They were all typical Spanish faces, dark and sullen; but there was one +there even darker and more sullen than the rest. + +And the owner of that countenance had a glass in his hand and was +staring at those on the tug. Though the cadet did not know it, that man +was at that instant watching him. + +And there was an expression of furious hate on his face as he looked. + +Lieutenant Raymond expected no further trouble; but he took no chances. +Men were stationed at the three remaining six-pounders, and the rest of +the crew was armed. + +In silence the Uncas steamed up to within a hundred yards of her prize. +And then came the signal to stop engines. + +It was the time for a boarding party. Clif, as junior officer, knew that +that was his duty, and without a word he proceeded to get the small boat +off. + +It was quite a task in that heavy sea, but the eager sailors worked with +a will, and though nearly swamped twice, managed to get clear of the +tug. + +And Clif was seated in the stern, heading for the big merchantman. + +"Keep your eyes open," he heard the lieutenant shout. "They may make +trouble." + +And Clif nodded and the boat shot away. They wouldn't catch him napping +on board that Spanish vessel--not much! + +But they come perilously near it all the same. + +It was a rough trip in that tossing rowboat. It seemed to sink and then +fairly bound up on the next wave, its bow went down and its stern shot +up. It did everything except turn over, while the spray fairly flew over +it. + +But the sturdy sailors worked with a will, and the distance was not very +great. In a short time the little craft shot round in the lee of the +Spaniard. + +"A ladder there!" shouted Clif. + +And in a few moments the rope ladder came tumbling down. It seemed to +come with bad grace though, as if it knew its owners didn't want to +send it. + +The rowboat was backed near and Clif, with a sudden spring, caught the +ladder and leaped clear of the waves. + +Before he went up he turned to the sailors. + +"Two of you follow me," he commanded. + +He climbed quickly up the ladder and stepped out on the deck, gazing +about him eagerly. + +He saw about a dozen dark-faced Spaniards gathered together and glaring +at him; one of them, wearing the uniform of the captain, stepped forward +toward him. + +He was a surly, ill-looking man, with a heavy dark mustache. He bowed +stiffly to the cadet. + +"The senor takes possession," he said, in a low voice. + +Clif was so busy watching this man that he did not look around the +vessel. But we must do so. + +We must glance for one instant at the capstan, which was just behind +where the jaunty young cadet was standing. There was an interesting +person near the capstan. + +Clif did not see him; and neither did the sailors, nor even the +Spaniards on the vessel. For he was crouching behind the capstan, out of +sight. + +He was a small man, dark and swarthy. He was the same one we noticed +glaring at Clif; he had recognized him, and realized in a flash that the +issue between them was death--death for one or else death for the other. + +For Clif knew the man, and would secure him the instant he saw him; his +crimes were many--treason and attempted assassination the worst. + +For the man was Ignacio! + +And his dark, beady eyes were glittering with hatred as he crouched in +his momentary hiding-place. He was quivering all over with rage; the +muscles of his sinewy arms were clinched and tense. + +And in his right hand he clutched a sharp, gleaming knife, half hidden +under his coat. + +His glance was fixed on the figure just in front of him; the +unsuspecting cadet was not twenty yards away, his back turned to his +crouching enemy. + +And Ignacio bent forward to listen and wait his chance. + +The cadet, the object of his hatred, was talking to the captain. + +"The senor takes possession," the latter repeated again. + +"The senor does, with your permission," said Clif, quietly. + +"You gave us quite a run," he added, after a moment's thought. + +"A Spaniard would not surrender to Yankee pigs without a fight," snarled +the other. + +"You had best be a bit careful," was Clif's stern response, "or you may +find yourself in irons." + +The Spaniard relapsed into a sullen silence. + +"What ship is this?" demanded the cadet. + +"The Maria." + +"From where?" + +"Cadiz." + +"Indeed! And bound where?" + +"Bahia Honda." + +Clif gave a low whistle. + +"We caught you about in time," he said, with a smile. "You were nearly +there. But I suppose the story is made up for the occasion. What is your +cargo?" + +The captain went over quite a list of articles; the sailors who were +with Clif chuckled with delight as they heard him. + +"We get a share in all this," Clif heard one of them whisper under his +breath. + +Clif smiled; and as soon as the captain finished he raised his arm and +pointed to the stern of the vessel. + +"You and your men will go aft," he commanded, "for the present; I will +see you shortly." + +The Spaniard was on the point of obeying; he had half turned, when +suddenly with a single bound the treacherous Ignacio sprang forward. + +His keen knife glanced in the air as he raised it in his outstretched +arm and leaped upon the unsuspecting cadet. + +Ignacio was clever at that sort of thing. He had tried it before; his +spring had been silent as a cat's. Neither the sailors nor the officer +heard him. And the blow might have fallen; Clif's only warning of his +deadly peril. + +But unfortunately for the desperate assassin, he had failed to let the +captain of that vessel know what he meant to do. And the captain, as he +saw him leap, realized in a flash that would mean an instant hanging for +him. + +And a look of horror swept over his face; Clif saw it and whirled about. + +He was just in time to find himself face to face with his deadliest +enemy; and the knife was hissing through the air. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +IN COMMAND OF THE PRIZE. + + +It was a moment of horrible peril. Clif's blood fairly froze. But quick +as a flash his arm shot up. + +And he caught the descending wrist; for an instant the two glared into +each other's eyes, straining and twisting. And then the two sailors of +the Uncas leaped forward and seized the baffled Spaniard. + +And almost in the twinkling of an eye-lid, Clif Faraday was saved. He +could hardly realize what had happened, and he staggered back against +the railing of the vessel and gasped for breath. + +But that was only for a moment, too; and then the blood surged back to +his cheeks and the cadet was himself once more. + +He stepped forward, a calm smile playing about his mouth. + +"Bind that man," he said to the sailors. + +The two men were grasping the sinewy Cuban and holding him so tight that +he could not move. They almost crushed his wrists, and he dropped the +knife with a hoarse cry of pain. + +And Clif picked it up and glanced at it for a moment, then flung it far +out into the sea. + +After that he turned to Ignacio. + +"You have met me once more, my friend," he said, "and this time you will +not get away." + +And that was all the conversation he had with him. Glancing about the +deck he picked up a piece of rope and stepped toward the prisoner. + +He did not strike the fellow, as the Spaniards seemed to think he would. +But the sailors flung him to the deck and Clif carefully bound his feet +together. Then, while he fairly fumed with rage and hatred, his hands +were made fast and he was left lying there, shrieking curses in his +native Spanish. + +Clif turned to the captain of the vessel; the man was frightened nearly +to death, and began protesting volubly. + +"I did not know it, senor!" he cried. "Indeed, I did not know it! Santa +Maria! I----" + +"I don't suppose you did," said Clif, calmly. "You did not act like it. +But you will have to suffer for it." + +"Suffer for it! Madre di dios, no, senor! What does the senor mean? +Surely he will not hang me for----" + +"The senor will not hang you," said Clif, unable to help smiling at the +blustering fellow's terror. + +"Then what will the senor do?" + +"He will tie you like Ignacio." + +The man was evidently relieved, but he protested volubly. He did not +want to be tied. + +"Is it customary?" he cried. + +"No," said Clif; "neither is it customary to try to assassinate an +officer. After that I think common prudence requires it." + +"But," cried the man, angrily. "I will not submit! Por dios, I will +not----" + +"You will either submit or be made to," said Clif, "or else sink to the +bottom." + +And so the man had to give up. Those two delighted tars went the rounds +and tied every single man on that vessel hand and foot. And they tied +them tight, too, occasionally giving them a dig in the ribs for good +measure. + +And when they came to search them Clif was glad he had done as he did, +for quite a respectable heap of knives and revolvers were removed from +the clothes of those angry Spaniards. + +But it did not take long to tie them up, and then Clif felt safe. He +took a few extra hitches in the treacherous Ignacio, who was by far the +most valuable prize of them all. + +"Admiral Sampson will be glad to get you," the cadet thought to himself. + +And then he turned to examine the captured vessel. + +His sword in his hand, he went down the forward companionway, where he +met a group of frightened firemen and stokers huddled below. They seemed +to think the Yankee pigs were going to murder them on the spot. + +But Clif had another use for them. Being able to speak Spanish, he found +it easy to reassure them in a few words, and sent them down to their +work again. + +Then he descended into the hold; he was worried lest the continuous +firing he had directed upon the vessel had made her unseaworthy. But +apparently the holes were all well above the water line, for there did +not seem to be any leak. + +And that was all there was to be done. Clif knew that he had the task +before him of piloting that vessel into Key West; he was not willing to +let that ugly-looking Spanish captain have anything to do with the +matter. + +Clif had fancied he would rather enjoy that duty but under the +circumstances of the present case he was not so much pleased. + +For the darkness was gathering then and the cadet knew that he had a +long hard night before him; it would be necessary for him to remain on +the vessel's bridge all through the stormy trip. + +And, moreover, it would take him away from Havana, the place of all +places he was then anxious to reach. + +But the duty had to be faced, and so Clif sent one of the sailors back +to the Uncas to report the state of affairs and ask for a prize crew. It +seemed scarcely orthodox to send the small boat away without an officer +to command it, but that, too, was inevitable. + +The boat arrived safely, however, and returned with three more men, all +the little tug dared spare. Lieutenant Raymond sent word to report at +Key West with the prize, but to steam slowly so as not to come anywhere +near the shore before daylight. + +Lieutenant Raymond was evidently a little worried about intrusting that +big vessel to an inexperienced officer like Clif, and Clif was not so +very cock sure himself. No one knew just where they were, and in the +storm and darkness reaching Key West harbor would be task enough for an +old hand. + +The cadet realized the enormous responsibility thus thrown upon him, and +he made up his mind that eternal vigilance should be the watchword. + +"If staying awake all night'll do any good," he muttered, "I'll do it." + +And then the small boat dashed away to the Uncas again, and Clif was +left alone. He stepped into the pilot house of the steamer and signaled +for half speed ahead. + +The vessel began to glide slowly forward again, heading north; the tug +steamed away in the direction of Havana. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +A HAIL FROM THE DARKNESS. + + +The four sailors who were with Clif fully realized the task which was +before them. + +It was then about dusk, and the night was coming on rapidly. Two of the +men were stationed as lookouts, and the other two took the wheel. + +Clif set to work to try to calculate as best he could how far and in +what direction he was from Key West; he wished to take no chances of +running ashore or getting lost. + +Those, and the possibility of collision, seemed the only dangers that +had to be guarded against; the possibility of meeting a Spanish vessel +was not considered, for the chance seemed very remote. + +The two lookouts were both stationed in the bow. That fact and the other +just mentioned sufficed to account for the fact that the real danger +that threatened the crew of the merchantman was not thought of or +guarded against in the least. + +For Clif had no way of knowing that any trouble was to come from behind +him; but coming it was, and in a hurry. + +Within the shelter of a narrow inlet just to one side of the batteries +that had made so much trouble for the Uncas had lain hidden and +unsuspected an object that was destined to play an important part in the +rest of the present story. + +It was a Spanish gunboat, of much the same kind as the Uncas, only +smaller. Hidden by the land, her officers had eagerly watched the +struggle we have just seen. + +The Spanish vessel had not ventured out to take part, for one important +reason; she had not steam up. But she would probably not have done so +anyhow, for the Uncas was the stronger of the two. + +And so venturing out would have been little better than suicide. The +Spanish captain had a plan that put that one far in the shade. + +The Uncas was still visible down the shore, and the merchantman had +hardly gotten well started out to sea before great volumes of black +smoke began to pour from the furnaces of the Spaniard. + +Her men worked like fiends; sailors pitched in to help the firemen +handle coal, while the shores of the dark little inlet flared brightly +with the gleam of the furnaces. + +Meanwhile the officers with their glasses were feverishly watching the +distant steamer, now hull down to the north, and almost invisible in the +darkness. + +It was about half an hour later, perhaps even less, that that Spanish +gunboat weighed her anchor and stole silently out to the open sea. + +She breasted the fierce waves at the entrance to the inlet boldly. A +minute later she was plowing her way through the storming sea. It was +dark then and she could see nothing; but her captain had the course to a +hair's breadth. + +He knew which way his prey was gone, and he knew to what port she was +going. He knew, too, that she would not dare go near the harbor of Key +West until daylight. And so if by any chance he missed her in the +darkness he would still have another opportunity. + +And those on the shore who saw the vessel glide away chuckled gleefully +to themselves. It was something to look forward to, a chance to revenge +themselves upon the impudent Yankees who had dared to elude the fire +from their guns. + +Meanwhile the Yankees, totally unsuspicious of this last move, were +buffeting their way bravely ahead. + +The lookouts clinging to the railing in the bow were peering anxiously +ahead in the darkness, and the sailors in the pilot house were wrestling +with the wheel; it was quite a task to keep that vessel headed straight, +for she was going into the very teeth of the gale. + +And as for Clif, he was watchfulness personified. When he was not eyeing +the compass carefully he was hurrying about the vessel, now down in the +fire-rooms, making sure that those Spaniards were doing as they were +ordered, and again looking the prisoners over to make sure that the sly +rascals had not wriggled themselves free. + +"It would be a fine thing to do," he thought to himself, "if they +managed to recapture the ship." + +There was something quite prophetic in that thought. + +It is hard to keep awake all night, but a man can do it if he has to +even though he has been working like a Trojan all day. + +Clif kept moving to work off the sleepiness whenever he felt it coming +on. + +"I'll have time enough to sleep by and by," he muttered. + +He was thinking, grimly enough, of how he would be stalled in the town +of Key West with his prize, waiting for a chance to get out to the fleet +again. + +The vessel did not attempt to make more than half speed during the trip, +and that, against the storm, was very little. + +But there was no need to hurry thought every one. + +And so for some two hours the vessel crept on, wearily as it seemed and +monotonously. The only thing to vary matters was when some extra high +wave would fling itself over the bow in a shower of spray. + +But that was not a welcome incident, for it made it harder for the weary +sailors to keep the course straight. + +The cadet paced up and down the deck; he had been doing that for perhaps +the last half hour, stopping only to say a cheery word to the lookouts +and once to prop up Ignacio, who was being rolled unceremoniously about +the deck. + +The cunning Spaniard looked so bedraggled and miserable that Clif would +have felt sorry for him if he had not known what a villain he was. + +"He'd stab me again if he got a chance," he mused. + +For Clif had saved that fellow's life once; but it had not made the +least difference in his vindictive hatred. + +"I'm afraid," Clif muttered, "that Ignacio will have to suffer this +time." + +The Spaniard must have heard him, for he muttered an oath under his +breath. + +"It would be wiser if it was a prayer," said the cadet. "Ignacio, you +are near the end of your rope, and you may as well prepare for your +fate." + +The man fairly trembled all over with rage as he glared at his enemy; +such rage as his was Clif was not used to, and he watched the man with a +feeling of horror. + +"I don't like Spaniards!" was the abrupt exclamation, with which he +turned away. + +And Ignacio gritted his teeth and simply glared at him, following back +and forth his every move, as a cat might. + +"I may have a chance yet," he hissed, under his breath. "Carramba, if I +only had him by the throat!" + +But Clif paid no more attention to the Spaniard. He had other things to +attend to, things to keep him busy. + +It was not very long before that was especially true. For some +interesting events began to happen then. + +They began so suddenly that there is almost no way to introduce them. +The first signs of the storm was when it broke. + +In the blackness of the night nothing could be seen, and the vessel was +struggling along absolutely without suspicion. And Clif, as we have +said, was walking up and down engrossed in his own thoughts, almost +forgetting that he was out in the open sea where a Spanish warship might +chance to be lurking. + +And so it was literally and actually a thunderbolt from a clear sky. + +The blackness of the waters was suddenly broken by a sharp flash of +light, perhaps two hundred yards off to starboard. + +And an instant later came the loud report of a gun. + +The consternation of the Americans it would be hard to imagine. They +were simply aghast, and Clif stood fairly rooted to the deck. + +His mind was in a tumult, but he strove to think what that startling +interruption could mean. + +"They must have fired at us!" he gasped. + +And if there was any doubt of that an instant later came a second flash. + +To a merchantship in war time such a signal is peremptory. It means slow +up or else take the consequences. + +There were two possibilities that presented themselves to the commander +of this particular merchantship. One was that he had met an American +warship---- + +And the other! It was far less probable, but it was possible, and +terrible. They might have fallen into the hands of the enemy. + +But whatever was the case, there was nothing for Clif to do but obey the +signals. He could not run and he could not fight. + +"If I only knew," he thought, anxiously. + +And then suddenly he learned; for a faint voice was borne over to him +through the gale. It was a voice that spoke English! + +"Ahoy there!" it rang. + +And Clif roared back with all his might! + +"Ahoy! What ship is that?" + +And his heart gave a throb of joy when he heard: + +"The United States cruiser Nashville. Who are you?" + +"The Spanish merchantman Maria, in charge of a prize crew from the +Uncas!" + +Whether all that was heard in the roar of the storm Clif could not tell; +but he put all the power of his lungs in it. + +He knew that the story would be investigated. + +And so he was quite prepared when he heard the response: + +"Lay to and wait for a boarding party." + +And quick as he could move Clif sprang to the pilot house, and signaled +to stop, and the vessel swung round toward the stranger. + +The die was cast, for good or evil. They had given up! + +For perhaps five minutes there was an anxious silence upon the vessel. +Every one was waiting anxiously, while the ship rolled in the trough of +the sea and shook with the crashes of the waves. Her small crew were +picturing in their minds what was taking place out there in the +darkness, their comrades struggling to get a small boat out in that +heavy sea. + +And then they fancied them buffeting their way across, blinded by the +spray and half swamped by the heavier waves. + +"They can't be much longer," muttered Clif, impatiently. + +"Ahoy there! A ladder!" + +It seemed to come from right underneath the lee of the merchantman. And +it was shouted in a loud, peremptory tone that was meant to be obeyed. A +moment later the rope ladder was flung down. Clif peered over the side +when he dropped it. + +He could make out the shape of the boat tossing about below; he could +even distinguish the figures of the men in the boat. + +And then he made out a man climbing hastily up. + +He stepped back to wait for him. He saw a blue uniform as the officer +clambered up to the deck. + +And then suddenly he stood erect, facing Clif. + +The cadet took one glance at him and gave a gasp of horror. + +It was a Spanish officer! + +And he held in one hand a revolver and was aiming it straight at Clif's +head. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +REPELLING BOARDERS. + + +That had been a cleverly managed stroke, and it left the young officer +simply paralyzed. All he could do was to stare into the muzzle of that +weapon. + +He realized of course in a flash how he had been duped. And he was in a +trap! + +Half dazed he looked and saw a Spanish sailor in the act of lifting +himself up to the deck to join his superior. And Clif had no doubt there +were half a dozen others following. + +There was of course nothing that Clif could do; a movement on his part +would have been sheer suicide. + +He thought the case was hopeless; he had let himself be caught napping. + +But the cadet had forgotten that there were other Americans on that +vessel besides himself. And there were no revolvers threatening the +others. + +The rage of the Yankee tars at what seemed to them a cowardly and +sneaking way to capture the ship was too great for them to control. +Prudence would have directed surrender, for the Maria had not a gun on +board and the Spaniard might blow her out of the water. + +But nobody thought of that; the same instant the Spanish officer +presented his weapon and disclosed his real nationality, there were two +sharp cracks in instant succession from the bow of the imperiled ship. + +And the officer staggered back with a gasp. He dropped his weapon to the +deck, reeled for an instant and then vanished over the side in the +darkness. + +There was a moment of horror, and then Clif heard him strike with a thud +on the small boat below. + +At the same time there was a bright flash just in front of Clif, and a +bullet whistled past his ear. + +The Spanish sailor, who had only half reached the deck, had fired at +him. + +By that time there was no longer any hesitation as to what course to +pursue. The sailors had decided it by their fatal shots. It was +resistance to the death. + +And Clif whipped out his own weapons and sent the sailor tumbling +backward to follow his officer. + +Then he drew his sword and with two slashing strokes severed the ladder. +From the yells and confusion that followed there must have been quite a +number clinging to the rope. + +But where they were or what their fate was nobody had any time to learn. +Everything was moving like lightning on the merchantman. + +Clif leaped into the pilot house and signaled full speed. There was no +further need of lookouts and so the two sailors rushed down into the +engine-room to see that the order was obeyed. + +The big vessel started slowly forward. The cadet sprang to the wheel, +his mind in a wild tumult as he strove to think what he should do. + +As if there were not confusion enough at that instant there were several +loud reports in quick succession, followed by deafening crashes as shots +tore through the vessel. + +The Spaniards had opened fire! + +"But they'll have to stop to pick up that boat's crew!" gasped Clif. "We +may get away!" + +And that being the case every minute was precious; the vessel had swung +round, but there was no time to turn--she must run as she was for a +while. + +And from the way the vessel trembled and shook it could be told that the +irate tars down below were making things hum. + +"They may burst the boilers if they can," thought Clif, grimly. + +The new course they were taking was south, exactly the opposite of the +way they had been going. But Clif did not care about that. + +"The storm will drive us faster!" he gasped. "And every yard counts." + +The Spanish gunboat (nobody on the Maria, of course, knew but what she +was a big cruiser) fired only about half a dozen shots at her daring +enemy; then the yells of the crew of the small boat must have attracted +her attention and forced her to desist for a moment. + +"And now's our chance," was the thought of the Americans. + +They were making the most of it, that was certain; they were fairly +flying along with the great waves. + +Clif himself was at the wheel, seeing that not an inch was lost by +steering wrongly. + +"We'll know soon," he muttered. "Very soon, for she'll chase us." + +The scene at this time was intensely dramatic; for the big ship had +glided out into the darkness and those on board of her could not see +their pursuer. They had no means of telling where she was, or whether +they had escaped or not. + +They could only keep on listening anxiously, tremblingly, counting the +seconds and waiting, almost holding their breath. + +They knew what the signal would be. The signal of their failure. If the +Spaniard succeeded in finding them, he would open fire and soon let them +know. + +Clif tried to guess how long it would take them to pick up the +unfortunate occupants of that small boat. + +"They'll be raging mad when they do," he thought. "Gorry! they'll murder +every one of us." + +For they would probably call the shooting of that officer a murder; it +did not trouble Clif's conscience, for he knew that a merchant vessel +has the same right to resist the enemy that a warship has. It was not as +if they had surrendered and then imitated the example of the treacherous +Ignacio. + +"I wonder how Ignacio likes this anyhow," thought Clif. + +But he had no time to inquire the Spaniard's views on the struggle; Clif +was too busily waiting and counting the seconds. + +He did not think it would be very long before the enemy's ship would be +after them again; and yet several minutes passed before any sign of the +pursuit was given. + +Clif began to think that possibly they had eluded their would-be +captors. But his hopes were dashed, for suddenly there came the dreaded +warning shot. + +And it was fired from so close that, though the Americans had been +listening for it, it made them start. It was evident that the enemy's +vessel had come close to do the business; her first shot seemed fairly +to tear the big merchantman to pieces. + +And Clif shut his teeth together with a snap. + +"We're in for it now," he muttered. "That settles it." + +There was no longer the last hope of escape. There was no longer even +any use of keeping on. There were but two things to be considered, sink +or surrender. + +There was a grim smile on the cadet's face as he turned away from the +wheel. + +"Tell the two men to come up from below," he said to one of the sailors. + +And then he went out on deck, staring in the direction of the pursuing +vessel. There was no difficulty in telling where she was now, for a +continuous flashing of her guns kept her in view. + +Clif was cool, singularly cool, as he stood in his exposed position. He +was no longer anxious, for he had no longer any hope. There was nothing +on board the Maria that could cope with the enemy's guns. There was only +the inevitable to be faced. + +The cadet soon guessed the nature of the pursuer from the way she +behaved. Her guns were all low down and close together. They were about +three-pounders, and rapid-firing. + +"It's a gunboat like the Uncas," he muttered. "Gorry! how I wish the +Uncas would come back!" + +But the Uncas was then near Havana, far from any possibility of giving +aid. And Clif knew it, so he wasted no time in vain regrets. + +By that time the Spanish vessel had gotten the range, and her three or +four guns were blazing away furiously. The gunboat was alight with the +flames of the quick reports, and the sound was continuous. + +"They aren't doing as well as I did," Clif said. "But still, they'll +manage to do the work." + +And so it seemed, for shot after shot crashed through the hull of the +already battered vessel. The Spaniards were mad, evidently. There was no +hail this time and proposal to surrender. But only a calm setting to +work to finish that reckless ship. + +The sailors came on deck and Clif, when he saw them, turned and pointed +to the Spaniard. + +"There she is, men," he said. "Look her over." + +For a moment nobody said anything; the little group stood motionless on +the deck. They were in no great danger for the firing was all directed +at the hull. + +Then suddenly Clif began again. + +"I guess this vessel is about done for," he said. "She will be either +sunk or captured. The only question is about us--what's to become of us. +I leave it to you." + +None of the men spoke for a moment. + +"I suppose," Clif said, "that we can manage to let her know we surrender +if we choose. We can scuttle the ship before we do it. But you know what +we may expect; after our shooting those two men they'll probably murder +us, or do things that are a thousand times worse." + +Clif stopped for a moment and then he turned. + +"Think, for instance," he said, "of being at the mercy of that man." + +He was pointing toward Ignacio, who lay near them, glowering in his +hate, and the sailors looked and understood. + +"It's better to drown, sir," said one. + +And the rest thought so, too, and declared it promptly. + +"Very well, then," was the cadet's quiet answer, "we will stay on board. +We have faced death before." + +That resolution made there was little else left to be determined. + +"We can sink the ship, or wait and let them sink it," the cadet said. +"Or else--there's one thing more. We are headed in the right direction. +We can smash her upon the rocks of the Cuban coast." + +And the sailors stared at him for a moment eagerly. + +"And stand a chance of getting ashore in safety!" they cried. + +At which the cadet smiled. + +"I'm afraid there's very little chance," he said. "But it's as good as +anything else. We'll try it." + +"Yes, sir." + +"You two go down to the engine room again, and keep things moving. And +the others stay on deck and make sure those Spaniards don't try to board +us again. I can handle the wheel myself." + +And with that the brave cadet turned away and sprang toward the pilot +house. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +A DESPERATE CHASE. + + +That was a heroic resolution those five brave men had made. But it was +inevitable, for they did not mean that either they or that valuable ship +should fall into the hands of the enemy. + +And apparently the enemy knew they did not mean to. For they kept +battering away at the big hulk that loomed up in the darkness, running +close alongside and firing viciously. + +Every shot made a deafening crash as it struck home. + +But the Americans did not mind it especially. When a man has made up his +mind to die he is not afraid of anything. + +And the men on deck paced up and down serenely, and Clif tugged at the +wheel with a positively light-hearted recklessness. + +It would have been a cold sort of a person whose spirit did not rise to +such an occasion as that. The wild night and the furious cannonading, +but above all the prospect of taking that huge ship and driving her +forward at full speed until she smashed upon the rocks, was a rather +inspiring one. + +The reader may have heard about the man out West who drew an enormous +crowd by advertising an exhibition railroad wreck, two empty trains +crashing into each other at full speed. This was a similar case; it does +not often happened that a man has occasion to drive a ship aground on +purpose. + +The resolution to which the Americans had come must have been plain to +the unfortunate Spaniards who were tied up on board the Maria. Their +fright was a terrible one, anyhow. + +Clif glanced out at them several times; their presence was the only +thing that made him hesitate to do what he had resolved. + +"For they haven't done anything, poor devils," he thought to himself, "I +wish I knew what to do with them." + +But there was only one thing that could be done; that was to put them +off in a small boat, and that would be practically murdering them. + +"They'll have to stay and take chances with us," muttered Clif. + +As if there were not noise enough about that time those men began to +raise a terrific outcry, yelling and shrieking in terror. But nobody +paid any attention to them--except that the sailors took the trouble to +examine their bonds once more. + +It would have been dangerous to let those desperate fellows get loose +then. For the Americans had enemies enough to cope with as it was. + +All this while the Spanish gunboat had been firing away with all her +might and main. She would cut across the vessel's stern, and send her +shots tearing through the whole length of the ship; then she would come +up close alongside and pour a dozen broadsides in. + +And nearly all the shots hit, too. + +It was evident to those on board that the merchantman would not stand +very much battering of that sort. Already one of the sailors had come up +to announce that two of the firemen had been struck. + +But still the Maria tore desperately onward. Nobody cared very much how +much damage was done, except that they did not want the engines to be +smashed until the ship had reached the shore. + +As well as Clif could calculate roughly, it ought not to have taken them +an hour to return to the coast, for they had the storm to aid them. +That they could hold out that long under the unceasing fire he did not +believe. + +"But the Spaniards may use up all their ammunition," he thought to +himself. + +That was a possibility, for he knew that the supply in the possession of +Spain was a small one. + +And the actual course of events made him think that his surmise was +true. The desperate chase kept up for perhaps half an hour; and then +unaccountably the Spaniard's fire began to slacken. + +Clif could hardly believe his ears when he heard it. + +"What can it mean?" he gasped. + +But a moment later his surprise was made still greater. For one of the +sailors bounded into the pilot house. + +"She's giving up, sir!" he cried. + +"Giving up!" + +"Yes, sir." + +"How in the world do you mean?" + +"She's stopped firing, sir. And what's more, she's dropping behind." + +Clif stared at the man in amazement. + +"Dropping behind!" + +And then suddenly he sprang out to the deck. + +"Take the wheel a moment," he cried to the sailor. + +And he himself bounded down the deck toward the stern. + +He stared out over the railing, clinging to it tightly to prevent +himself from being flung off his feet. + +He found that what the sailor had said was literally true. The Spaniard +was now firing only an occasional shot, and she was at least a hundred +yards behind. + +What that could mean Clif had not the faintest idea. Could it be that +her engines had met with an accident? Or that she fancied the +merchantman was sinking? + +The cadet gazed down into the surging water below him; he could see the +white track of the big steamer and knew that she was fairly flying +along. + +He took one more glance in the direction of the now invisible Spaniard. +The firing had ceased altogether. + +And like a flash the thought occurred to Clif that whatever the reason +for the strange act might be, now was the time to save the merchantman. + +"We can turn off to one side!" he gasped, "and lose her!" + +And with a bound he started for the pilot house. + +"Hard a-port!" he shouted to the man at the wheel. + +But before the man had a chance to obey Clif chanced to glance out +ahead, into the darkness toward which the vessel was blindly rushing. + +And the cadet staggered back with a gasp. + +"A light!" he cried. "A light!" + +Yes, there was a dim flickering point of light directly in front of +them. Where it came from Clif could not tell, but he realized the +significance in an instant. + +And at the same time there was another sound that broke upon his ear and +confirmed the guess. It was a dull, booming roar. + +The man at the wheel heard it, too. + +"It's breakers, sir!" he shouted. "Breakers ahead!" + +They were nearing the land! + +And then the significance of the Spaniard's act became only too +apparent. The men who were running her had seen the light, and they had +no idea of being led to destruction by their eagerness to follow that +reckless merchantman. + +And so they were slowing up and keeping off the shore. + +There was a faint hope in that; the Maria might be able to steal away if +she were quick enough in turning. + +Clif's order had been obeyed by the sailor the instant he heard it. Clif +sprang in to help him, and they whirled the wheel around with all their +might. + +But alas! they were too late! When a steamer waits until she hears +breakers in a storm like that it is all up with her, for she must be +near the shore indeed. + +And plunging as the Maria was, urged on by wind and waves and her own +powerful engines, it was but an instant before the crisis came. + +Clif had half braced himself for the shock; but when it came it was far +greater than he had expected. There was a crash that was simply +deafening. The huge ship plunged into the rocky shore with a force that +almost doubled her up, and made her shake from stem to stern. And she +stopped so abruptly that Clif was flung through the window of the pilot +house. + +The deed was done! + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A DASH FOR THE SHORE. + + +Strange to say, Clif was not much excited at the terrific moment. The +peril was so great that he was quite gay as he faced it. He had risen to +the occasion. + +He picked himself up and stepped out to the deck. + +There he found a scene of confusion indescribable. Above the noise of +the breakers on the shore and the waves that were flinging themselves +against the exposed side of the ship rang the wild shrieks and cries of +the terrified Spanish prisoners. + +The vessel after she had struck had been flung around and was being +turned farther over every minute. The violence of the storm that was +struggling with her was quite inconceivable. + +The waves were pouring over her in great masses, sweeping everything +before them; and the spray was leaping so high and the flying storm +clouds driving past so low that there was no telling where the surface +of the sea ended and the air began. + +The big ship had landed among rocks, and every wave was lifting her up +and flinging her down upon them with dull, grinding crashes that could +be both heard and felt. + +A moment after she struck a man came dashing up the ladder to the deck; +it was one of the sailors, and behind were the terrified firemen. + +"She's leaking in a dozen places!" the man shouted. + +He clung to railing as he spoke, and a great wave half drowned him; but +he managed to salute, and Clif saw a look of wild delight on his face, +one that just corresponded with his own eager mood. + +"She'll split in about half a minute, I fancy," the cadet answered, "and +the Spaniards are welcome to what's left. We've done our duty." + +And with that he turned to the pilot house, where the rest of the men +were grouped. They were gazing at him eagerly. + +"Are you ready, boys?" Clif shouted. + +Every one knew what he meant by "ready"--ready to make the wild attempt +to land and reach the shore through all those wildly surging breakers. +The very thought of it was enough to stir one's blood. + +And the answer came with a vengeance. + +"Ay, ay, sir!" + +"Then get out one of the boats," shouted Clif. + +As he saw the men struggling forward to reach the nearest rowboat he +turned suddenly on his heel. He had something else to attend to for a +moment. + +It was an errand of mercy. Those shrieking wretches were all bound to +the railing of the doomed ship, and Clif would never have forgiven +himself if he had left them there. Their faces would have haunted him. + +And he drew his sword and set swiftly to work. + +He cut the captain loose and put a knife into his hand. + +"Get to work!" he cried. "Get to work!" + +Clif took the risk of trusting the man, and went on, leaving him with +the weapon. The cadet believed that he would be grateful for his +release. + +And besides they were fellow sufferers then, threatened with the same +peril. + +And Clif was not mistaken. The man set hastily to work releasing his +comrades, and in less time than it takes to tell it the terrified men +were huddled together on the deck. + +The cadet wasted no more time upon them. + +"There are three boats left for you," he cried. "Save yourselves." + +And with that he turned and made his way down to where his own men were +struggling with one of the small boats. + +There was one other thing which in the wild confusion of that moment +Clif managed to remember needed to be attended to. There was Ignacio! + +The treacherous Spaniard had nearly been swept off, and he was half +drowned by the floods of water that poured over the deck. But his hatred +of the Americans was too great for him to shout to them for aid. + +What to do with that murderous villain was a problem that worried Clif. +Undoubtedly the wisest thing would be to kill him, then and there; death +was the fate he certainly deserved. + +And Clif half drew his sword; but it was no use. He could not bring +himself to do such an act. And he flung the weapon back into the +scabbard. + +To attempt to carry him away was equally useless; the Americans did not +expect to reach the shore themselves. + +"I'll leave him to his fate," Clif muttered. "The Spaniards may help him +if they choose." + +And with that he turned toward the sailors again; the men had by that +time nearly succeeded in getting the boat away. They were working like +Trojans. + +Every wave that struck the ship helped to fill the boat, even before it +touched the water; the spray poured down over the slanting deck upon it +and the sailors had to empty it several times. + +While they were wrestling thus the wind and water and rocks had been +getting in their work upon the doomed vessel. Lower and lower she sank, +harder and harder she pounded. + +And then suddenly a great billow heaved itself with a thud against the +bow and fairly hammered it around. One of the sailors gave a yell. + +"She's split!" + +And sure enough, a great seam had opened amidships and the water surged +in with a roar. + +The vessel seemed fairly falling to pieces. + +And such being the case the sailors had no time to delay. The frail boat +was lowered into the seething waters; the men tumbled in and seized the +oars. Clif made a wild leap and caught the stern just as one mighty wave +raced by and whirled the boat away from the vessel. + +And in one instant it was lost to sight and sound. What was done by the +Spaniards no one could see a thing. The Americans were fighting for +their own lives. + +There was but one thing for them to do---- + +"Pull for the shore, sailors, pull for the shore." + +And the great sweeping breakers to aid them. In fact they were flung in +so fast that they could hardly row. + +It was a thrilling struggle, that race with the giant waves. The sailors +struggled with all their might, keeping the frail craft straight. And +Clif, with a bucket he had thought to bring, was bailing frantically, +and shouting to encourage the men. + +In, in they swept, nearer, with the speed of a whirlwind, toward the +shore. + +"If it's rocks, Heaven help us!" Clif gasped. + +It seemed an age to him, that brief struggle. Breathless and eager, he +watched the great white caps breaking, smiting against the stern, +struggling to turn that boat but a few inches so that they might catch +it on the side and fling it over. + +And meanwhile the wind and waves and oars all helping, on swept the +boat--bounding over the foamy crests, sinking into the great hollows, +leaping and straining, but still shooting on in the darkness. + +And every second was precious, for the shore was not far away; the roar +of the surf grew louder--louder almost upon them. + +And then suddenly one great seething billow came rushing up behind. Clif +saw it, and shouted to the men. In a second more its white crest towered +over them. + +It was just on the point of breaking in a giant cataract of foam; it +would have buried the little boat and its occupants beneath tons of +foaming water. + +But it was just a second too late. The little boat's stern shot up; for +a moment it was almost on end, and then it rose to the top of the wave +and a moment later as the crash came and the sweep in toward shore began +the frail craft was flung forward as if from a catapult. + +And in it shot with speed that simply dazed the Americans; but it was +toward shore--toward shore! + +They had passed the breakers! + +And Clif gave a gasp of delight as he felt the wild leap forward. It +seemed but a second more before the rush ended. + +The bow of the rowboat struck and the frail object was whirled round and +flung over, its occupants being fairly hurled into the air. + +When they struck the water it was to find themselves within a few feet +of dry land. They staggered to a standing position to find that they +were in water only up to their waists. And the great wave was tugging +them out to sea again. + +They struggled forward wildly, clutching at each other. A minute later, +breathless, exhausted and half drowned, but wild with joy, they +staggered out upon a sandy beach and sank down to gasp for breath. + +"We're safe!" panted Clif. "Safe!" + +Safe! And on the island of Cuba, the stronghold of their deadly enemies! + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY. + + +It must have been at least five minutes before those exhausted men moved +again; when at last they managed to rise to their feet it was to find +themselves in the midst of absolute darkness, with the wild sea on one +side of them and on the other no one knew what. + +The faint point of light which they had seen had now disappeared: but +they took it to mean that there were Spaniards in the neighborhood. + +And they did not fail to recognize the peril in which they were. The +firing had probably been heard and the wreck of the merchantman seen. If +so, the Americans could not be in a much worse place. + +"We may be right in front of a battery," whispered Clif. + +The first thing the sailors did was to see to their revolvers and +cutlasses. And after that they started silently down the shore. + +"We won't try to go far," Clif said, "but we must find a hiding-place." + +But in that darkness the hiding-places were themselves hidden; the best +the Americans could do was to stumble down the shore for a hundred yards +or so, being careful to walk where the waves would wash out their +footprints. + +Then they were a short distance from the wreck and felt a trifle safer. + +"We may as well strike back in the country now," said the leader, "at +least until we can find some bushes or something to conceal us." + +That was a rather more ticklish task, and the men crouched and stole +along in silence. They had no idea what they might meet. + +It was fortunate for them that they were quiet. Otherwise they would +have gotten into very serious trouble indeed. + +They stole up the sandy beach a short ways, feeling their way along and +getting further and further away from the sea. They were struggling +through soft dry sand. + +And suddenly Clif, who was in front, saw something loom up before him, a +dark line. And he put out his hand to touch it. + +He found that the sand rose gradually into a sort of drift or bank. It +was high, and seemed to reach for some distance. + +The sailors stopped abruptly, and Clif crept softly forward, feeling +along with his hands; suddenly the men heard him mutter a startled +exclamation under his breath. + +"Men," he whispered, "we're in a terrible fix; I ran into a gun!" + +"A gun!" + +"Yes--a big one. We've struck a Spanish battery, and we must be near +some town!" + +The sailors stared at him aghast; and then suddenly came a startling +interruption--one that fairly made their blood grow chill. + +"Who goes there?" + +It was a loud, stern hail in Spanish, and it seemed to come from almost +beside them! + +Quick as a flash the Americans dropped, crouching close together in the +darkness. They could hear the beating of each others' hearts. + +There were several moments of agonizing suspense; the Spaniard who had +shouted out was evidently awaiting a reply. And then suddenly he +repeated his challenge. + +"Who goes there?" + +And a moment later came a sound of hurrying footsteps. + +"What's the matter?" Clif heard a voice demand. + +He was the only one in the party who understood Spanish, and knew what +was said. But it was plain to the rest that it was a conversation +between a sentry and an officer. + +"I heard a footstep, senor capitan!" cried the man. "Quidada! Take care! +It's very near." + +There was a moment's pause. + +"You must be mistaken," said the officer. + +"I am not mistaken," repeated the man firmly. "Santa Maria, my ears do +not deceive me. You said to be watchful, for you have heard firing." + +To that the Americans had listened in trembling silence; but the next +made them jump. "I will light this lantern," said the officer. + +And the instant they heard it Clif rose silently to his feet; the men +did likewise, and began to creep softly off to one side. + +But careful as they were they could not help the grinding sound of their +footsteps in the sand, and it caught the quick ear of the Spaniard. + +"Hear it!" he cried. "Por dios, again! Somebody is stealing upon us!" + +And an instant later the air was rent by a sharp crack of a rifle--the +sentry had fired! + +There was wild confusion at once, and the unfortunate castaways were +aghast. For an instant Clif thought of charging the battery--with four +men. But he realized the folly of that. + +"Quick!" he cried, "let us hide. Forward!" + +Lights were flashing and men shouting and running about behind the sand +wall just in front of them, but the sailors were still unseen. They +broke into a run and fairly flew down the shore. + +They fancied the whole Spanish company was at their heels; but after +they had run for some distance they found that they had not been +pursued. + +For the enemy were so taken by surprise at the sudden alarm that they +were if possible more frightened than the Americans. + +And so the men stopped for breath. + +They stared at each other, as if hardly able to realize the peril into +which they had so suddenly been plunged. + +"I think that was the quickest adventure I ever had in my life," +muttered Clif. + +The suddenness of it made him laugh; they had almost walked into a +Spanish fort. + +But it was no laughing matter, certainly; it was a confounded piece of +ill-luck. + +"For they'll be watching for us now!" muttered Clif. "I'm afraid that +will settle us." + +"They'll follow our footsteps!" exclaimed one of the sailors. + +That was so, and it was an unpleasant prospect; it was plain that if the +Americans wished to find any safety they must get some distance away +from that battery. + +"We'll make one more effort to get back into the country," muttered +Clif. + +And amid silence and anxious suspense they once more started up the +sloping seashore. + +They crept along as it seemed by inches. But fortunately they did not +run across any more "guns." When they came across an embankment it was +of solid earth and marked the end of the beach. + +And there were some trees and bushes there, so the Americans began to +feel more comfortable. For all they knew they might in the darkness have +been strolling into a town. + +But they were apparently out in the open country, there seemed to be no +people and no houses near. So they started boldly forward. + +It was then late at night, a dark and damp and windy night; so they were +not likely to find many people wandering about. + +"What we want to do," Clif said, "is to get back in the country a while +where we can hide until morning. Then if we can find some Cubans we'll +be all right." + +Clif was about tired to death. He had done far more work that day than +any of those sailors. But there was no time for resting then. + +He gritted his teeth and started; they took their bearings from the sea, +and then went straight on, watching and listening carefully, but meeting +with no trouble. + +At first their walk led through what had evidently once been a +cultivated country, for it was level and had but few trees upon it. At +present, however, it was overgrown with weeds. + +Once they almost ran into a house, which it may readily be believed gave +them a start. It was creepy business, anyhow, this stumbling along +through the enemy's country without being able to see ten yards in +front. + +But the house seemed to be empty. In fact, it could hardly be called a +house any more, for it was half burned down. + +The Americans thought that it was empty, for Clif had stumbled and +fallen with a crash over a pile of dry sticks and rubbish. But when he +rose to his feet to listen anxiously there was no movement or sign that +anybody had heard him. + +"It probably belonged to some of the reconcentrados," he muttered. + +He was about to turn and give the word to proceed. + +Then suddenly a new idea occurred to him, and he gave a pleased +exclamation. + +"This is lucky!" he whispered. "Men, what is the matter with hiding +there?" + +That was a rather startling proposition; for they could not be at all +sure but some one lived there after all. + +But Clif had come several miles by that time, and he was disposed to be +a trifle desperate. + +A person can get so tired that he will be anxious to enter even a +Spanish dungeon in order to get a chance to rest. + +"We will search the house," he said. "If we find anybody we'll hold them +up and make them prisoners; and if we don't, we'll spend the night +there." + +And then without another word he started silently forward. The sailors +were right behind him. + +What was evidently the front of the house was the part that had been +burned. Clif picked his way over the ruins and into the rear, where +there was a roof still remaining. + +There was a door there, half shut; one may readily believe that in +pushing it open Clif was rather nervous. + +But nothing occurred to startle him, and so they went forward once more. +The place about him seemed deserted. + +Then suddenly Clif did a startling thing. + +He took a deep breath and called aloud. + +"Anybody here?" + +And then for at least a minute or two the little party stood waiting in +silence; but no answer was heard. + +"I guess it's deserted," Clif said. "Scatter and search it thoroughly." + +And that was quickly done. To their relief the Americans found that the +place was not inhabited and that there was no one near. That once made +sure it may be believed that they wasted no more time in delay. + +"I don't think it will be necessary for us to keep watch," he said. "Our +safety lies in our hiding." + +They made their way into one of the smaller rooms of the little +building, one which had a key to the door. And having secured themselves +as best they could from danger of discovery, the wearied men sank down +upon the floor. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +A STARTLING DISCOVERY. + + +It may seem strange that they were able to sleep in the perilous +situation they were in; but they were men who were used to holding their +lives in their hands. They say that Napoleon could take a nap, during a +lull in battle, while he was waiting for his reserves to be brought up. + +The men were cold and damp, of course, but it was impossible for them to +light a fire, even had they dared to take such a risk. But the darkness +was their principal shield. + +But all the cold in the world could not have kept Clif awake; he and the +rest of the men were soon fast asleep, hidden away in the enemy's +country, and surrounded by perils innumerable, yet resting as quietly as +if they were at home. + +And none of them awakened either, as the dark night wore on. The day +began to break over the mountains to the eastward, and the gay sunbeams +streamed into the room to find the sailors still undisturbed and +unconscious. + +The sun had risen and was half an hour up in the sky before any of the +Americans showed signs of awakening. One of the sailors turned over and +then sat up and stared about him. + +It was not strange that the man wondered where he was, for a moment; he +had been through so much during the previous day. + +He found himself seated in a little bare apare apartment half charred by +fire, and having damp straw for flooring. His companions, including the +officer, were stretched out upon it. + +They seemed in blissful ignorance of the fact that it was damp. + +The sailor rose to his feet; he was rather stiff and sore, and somewhat +hungry, but he felt that he ought to be glad to be alive. + +And then he stole quickly over to the tiny window to look out; naturally +enough he was a little curious to see what sort of a place it was they +had hit on in the darkness. + +There was light, then, plenty of it--too much in fact, so the man +thought. It showed him everything. + +And the everything must have included something rather startling. For +the sailor acted in a most surprising way. + +He took a single glance out of the window; and then he staggered back as +if some one had shot him. + +The man's face was as white as a sheet. + +He stood for a moment seemingly dazed, his eyes staring vacantly. And +then suddenly he made a leap across the room and seized Clif by the +shoulder. + +It was a startling way for Clif to be awakened; the face of that man had +a sort of nightmare look. + +"What is it?" Clif gasped. "Quick!" + +"The window!" panted the sailor. "Look!". + +The man in his excitement had awakened the rest and they were sitting up +staring at him. + +Clif meanwhile had rushed to the window, and when he looked out he acted +just as the sailor had done. + +It might be well to describe in a few words what he saw. + +There was a small clearing around the deserted building, and beyond that +a heavy wood. Clif remembered having made his way through those woods. + +And now somebody else had done likewise. There was a squad of a dozen +soldiers standing on the clearing's edge. + +And they were Spaniards! + +"Can they have surrounded us?" gasped the cadet. + +"Or perhaps they don't know we're here," whispered one of the men. + +The full meaning of that startling discovery was made evident to them an +instant later. The officer of the Spaniards was standing to one side +watching a man, who, with bowed head, was carefully scanning the ground. + +And he was coming slowly toward the building. + +"They're tracking us," whispered Clif. + +And just then the man raised up his head and Clif got a glimpse of his +face. + +"The villain!" he gasped. + +It was Ignacio! + +Yes, it was the villainous Spanish spy. He and his Spanish companions +must have succeeded in getting ashore. And they had tracked their +unsuspecting enemies to their hiding-place. + +"I wish I had killed him!" Clif muttered half to himself. + +One of the sailors heard him, and he drew his revolver significantly. + +"It's not too late, sir," he said. + +But Clif held up his hand. + +"No, no," he whispered. "Not yet!" + +That suggestion called him back to action. Not yet--because they had not +yet been discovered. + +Ignacio was apparently off the scent; he did not know whether his +victims had dodged the building or had the temerity to enter. + +And instantly Clif leaped forward, over to the other side of the +building. If none of the enemy was there it might not be too late for +flight. + +"If they are," Clif muttered to himself, "by jingo, they've still got +the building to capture." + +Whatever was to be done had to be done quickly, for Ignacio was a +cunning fellow, and wouldn't be apt to delay very long. + +Clif gazed out in the other direction and saw to his delight that the +thicket came close to the house, and there were no Spaniards in sight. + +He called in a low voice to the men, who stole silently over toward him. + +"Quick!" he gasped. "Out, for your lives!" + +It was a thrilling moment, and Clif was trembling with eagerness. One by +one he watched the men crawl out of the low window and gather in the +shelter of the building. + +And a moment later he himself dropped down; the instant he struck the +ground he started forward. + +"To the woods!" he whispered. "And not a sound, for your lives." + +And the men sprang softly forward, not even pausing to glance over their +shoulders to see if they were discovered. + +Clif fancied at that instant that he was safe. The building was between +him and the Spaniards. + +But he did not know that at that moment Ignacio had observed a footprint +in the damp ground that made him aware that they had gone into the +building; he rushed around to the other side just in time to see a blue +uniform vanish in the thicket. + +The next moment a wild yell came from his throat. + +"Mira!" he shrieked. "Forward! Here they are now!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A RUNNING FIGHT. + + +That cry seemed the death knell of the Americans, and their hearts +leaped up in their throats when they heard it. For a moment Clif thought +of stopping and giving battle then and there. + +But he realized the hopelessness of that; it was hopeless too, to run, +with no place to run to. But the sailors were already dashing away +through the woods. And the cadet soon caught up with them and urged them +on. + +The Spaniards broke into a run the moment they heard Ignacio's cry; a +minute later they fired a volley into the bushes, probably in order to +alarm the country. + +It would have been hard for those five fugitives to go any faster than +they did during the first few moments of that chase. They heard their +enemies banging away and yelling in their rear, and they fairly flew +over the ground. + +"Keep together," panted Clif. "We may find some place to make a stand." + +The ground over which they were traveling was ill adapted for speed, for +it was rough and the bushes were thick. + +But it was as fair for one as the other, and the Americans tore their +way through and sped on. + +The Spaniards in the rear apparently knew of other troops in the +neighborhood from the way they kept yelling; Clif groaned as he realized +the hopelessness of their flight. + +For even if they succeeded in shaking off their pursuers the whole +country was alarmed and hunting for them. And they had no food and no +one to guide them. + +But the present evil was great enough, for the furious Spaniards were +hot on the trail. + +"Surrender! Surrender!" Clif heard the officer shouting a short way +back. + +The chase would have ended in no time had it not been for the woods, +which kept the fugitives out of sight so that they could not be shot. + +But that was a protection that would not last forever. Clif gave a +sudden gasp as he saw a clearing ahead of them. + +But it was only a small one, and the Americans sped across it at the +very top of their speed. They hoped to reach the woods before their foes +sighted them. + +And they did. Then suddenly a new idea flashed over Clif. + +"Stop a minute!" he cried. "Ready!" + +The sailors saw him draw his revolver, and they knew what it meant. They +crouched in the bushes, waiting. + +"We'll show them it isn't all play," Clif whispered. + +And, a second later, half a dozen Spaniards dashed out of the woods. + +"Fire!" roared Clif. + +There was a quick volley, and then instantly the fugitives sprang up +again and sped on. They left several of their enemies lying on the +ground. + +That unexpected move had evidently disconcerted the pursuers, who hadn't +looked for a reception of that kind. + +They were not heard on the trail again for fully a minute, while the +Americans made the best possible use of their time. But the pursuers did +not mean to give up as easily as that, and they soon set out once more, +firing away as if a whole army were in sight. + +Their little success raised the spirits of the gallant tars +considerably; they seemed to forget they were in the enemy's country. + +And they chuckled gleefully to themselves as they raced on through the +woods; they were a pretty small army of invasion, but they had lots of +courage. + +But there is a limit to what courage can do, and the unfortunate sailors +soon learned it. + +They came to a second clearing, a broad savanna this time. + +"We'll have to run for our very lives," gasped Clif. + +For if they failed to reach shelter before the Spaniards came up the +former situation would be just reversed and the Spaniards could hide and +fire in safety. + +And so the men set out at breakneck speed, as if they were in a hundred +yard's dash. + +"I think we can make it," thought Clif. "They seem to be a long ways +behind." + +The shouts of the enemy indicated it; Clif's volley had seemed to +deprive them of their former confidence and rashness. + +But unfortunately, they were not the only Spaniards in Cuba. The firing +had not failed to attract attention. + +The Americans had reached about the centre of the broad plain. There was +high grass and cane upon it, and that made even walking hard. But the +men still plunged on bravely, though they were gasping for breath. + +But then something happened that made them gasp still more. + +For the shouts of the enemy in the rear were suddenly answered. + +And the answer came from in front. + +The sailors halted and stared at each other in consternation. + +"Do you see anything?" cried Clif. + +All that could be made out was a line of bushes and undergrowth, marking +the beginning of the woods. + +But out of it came a confused babel of shouts, as if a whole army were +there and had been suddenly alarmed. + +"They'll head us off!" gasped the sailor. + +But they stood still for only a second; now was no time to delay. + +The pursuers in the rear were drawing closer every instant. + +There was only one thing left. They were shut off in two directions, but +off to each side---- + +"Come!" gasped Clif. + +And the sailors whirled about and followed him in the new direction. It +was a hopeless hope, but it was not yet time to give up. + +And so for perhaps a hundred yards they raced on. They had heard a shout +behind them, and saw the Spaniards running out from the woods, both in +front and behind. + +"Turn and fight them!" shouted Clif. + +Like wild animals at bay the sailors faced about and jerked out their +revolvers again. They were on the point of opening fire, when suddenly, +as if they were not in trouble enough, there came a new development. + +There was a yell behind them, and a crashing sound. Out upon the broad +savanna galloped a whole troop of Spanish cavalry, their carbines in +their hands. + +And at their head rode a brightly uniformed captain waving his sword and +galloping down upon the fugitives. + +"Surrender!" he yelled. "Lay down your arms." + +And that was the last straw; the sailors looked at Clif, and Clif looked +at the sailors. The troopers were not a hundred yards away, and there +were fifty of them. + +"I guess we may as well give up," said Clif, grimly. "We've done our +best, I think." + +And he turned toward the galloping men, dropped his sword and revolver, +and then folded his arms. + +"We surrender," he called. "Come on." + +And a minute later the gallant five were surrounded by the cavalrymen, +who stared at them eagerly. + +"Who are you?" demanded the gruff captain. + +"An officer in the United States Navy," said Clif, promptly. "From the +gunboat Uncas." + +"And what are you doing here?" + +"We were wrecked on the coast last night. We surrender, and we expect to +be decently treated." + +"You are prisoners of war," was the officer's stern response, "and you +will be treated as such. Forward, march!" + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE FIRST PRISONERS OF WAR. + + +The command had hardly been obeyed when out from the brush at the +further side of the savanna came the pursuing Spaniards and with them +Ignacio. + +The latter made straight for Clif with an upraised dagger, and would +have killed the cadet then and there if the commander of the troop had +not prevented him forcibly. + +"You fool!" he said, "don't you know the orders?" + +"What orders?" + +"From Blanco. Prisoners are to be brought to Havana. If you want to kill +him, wait till you get him there." + +And so the furious Ignacio was compelled to leave his enemy alone. He +now rode along behind the troopers, muttering curses under his breath. + +But he knew that his time would come later; moreover he had not so very +long to wait, for the capture had been made quite near to Havana. + +The country through which they were riding was broad and flat, rising +gradually to the blue hills at the southward. All about them it seemed +as if the land had once been under cultivation; but now it was overgrown +with rank vegetation. + +In the distance could be seen the buildings of a little town, for which +they were heading. + +The Spanish cavalrymen rode along merrily, their accoutrements jingling. +They were a dark-skinned, black-haired lot, and most of them were small, +and not very sturdily built. The Americans had heard it said that they +didn't get enough to eat, and they looked it. + +The prisoners were mounted upon spare horses, and were kept well in the +middle of the group. Their hands were tied behind them, and one of their +captors had hold of the bridles of their mounts. + +Clif's was a jaded old nag, and kept stumbling and stopping, making the +task of riding a difficult one, but he did not notice it very much, for +he was busily thinking. + +His present situation was indeed a discouraging one, and he felt its +degradation keenly. It was not that his conscience troubled him, for he +knew that he had done all that could be expected of him. + +But he was a prisoner for all that, and he had before him all the +horrors of which he had heard so much. + +Still there was no chance of escape, and he could only bow to the +inevitable; but he could not help feeling a thrill of apprehension as he +glanced behind him and saw the malignant Ignacio gazing at him. + +But Ignacio bided his time, and said nothing. Meanwhile, the troopers +trotted on. + +In about fifteen minutes the little town drew near. Clif did not know +the name of it, for he had no idea where he had run ashore on the +previous night. But he did not think he was far from Havana. + +The arrival of the soldiers created intense excitement in the town. Men +and women and children and barking dogs rushed out to see them pass. + +And when it was discovered that five Yankees had been captured the +cavalrymen received an ovation. But they made straight on to their +destination; what it was Clif had no trouble in guessing. + +There was a railroad station in the town, and there the troopers came to +a halt. Most of them dismounted from their horses to rest, and the +captain hurried off to attend to the task of getting a train to take +those prisoners to the capital. + +Meanwhile a great crowd gathered about the little station; most of them +were ugly-looking, ragged men, and they crowded around the prisoners and +stared at them curiously. + +There were looks of hatred upon their unpleasant faces, and their +remarks it may be believed were not complimentary. + +"The Yankee pigs have met their match at last," snarled one +tobacco-stained peon, who had forced his way up close to Clif. + +"And they'll go to Havana as they wanted to," put in another, with a +leer. "They were boasting they'd get there." + +There were some grins at that sally, which encouraged the Spaniard to go +on. + +"How do you like it?" he inquired. "Santa Maria, couldn't you have run +fast enough?" + +"They won't run any more," snarled another. "They'll be put where +they're safe." + +An old woman with a haggard, savage-looking face and a heavy stick shook +the latter in the Americans' faces, as she cursed them in her shrill, +Spanish jargon. + +And then suddenly came a loud cry from the outskirts of the crowd. + +"Stone the pigs! Kill 'em! Don't let them get away!" + +Clif could not see the man who yelled that, but he knew the voice, and +realized that Ignacio was getting in his fine work again. + +And he seemed likely to be successful, too, for the cry appeared to +please the crowd. + +"Yes, yes, kill 'em!" swelled the muttering shout. + +And a moment later some one, perhaps Ignacio himself, flung a heavy +stone at the Americans. + +It sailed over the heads of the mob, and struck one of the sailors a +glancing blow on the forehead. + +It made an ugly wound, and blood flowed. + +The sight seemed to please the crowd. + +"Por dios!" they laughed. "Good for them! Keep it up!" + +Perhaps the sight of blood enraged them; but at any rate, their +hostility became more evident. They shook their fists and muttered +savagely. + +And all the while Ignacio's voice chimed in. + +"Kill 'em! Kill 'em!" + +The prisoners seemed about to have a very unpleasant experience indeed. +There was no one to restrain the crowd except the soldiers and they +sympathized with the angry people. + +And the crowd seemed to know that; they surged nearer. + +"A prison's too good for them!" they roared. + +The old hag was still shaking her cane and yelling her maledictions. At +that moment a man snatched the stick from her hand and aimed a blow at +Clif's face. + +The cadet's hands were tied behind him, and he was nearly helpless. But +he managed to turn and catch the blow upon his shoulders. + +And an instant later his foot shot out and caught the enraged Spaniard +squarely in the stomach. + +The man staggered back. + +"Madre di dios!" he gasped. "He's killed me." + +Clif's daring action set the crowd in a perfect frenzy. + +"Stone 'em!" yelled Ignacio. + +And seemingly all at once they sprang at the prisoners with sticks and +stones and knives and fists. + +The soldiers made a feeble effort to stop them, but the crowd saw them +laughing as they did so. + +"Nobody cares about the Yankee pigs!" the crowd roared. "Go for them." + +It would have gone hard with the Americans just then had it not been for +the fact that the captain reappeared. He had no love to waste on them, +but he knew his duty. + +And he sprang forward with a stern command: + +"Drive that crowd back! Quick!" + +And then the cavalrymen acted in a quite different manner. The angry mob +was forced away, in spite of their protests. The sailors breathed +somewhat more freely. + +Still it was to their relief when they saw an engine and a single +freight car coming up the track. They knew that was for them and that +they would soon be out of the reach of that mob. + +"But not of Ignacio!" Clif groaned. "Not of Ignacio." + +The "private car" intended for the strangers came to a stop in front of +the little station, and they were told to dismount from the horses and +enter. + +The crowd gave a parting jeer as they lost sight of them. Once inside +the sailors were gruffly ordered to sit down, and their feet were tied +securely. + +A sergeant and three men were detailed to mount guard over them, and +then everything was ready for the start. + +Clif watched anxiously for one thing; he had an idea that his deadly +enemy might not succeed in following them the rest of the journey. + +But in that he soon saw that he was mistaken. Ignacio had no idea of +being foiled in his vengeance. Just before the door of the car was shut +his small, crouching figure entered. + +He stopped just long enough to clinch his fist and shake it at Clif; and +then he retired into a corner to snarl angrily to himself. + +A few moments later there was a creaking of wheels and the "train" had +started. The roar of the crowd died away and was succeeded by the sound +of the rapid motion. + +The prisoners were on their way to Havana. + +"And I wish there'd be a wreck and end us before we got there," mused +Clif. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +IGNACIO'S PLOTS. + + +For Clif Faraday had not failed to learn something of what a prisoner +might expect in Havana. A classmate of his, Vic Rollins, had spent a +couple of months there and had emerged almost a physical wreck. + +And Clif could not tell how long he might have to remain. The war had +already been going on long enough for him to see that it would last some +time. + +And the amount of cruelty and starvation he had before him was enough to +make the cadet tremble. + +He knew that the severest privation would fall to his lot. + +Ignacio could be trusted to see to that. + +"I don't think they'll dare to let him kill me," the American muttered. +"But he'll probably get his satisfaction somehow." + +At any rate, it was plain that the vengeful Spaniard meant to try. He +soon set to work. + +That Clif understood Spanish he was well aware. But he did not seem to +mind it. + +For he began a conversation with the sergeant. And he did not take the +trouble to whisper what he had to say, though one would have thought he +would not care to have so villainous a plot known to any one. + +The officer in charge of the Americans was sitting near them with his +own sword lying in his lap. And Ignacio crept over to him. + +"Jose," said he, "Jose Garcia, listen to me." + +"What is it?" + +"Jose, have you been paid your wages for the last six months?" + +The soldier gazed at Ignacio in astonishment. + +"Carramba! What's that to you?" + +"Nothing, Jose, except that you need money, don't you?" + +It was evident from the look that came over the Spanish soldier's face +that the answer he made was sincere. + +"Santa Maria!" he cried. "Yes! Why?" + +"Would you like to make some?" + +"How much?" + +Slowly Ignacio reached his hand inside of his shirt and pulled out a +little bag. + +He loosened the mouth of it and took the contents out. He spread them +out on the floor of the car. + +"It is American money," he said, "the money of the pigs. But it is good +money for all that." + +"How much is there?" + +"Ha! ha! You are interested, are you? Well, well!" + +Ignacio's dark eyes glittered as he slowly went over the pile of bills. + +"See, sergeant," said he, "here is a hundred-dollar bill. Just think of +it! Look at it! Think if I should get that bill changed into good +Spanish gold. The British consul would do it." + +"Yes, he is a friend of the Yankees." + +"Yes, he would do it for me. And then here is fifty dollars more. Look +and count it. Think of what you could do with one hundred and fifty +dollars of the Yankee's money. Think of what it would buy--food and I +know not what--a fine dress for your sweetheart, to take her away from +that rival of yours. And it is all good money, too." + +"How am I to know it?" + +"Carramba! Couldn't you take my word. You know me, Jose, and what I do +for Spain. Do you not know that I am a friend of Blanco's? Hey? And you +know that he trusts me when he trusts nobody else." + +"And how did you get that money?" + +"How did I get it! Ha! ha! I will tell--yes, por dios, I will, and those +Yankee pigs may hear me, too. Ha! ha! There was what they called a +traitor on the New York, the Yankee's flagship. She isn't much, but she +is the best they have. One of our little gunboats could whip her, for it +would be men fighting pigs." + +The sergeant's eyes danced. + +"And we'll sink her, too," went on Ignacio. "Just wait! I saw her run +away once from a little gunboat. The Yankees build their boats swifter +than ours so they can run away. But anyhow, as I said this man was +working for Spain. And he tried to blow up the flagship." + +"Por dios!" cried the sergeant, "like we did the Maine." + +"Exactly. It would have been another glorious triumph for us. And, Jose +Garcia, who do you think it was that prevented him?" + +The man clinched his fists. + +"I don't know!" he cried, "but I wish I could get hold of him." + +"You do?" + +"Yes." + +"What would you do to him?" + +"Santa Maria! I'd get him by the throat----" + +"You would?" + +"Yes. And I would choke him till he was dead." + +"Dead!" echoed Ignacio, with a hoarse cry of triumph. + +And then he raised one arm trembling all over with rage and hatred. + +"Jose!" he half yelled. + +"What is it?" + +"Suppose I should tell you, Jose--suppose I should tell you that the +villain is here?" + +"Here?" + +"Yes. By Heaven, he's here. Jose, that is he!" + +And the fellow pointed straight at Clif, while he leaned forward and +stared into the Spaniard's face, eager to see what the effect of his +announcement would be. + +It must have suited him, for he gave a low laugh, a fiendish chuckle. + +Then he went on. + +"And not only that, Jose! Think of what else he has done." + +"Has he done more?" + +"Yes, por dios, he has. Listen. Jose, we have in our power the worst of +our country's enemies. Jose, he is a fiend, a perfect devil. He has +ruined nearly every plan I tried. Do you know if it had not been for +him--yes, for him--I should have stabbed the great pig admiral." + +"Carramba!" + +"Yes." + +"Not Sampson." + +"Yes, he, the villain who is blockading Havana and destroying our ships. +I had the knife at his heart, and that Yankee pig prevented me. Do you +wonder that I hate him?" + +"No. I hate him, too." + +"Yes! For you are a true Spaniard. But about that money, Jose. I got it +as I say, from this Schwartz. For when this Yankee pig stopped him from +blowing up the New York he ran away and hid. And he paid me this for +helping him to Cuba." + +Ignacio held up the bills before the hungry eyes of the Spanish +sergeant. + +And when he had given him time to look at it and think of what it meant +for him, Ignacio suddenly bent forward and got close to him. + +"Jose," he cried, "it's all for you!" + +The man stared eagerly. + +"What for?" he cried. + +"I will tell you!" said Ignacio. + +Once more he slipped his hand under his jacket. + +"Look," said he. + +And he drew out a sharp, gleaming dagger! + +He ran his fingers over the edge, hissing as he did so between his +teeth. + +"It is sharp," he muttered. "Ha! ha! sharp! And it will do the work." + +"What work?" + +"Listen, Jose. There lies the fiend of a Yankee. He is in my power at +last. He has baffled me, ruined me, but now I have him! Yes, he can't +get away! Ha! ha! I feel merry. Jose, he is my deadliest enemy; he is +your enemy, too, the enemy of our glorious country. I hate him--so must +you." + +"I do!" + +"Then listen. I want to take this knife, this nice, sharp knife that I +have been grinding for him. Ha! ha! Santa Maria, how sharp it is! And I +will put this money, all this money, into your hands and you will turn +away so as not to see. And I will take this knife in my hand so. And I +will creep over toward that fellow----" + +"And kill him?" + +"Listen, Jose. You spoil it. He'll scream. He'll turn pale and tremble +like the coward he is. But he can't get away, Jose, he can't get away! +I've got him, Jose! And I'll unbutton his jacket, that hated Yankee +uniform. And I'll take this knife and I'll put it right close to his +soft, white skin. Then I will press down--down! And you'll hear him +scream as it goes in; he'll twist about and shriek, but I will pin him +to the floor. And then he will lie there, Jose, and we can watch him +die. Ha, Madre di dios, how I hate him!" + +The Spaniard's rage had been such that his face grew fairly purple. And +he snatched up the knife and started forward toward the cadet. + +"How I hate him!" he panted again. + +What were the feelings of poor Clif may be imagined; he was perfectly +helpless and could only lie still and gaze into the eyes of his deadly +foe. + +But there was some one else to stop Ignacio. + +The sergeant caught him by the arm. + +"So, no!" he cried. "Stop." + +"What!" panted Ignacio. "Why?" + +"They would punish me." + +"But they need not know?" + +"The others will tell." + +"Nonsense." + +"But they will." + +"What? Cannot a knife kill more than one man. Carramba, I will kill all +five." + +"But I was ordered to deliver them alive." + +Ignacio was nearly frenzied at those objections. + +"Jose" he yelled, "you are mad. We can fix it. I will fix it with +Blanco. Say they got loose, chewed the ropes, and attacked us. I will +swear they did, swear it by all the saints. And I hate that Yankee so, +Jose, that I would cut my own flesh to make the story seem more +probable. I will say we had a desperate battle--tell them how you saved +my life. And you will be promoted. Blanco will believe me, Jose." + +But the Spanish soldier shook his head dubiously. + +"I dare not," he said. "The captain's last words were to deliver them +safely." + +"But think of the money, Jose! Think of the money!" + +Ignacio fairly ground his teeth with rage over the delay; he was like a +wild man. + +"Por dios," he cried, "how can you hesitate? It is the chance of your +lifetime--of your lifetime!" + +The five unfortunate prisoners had not all of them understood those +words, but they had no doubt of their meaning. And they lay watching +Ignacio feverishly. + +It was as if they had been charmed by a serpent, their eyes followed his +every motion. They realized that at any moment the cunning villain might +leap at them. + +But the sergeant, though wavering, still shook his head. + +"The men will tell," he objected. + +"Here is another hundred for them!" gasped Ignacio. "It is all I have. +Por dios, what more?" + +There was at least half a minute of agony after that while the man upon +whom everything depended wrestled with that temptation. It was a great +one, and Clif felt a cold perspiration breaking out all over him as he +sat and watched. + +But the stolid sergeant was apparently too much of a coward to take the +risk. He said no, and Clif gave a gasp. + +"Wait and see Blanco," he said. "I do not dare to let you do it." + +And though Ignacio blustered and swore and pranced about like a mad man, +the soldier was obdurate. + +"The risk is too great," he reiterated. "I dare not." + +And so Ignacio once more slunk back into a dark corner of the car and +fell snarling to himself. + +"But I'll have him yet!" Clif heard him hiss. "I'll have him yet. Just +wait till we get to Havana." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +BESSIE STUART. + + +The event to which Ignacio was looking forward with so much pleasure was +not long in taking place. + +The trip by the railroad lasted about half an hour only. + +Ignacio would hardly have had more than time to carry out his dastardly +purpose before the train arrived. The car came slowly to a stop and the +sergeant got up and opened the door. + +"Here we are," said he. "And I am glad." + +Ignacio was apparently glad, too, since he had failed in his first plan. +He sprang up eagerly and watched the removal of the prisoners. + +The sergeant untied the Americans' feet and gruffly ordered them to +march. With the soldiers before and behind they were led rapidly through +the streets of Havana. + +If the arrival of those prisoners in a small town created excitement, +one may well imagine that the big capital turned out a crowd to watch +them; but there was almost no demonstration against them, for the party +hurried along rapidly. And Ignacio did not try any of his tricks; he +knew that his chance would soon come, and he waited patiently. + +Clif gazed about him as he walked. He was listless and hopeless, but he +could not help feeling an interest in the city he had heard so much of +and which he had been so busily helping to blockade. + +But he had little chance to look about. He was marching down a long +street crowded with Spaniards of all sizes and shades. And then suddenly +before a dark, heavy-looking building, the guards came to a halt. + +There was a heavy iron door in front of it that opened slowly. + +"March in," said the sergeant. + +And the prisoners, with bayonets at their backs, were forced up the +steps and into the building. + +The door shut again with a dull iron clang that sounded like a death +knell to Clif. + +Ignacio entered, too. He seemed to have the privilege of going where he +chose; the sentries who were guarding that door asked him no questions. + +It was apparently some sort of a military jail to which they had been +taken. Down a long stone corridor they were marched, and then halted in +front of a door. + +The sergeant entered, and Ignacio after him. The rest waited outside. + +It must have been at least fifteen minutes before anything more +occurred. Then the sergeant came out, and ordered the prisoners to +enter. + +Clif, as the officer, entered first, and he found himself facing a tall, +military looking Spaniard with a resplendent uniform and an air of +authority. Who he was Clif had no idea, but he was evidently in command +of the place. + +He was a dark, savage-looking man, and his brows were drawn down as he +frowned upon the prisoners. + +And Clif was not surprised. + +"He's had Ignacio to tell him about us," he thought to himself. + +Ignacio was standing just behind the officer. There was a grin on his +face and a look of delight; he rubbed his hands gleefully as he watched +what transpired. + +The Spanish officer glared at his prisoners sternly. Clif's bearing was +quiet and dignified. + +"So you are the officer who commanded the Yankee pigs?" growled the man. + +"I am an American naval cadet," was the response. + +The Spaniard said nothing more for a moment, but continued his piercing +look. + +"You put on a bold front," he said at last. "You must have looked +differently when you were running away." + +The remark required no answer, and got none. Clif did not mean to bandy +words with the officer; if he wanted to taunt him he was welcome to do +so. + +"We treat our prisoners more politely," he thought, "but I suppose this +is the Spanish way." + +Meanwhile the officer went on. + +"You will be less impudent later on," he snarled, "when you learn what +is in store for you. You've no idea, I presume." + +"I understood that I was a prisoner of war," was the American's quiet +answer. "And I understood that Spain considered itself a civilized +nation." + +The Spaniard laughed softly. + +"A prisoner of war," he chuckled. "So you really expect to be treated as +such--and after what you have done!" + +"What have I done?" asked Clif. + +Ignacio's eyes began to dance at that; for the officer turned toward +him. + +"This gentleman," said the officer, "is one of our trusted agents. And I +have learned from him of your villainy." + +Clif was not in the least surprised at that. It was just what he had +looked for. + +"I should be pleased to learn also, if I may, what has this trusted +agent told you?" + +As he said that, he turned toward the grinning Ignacio. + +But it was the officer who continued speaking. + +"I suppose you wish to deny everything," said he. "But I assure you it +will do not the least good in the world." + +"I presume not," escaped Clif's lips. + +The Spaniard frowned angrily, but he went on without a change of tone. + +"You were captured, if I understand it truly, from a merchantman which +you ran upon the rocks in order to prevent one of our vessels from +recapturing her?" + +"That is true," Clif said. + +"And you must have thought it quite a smart trick! But according to this +man here, you previously had some fighting with our vessel. Would you +mind telling me about it?" + +"I would not," said Clif. "We were steaming toward Key West, myself and +these four men being a prize crew from the gunboat Uncas. We were hailed +from the darkness by another vessel----" + +"Ah! And what was the name of the vessel?" + +"I do not know." + +"Did you not ask?" + +"I did. But she answered falsely. She pretended to be an American +vessel----" + +The Spaniard gave a sneer. + +"So that is the yarn you mean to tell," he laughed. + +"That is what occurred," said Clif, quickly. "If you have heard +otherwise you have been told a lie. And my men will bear me out in the +statement." + +"Indeed! I do not doubt it." + +There was fine sarcasm in that tone; but Clif did not heed it. + +"Would you mind telling me what this fellow Ignacio has said?" he +inquired. + +"He says," responded the other, "that the vessel announced herself as a +Spaniard, and called on you to surrender. You did so; and then when the +boat's crew came aboard you shot two of them and steamed away. Is that +so, Ignacio?" + +"It is," snarled the "agent." "I will take my oath upon it." + +It was of course a lie; and it made Clif's blood boil. The Spanish +vessel had deceived them and tried to capture them by stealth. The men +of the Spanish boat's crew had been shot while trying to hold up the +American. + +But Clif had expected that Ignacio would tell such a tale, and so he was +not surprised. The offense with which the lad found himself charged was +a terrible one, and he realized that he could be hanged for it. + +Yet what was he to do? + +"I fear," he said to the Spaniard, "that it will do me little good to +deny this story." + +"That is true," said the other, promptly. + +And his cruel eyes gleamed as he watched the prisoner. + +"Do you deny the shooting?" he demanded. + +"No," said Clif, "I do not." + +"You find it easier to say that the men pretended to be Americans." + +"I find it easier because it is truer," was the cadet's answer. + +And then there were several moments of silence while the three actors of +this little drama watched each other eagerly. + +Ignacio was fairly beside himself with triumph. He could scarcely keep +himself quiet, and under his bushy eyebrows, his dark eyes gleamed +triumphantly. + +He had played his trump card. And he had his victim where he wanted him +at last. To watch him under the torture of his present position was +almost as good as to watch him under the torture of the knife. + +For what could he do? He might bluster and protest (all to Ignacio's +glee) but nobody would believe him. + +For Ignacio knew that the Spanish officer was glad enough to believe the +story the spy told him. His prejudice and his hatred of Americans would +turn the scale. + +And it would be fine to punish a Yankee pig for such a crime as this. + +As for Clif, he was filled with a kind of dull despair; he knew the odds +against him, and realized that his struggles would be those of a caged +animal. He had done nothing but his duty and the law of nations would +have justified him. But Ignacio's lie upon that one small point (of what +the Spanish gunboat had done) was enough to make him liable to death. + +The officer seemed to realize the smallness of difference, for he turned +to Ignacio. + +"Are you perfectly sure," he demanded, "that you heard our vessel +announce her identity?" + +"I am, senor." + +"And what was her name?" + +Clif's eyes brightened at that; he thought Ignacio would be caught +there. + +But the cunning fellow was prepared, and answered instantly. + +"The Regina." + +He had chosen the name of a Spanish gunboat he knew to be at sea; and +the ruse worked. + +"What more can you expect?" demanded the officer of Clif. + +And then the cadet looked up to make the last effort for his life. + +"As I have told you," he said, "this fellow's story is false. And now I +will tell you why he has done it. He has long been an enemy of mine, +and he is making an effort to ruin me. I foiled him----" + +"If you are going to tell me about that attempt of his to kill your +Yankee admiral," interrupted the officer, "I know it already." + +And Ignacio gave a chuckle of glee. + +"In fact," the officer added, "I have learned of all your adventures, +young man. And I have no doubt you consider yourself quite a hero after +what you have done against Spain. But you will live to regret it, I +think." + +And Clif saw that he had nothing to gain by pursuing that tack any +further; he was silent, for he knew nothing more to do. The Spaniard +went on: + +"I know also of another affair of yours," he added. "It seems that your +pig government sent a naval officer over to see that bandit robber +Gomez. And our friend here, Ignacio, was leading him into our camp. I +believe that was it, was it not, Ignacio?" + +"It was, senor, and this Yankee here met us----" + +"And wounded you and rescued the officer, with the aid of some of the +robber's men, and that girl you told me about." + +"Exactly," said Ignacio. + +"What was her name?" the other continued. "Stuart, I think. We will soon +manage to stop her tricks, I fancy." + +Clif had been listening to their conversation without any particular +interest. But suddenly as he heard that last speech his face flushed +crimson and he half staggered back. + +"Bessie Stuart!" he gasped, under his breath. + +The Spanish officer was looking at him and he laughed as he saw the +American's thunderstruck expression. + +"Ha! ha!" he chuckled, "so you are interested in her, are you? A +sweetheart, perhaps, hey?" + +Clif did not answer that; he was staring at the man in horror. Stop +her! What in the world could he mean? What could he know about Bessie +Stuart? + +The girl was a dear friend of Clif's who had come to Cuba to hunt for a +relative of hers. + +Clif had left her under the protection of Gomez; and that was the last +he had heard of her. + +And here was the brutal Spaniard mentioning her. How had he and how had +the villainous Ignacio learned about her? + +It was small wonder that Clif started back; Bessie Stuart was the +dearest friend he had. + +Meanwhile the Spaniard was leering at him. + +"The Yankee pig seems worried," he said. "If that girl is his +sweetheart, he did not do wisely to leave her with the bandit Gomez. Did +he, Ignacio?" + +"No, senor," was that person's grinning response. + +"For she will soon be somebody else's sweetheart," chuckled the other. + +That was too much. Clif had held himself back, for he did not wish those +cruel men to know he could torment him. + +But at that last remark he could no longer restrain his anxiety. He +sprang toward the Spanish captain with a pleading look on his face. + +"Tell me!" he cried. "Tell me--where is she?" + +The other's lip curled sneeringly as he stared at him. + +"You are very much interested," said he. "Well, to be sure, the girl is +pretty--pretty as I ever saw, unfortunately for her. But you may see her +again. I expect--she is likely to be in the same prison with you." + +Every drop of blood left Clif's face at those terrible words. Bessie +Stuart in prison! + +"Merciful providence!" he gasped. + +And then once more he sprang toward the Spaniard, a look on his face, a +look of agony that would have touched a heart of stone. + +"For Heaven's sake, sir," he gasped, "tell me!" + +"Tell you what?" + +"Is she in Havana?" + +The Spaniard laughed softly. + +Then he nodded toward Ignacio. + +"Ask him," he said. "He keeps track of such people for us. She has been +here some time now; and people who get into our prisons don't--ha! ha! +they don't get out in a hurry, do them, Ignacio?" + +"No, senor." + +"And then she is very pretty, too," added the officer, with a laugh. + +To the agony those remarks were raising in the mind of poor Clif those +two brutal men seemed quite insensible. Or perhaps they were teasing +him. + +But if so, the officer had enough then, for he turned upon his heel +impatiently. + +"Enough of this nonsense," he said. "You need not worry about your +sweetheart, for you will probably be dead by to-morrow." + +And the man turned to the soldiers. + +"Those four prisoners," he said, pointing to the sailors, "will be kept +here for the present. They will probably be exchanged in a few days. We +do not blame them for the crime this officer here committed. As for him, +he will probably be sent over to Morro Castle to-night." + +And then the file of soldiers closed about the dazed cadet and led him +out of the room. He was scarcely able to walk by himself. + +The last sound that he heard as he left the room was the fiendish +chuckle of the triumphant Ignacio. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +IN MORRO CASTLE. + + +That certainly was a day of triumph for the vindictive Spaniard. Not +only Clif Faraday was made wretched, but there was his friend, too, and +each a thousand times more unhappy because of the misfortune of the +other. + +Clif as he went out of that room was almost dazed; he could think of +nothing. He scarcely heard the sailors sadly bidding him good-by. + +Nor did he notice anything else until he heard the clang of a door +behind him, he realized then from the darkness and silence about him +that he was alone in one of the cells of the prison. + +It was not for himself that the poor cadet feared. He could have marched +out without flinching and faced a dozen rifles aimed at his heart. + +But it was for Bessie Stuart, fallen into the hands of these brutal men. +The fate that was before her was enough to make Clif wish her dead. + +He racked his brains trying to think of how she could have come to +Havana; could she have been captured in a battle? And what had Ignacio +to do with it? + +But poor Clif knew nothing, and could think of nothing except that she +was here, and he powerless to aid her. + +His own fate was terrible enough, though he hardly thought of that. + +He was to be sent at night to Morro. + +Many indeed were the unfortunates who had gone to take that sea trip in +the darkness and never come back--and sometimes not reached their +destination either. It was a terrible journey, that short ride across +Havana Bay. + +But the cadet did not even stop to realize that. He had but one thought, +and that he kept repeating over and over to himself in a state of +confusion and despair. He never moved from his one position on the +floor; and the hours flew by unheeded. + +Once and once only the heavy door of the cell was opened and that by a +man who shoved in a pitcher of water and a dish of food. He must have +thought the prisoner asleep. + +And as a fact, Clif was half unconscious; he was too dazed to think of +anything. He had no hope and no chance of life, and nothing to think of +except that Bessie Stuart was captured and he could not aid her. + +So the long day wore by; it was as a man waking from a deep sleep that +the wretched American looked up when the door of that cell was opened +again. He found that the hours had flown by, and that the time for the +trip to Morro had come. + +If Clif had cared about anything then he would have shivered with horror +at that moment, for it was surely gruesome and uncanny enough. + +Three men there were, dark, silent, shadowy figures who entered the damp +cell. The only light they had was from a dark lantern, which they +flashed upon the solitary prisoner. + +They found him still lying on the floor, but he raised up to look at +them, his haggard, tortured face shining white in the rays of the +lantern. + +"Get up," commanded one of the men, in a low, muffled voice. "Get up." + +The face of the speaker was shrouded in darkness, but Clif recognized +the voice, and a cold chill shot over him. + +"Ignacio again!" he gasped. + +Yes. And Clif thought that this was the last--that Ignacio had gained +his purpose. The task of murder was left to him. + +But there was no chance of resistance. Clif felt the cold muzzle of a +revolver pressed to his head, and so he put the thought away. + +One of the men snapped a pair of handcuffs about his wrists, as if to +make sure of him in case the ropes were not strong enough. And then one +of them seized him by each arm and Ignacio stepped behind with the +lantern. + +And so out of the cell they marched and down the long corridor and out +of the building into the open air. + +Clif had chance for but one deep breath of it. A moment later he was +shoved into a wagon that was in front of the door. + +There he was seated between one of the men and the chuckling Ignacio. +The other man was driving and they rattled off down the street. + +Where they were going the unfortunate victim had no idea. Perhaps to +some lonely spot where Ignacio could torture him to his fiendish heart's +content! But there was no use in making an outcry. + +And Clif realized it and sat perfectly silent. He would give his enemies +no more satisfaction than he could help. + +Clif did not think that it could be the trip to Morro that was before +him; it was too early for such a deed of darkness. If he were dropped +overboard upon the way some one might see it. + +But as it actually happened, Morro was his destination. And he really +reached Morro, too. Perhaps the city jail was not considered strong +enough for such a villain as he. + +And the carriage stopped at a wharf. A small launch was waiting there, +and the party boarded her and were swept across to the other side in a +very short while. + +So in a short while the walls of Havana's strongest dungeon shut upon +Clif Faraday. He was a prisoner in Morro, famous or infamous, for its +deeds of horror. + +For it was in this place, as Clif knew, that all the torture and cruelty +of the Spanish nature had been wreaked upon the unfortunate Cubans or +Americans who fell into the hands of Weyler. It was here that Ruiz had +been murdered, and hundreds of wretches besides--their name and fate +being hidden forever by the walls of that horrible place. + +And Clif was going then under the guidance of Ignacio. It was plain that +the fiendish man had secured his purpose, for he was in command of the +little party. And it was his to decide what was to be done with Clif. + +How the man had secured that privilege from the authorities Clif could +not hope to know. That he had gotten it as a reward for some deed of +darkness he did not doubt. + +Perhaps it was for capturing Bessie Stuart, was the thought that flashed +over the lad. + +Again when the black, silent walls of Morro loomed up before them and +the great gate opened nobody asked any questions of Ignacio. He showed a +note, and it passed him from sentry to sentry; and the party passed down +a flight of stairs into a cold, damp, stone corridor black as night. + +Poor Clif could not help but think of his own fate then. Ignacio's +cruelty and hatred were such that no torture would be terrible enough +for him. And he seemed to have his prisoner entirely to his own +discretion. + +The great vault through which they were going echoed dimly to the +footsteps of the party. They seemed to be down in a sort of a cellar, +and they were winding their way through secret passages in almost +absolute darkness. + +But Ignacio knew the way--probably the fellow had been in those gloomy +dungeons before. + +He stopped suddenly and flashed the lantern upon a rusty iron door. It +was solid and heavy, but Ignacio took a key from his pocket and unlocked +it. + +It swung back, creaking dismally upon its hinges. And Ignacio flashed +the light of his lantern in. + +He staggered back quite white with fright as he did so. For there was a +series of thumping, shuffling sounds, and a shrill noise that made his +blood run cold. + +But in a moment he again stepped forward, laughing under his breath. + +"Por dios!" he exclaimed. "The rats! They must be hungry!" + +And he stepped into the room. His foot splashed into a small puddle of +water on the reeking, earthen floor. But he pressed on, flashing his +lantern about the granite walls. + +It was a tiny black cavern into which he had come. + +There was a stone bench at one side of the horrible place, and in the +wall by it a heavy ring and a thick iron chain. + +It was but a minute more before Clif's ankles were locked firmly in the +ring, and then he was utterly helpless. + +For but a moment Ignacio stood looking at him, flashing the lantern full +in his face. And then he turned and motioned to the two men. + +Without a word they faced about and stole away. They went out of the +door, and Ignacio, trembling all over with his fiendish eagerness, shut +the great iron barrier and locked it. + +And then with a hoarse cry of rage he faced about. + +Clif Faraday was alone with his deadly and merciless foe! + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +IN THE DUNGEON VAULTS. + + +Ignacio was a horrible object to contemplate at that moment, and it was +but little wonder that Clif turned sick and faint as he watched him. + +The man seemed fairly turned into a devil then. He seemed insane. He was +alone, absolutely alone, with his victim. And no one under heaven could +stop him. He had the key himself! And he had his prisoner iron-bound and +helpless! + +For several moments the man fairly danced about the place, yelling as if +to prove to his hated foe that there was no care for anything any more. + +And then suddenly he made a leap at him. + +He crouched in front of him until his gleaming eyes shone into his face, +and his hot breath could be felt. His claw-like fingers he seemed +scarcely able to keep away from Clif. + +"Yankee!" he hissed, in a wild voice. "Yankee, do you know where you +are?" + +The fiendish man saw the white look on his victim's face; and he +laughed. + +"You do know!" he cried. "You do know! Ha! ha! You are in Morro, deep in +the lowest vault! And no soul can come near you--near you--hear me?" + +He struck him in the face as if to draw his attention. + +"Listen; yes, stare at me! I don't wonder you quake. You have defied +me--ha, ha! You have ruined all my plans, but I've got you now. And, oh, +how I will pay you back, how I will twist you and tear you! You shall +pay for everything. And you may shriek and scream and no one will know +it more than if you did not. Listen!" + +And again from sheer bravado Ignacio raised his voice and shouted. The +sound died in the grave-like cell--the granite and the iron shut it in. + +"You see!" panted Ignacio. "Not a soul heard! And you are mine. Ah, they +hate you and they like me, for I told them about that girl. Ha, ha! You +wince!" + +Ignacio's face was almost touching Clif's as he hissed that. + +"You can't get away!" he yelled. "And, oh, the things that I shall do to +you! I've got instruments up stairs to tear you to pieces, burn your +eyes out--but never kill you, oh, no! And all night you will scream, and +all to-morrow, if I choose. And I will watch you--I and the rats. And +the rats will eat you, too!" + +As if to add horror to the devil's gleeful statement, a huge slimy rat +ran across Clif's body just then; it made him shiver all over. + +And Ignacio danced about as he saw him. + +"Ha, ha!" he cried. "You begin! But wait till I start--wait till you +begin to feel some agony--till I begin to tear your eyes out! Then will +you yell? When I get through with you--ha, ha!--when you are dead, +perhaps weeks from now, you won't mind the rats any more! You may stay +in here in this grave for the Yankees to find if they capture Morro as +they say they will. Oh, I will make it a sight for them!" + +Clif could not have stood the strain of that horrible ordeal much +longer; he would have fainted away. + +But then the fiendish Spaniard's impatience got the better of him. And +he turned and crept toward the door again. + +"I will get the instruments," he whispered, hoarsely. "The torture +instruments. Santa Maria, what things they are! And how you will +shriek!" + +A moment later he turned the key and stepped out. He shut the door and +locked it. And Clif was left alone in all the blackness and horror of +that slimy place. + +Never as long as he lives will he forget the agony of that long wait. He +sat straining his ears and listening for the first sign of the fiend's +return. He knew that he might come back any instant and begin his +horrible, merciless tormenting. + +Clif knew that man for a devil incarnate. He would sooner have looked +for mercy in a hyena. + +For Ignacio was of the race of the Inquisition; and of the horrors of +the Inquisition this was a fair sample. + +The wretched American knew that he was alone and that he could look for +no rescue. He was buried in the very centre of the earth--or the centre +of hades. + +And his cries would be heard only by Ignacio. + +Clif knew also that the frenzied villain would make haste, that he would +come back panting and eager. Appalled, half dazed, he sat and listened. + +The first thing he would hear would be the grating of the key; and then +would come horrors inconceivable. + +Seconds were years at that time. Clif thought that his hair would turn +white from the suspense. + +And then suddenly he gave a gasp. + +There he was! + +Yes, the key was sliding in. And now it was turning! + +And then slowly the door was opened--groaning and creaking. + +Clif imagined the dark, crouching figure. He had left the lantern behind +while these deeds of darkness went on. + +The tomb-like cell was absolutely black, and Clif could not see one +thing. But he heard the door shut, heard the key turned. He shivered as +in an ague fit. + +Above the noise of the scampering rats he heard a soft, stealthy +footstep as the man crept across the floor. + +And then came the scratching sound of a hand running along the wall. He +was feeling for him! + +And a moment later Clif gave an involuntary cry as he felt the hand +touch his face. + +Perfectly motionless and paralyzed he sat and fancied what might be +going on in the blackness after that. He felt, the hand pass downward +along his body, felt it fumbling at the manacles that bound his ankles +to the wall of the cell. + +Then to his surprise, his consternation, he heard a key softly turned. + +What happened then almost took away his breath. + +The iron fell off. + +He was loose! + +"Can he be going to take me elsewhere?" Clif gasped. + +But he nerved himself for one thing; gathered his muscles for it. Before +Ignacio secured him again he would get a kick, one that would almost +kill him. + +Eagerly Clif waited, to see what would happen next. + +But what did happen was more startling and incredible yet; he could +scarcely believe his senses. + +For he felt the hands running down his arm. They fumbled at his wrists +for an instant. + +And then with a clatter the handcuffs dropped to the ground! + +"Merciful heavens!" Clif thought to himself. "Can he be insane?" + +For a moment he actually thought so; then it flashed over him that +perhaps the fiend was torturing him with the most horrible of all +tortures--hope. + +"He'll wish he hadn't!" Clif gasped, as he braced his muscles. + +But that was not the true solution of the mystery; there were stranger +things yet stranger and stranger. + +The only things that bound Clif now were the ropes that had held his +wrists at first. He tugged at them, but in vain. + +There was a moment's silent pause. And then to Clif's unutterable +consternation he heard another sound, a sound from across the room--a +low, grating sound! + +It left him breathless. + +Some one else was coming into the cell! + +And with one rush the true state of affairs swept over Clif. + +"This isn't Ignacio!" he panted. + +And a moment later he received proof positive of that fact. For again +the hand stole down his arms and there came a couple of quick slashing +cuts that hurt his wrists more than the ropes. + +But seconds were precious then. In one of them Clif's hands were free. + +And his pulses leaped as he felt the knife thrust into his palm. He +clutched it, and he heard one word whispered--in English: + +"Fight!" + +And then the dark figure stole swiftly over to the other side of the +cell. It was at the same instant that the door was opened and the light +of a lantern flashed in. + +It was Ignacio returning! + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +OUT OF THE DUNGEON. + + +The furious Spaniard came in like some wild beast, fairly gnashing his +teeth and snarling to himself in his rage. + +Clif had but a moment, but he was quick to think; he sprang back to his +old position, slipping his feet into the iron ring and putting his hands +behind him. + +And Ignacio never noticed any difference, in fact he did not look at +Clif until he had set down the lantern and shut the heavy door. + +He turned the key again and then faced about; touching low and muttering +to himself, he stole swiftly across the floor. + +And his gleaming eyes flashed into Clif's face. + +"Yankee!" he hissed, "I am back. Do you hear me? Ha, ha!" + +As if to make sure that he heard him he struck him once more across the +face. + +"Listen!" he cried. "Ha, ha!--and tremble." + +Clif's blood rose at that blow, but he held himself back and watched and +waited. + +That was a moment of peril for the treacherous Spaniard; what would have +been his terror may be imagined, had he known the victim into whose eyes +he was glaring was clutching in one hand a sharp knife, ready at any +instant to plunge it into him. + +But the fellow had no idea of his peril; he was at the very height of +his triumph and his dark, beady eyes gleamed ferociously out of the +shadows of that damp and silent vault. + +But he must have noticed that some of the color had come back into +Clif's face. + +"You are still defiant," he cried. "You still do not tremble. But +wait--wait till you begin to feel what I have for you. Did you see those +iron things I brought in? Ha, ha! There is one I will fasten about your +forehead and draw it tight till your very brain bursts. And then will +you like it? Hey? Will you turn pale then? Will you scream? Ha, ha!--and +I shall dance around you and watch you. Will you be sorry you interfered +with me then?" + +Ignacio might have taunted his victim that way for hours, but he was too +eager and impatient. He whirled about and sprang toward the door. + +"Santa Maria!" he panted. "I will get it! I will begin! I must hear him +yelling!" + +And he snatched up something from the floor and taking the lantern in +his other hand bounded back toward Clif. + +"Are you ready?" he exclaimed. "Yankee pig, begin to scream!" + +And he flashed the lantern's light upon him. + +That was the crisis of the situation; for as the Spaniard looked he made +the appalling discovery that his victim's feet were untied. + +And he staggered back, dazed. + +"Por dios!" he gasped. + +And that exclamation was his last sound. + +Clif had nerved himself for the spring; for he knew that Ignacio might +have a revolver and that no risks could be taken. + +But at that instant a dark, shadowy form rose up behind Ignacio. + +And one of his own iron instruments was raised above his head. It came +down with a hissing sound, and then a heavy thud. + +And Ignacio dropped without a groan, without even a quiver. He lay +perfectly motionless. His villainy was at an end. + +Clif had sprung up as he saw that, and he gave a gasp of joy. Then he +sprang toward his deliverer. + +The shadowy stranger took no notice of him at first, but stooped and +picked up the lantern, turning the light of it upon Ignacio. + +The villain's face was fixed in a look of horror; it made both Clif and +the stranger shudder. + +The latter regarded it for a moment silently. The cadet could not see, +but he was fingering a knife, as if undecided what to do. + +Who his mysterious deliverer was Clif had no idea. The single ray from +the lantern did not furnish light enough for him to see anything; and +the person had spoken but one word--"Fight." + +But the cadet's heart was full of gratitude; he sprang toward the +stranger. + +"Who are you?" he cried. "I owe my life to you--let me thank you!" + +But the other motioned him back, and then for a few moments there was a +silence, while both stared at Ignacio's silent form. + +When the stranger moved it was to point toward the door. + +"Go," said he to Clif, in a low, whispering voice. "Go; we will leave +him here." + +And with that the mysterious person unlocked the great iron barrier and +followed Clif out. The door clanged upon that ghastly scene, and Clif +Faraday gave a sigh of relief. + +Yet there was so much before him that he soon forgot that hideous +nightmare. + +For where was he going? And who was this stranger? And why had he +rescued him? And what did he mean to do to Clif? + +Nothing could be learned in that dark corridor, for Clif could see no +more there than inside of the room. But the stranger stumbled on and +Clif followed. + +They came to an iron ladder, leading up to the floor above. Up that the +man went, the cadet following; that took them to another long stone +passage, dark as ever. + +On they went, turning and winding about, but still not hesitating. And +then suddenly the man halted in front of a grated door. + +The key was in the lock and the door opened promptly as he turned it. + +"Enter," said he. + +Clif went in, and he heard the door shut behind him. It flashed over him +then that he had only been taken to another cell. + +But when he whirled about he saw that the stranger had entered, too. The +dark figure brushed past him and went across the room. A moment +afterward Clif heard him in the act of striking a match. + +And then the light of a lamp lit up the little room. By it the eager +cadet could see his rescuer, and he stared anxiously. + +Further secrecy seemed not intended. The stranger faced about and each +looked at the other steadfastly. + +What the mysterious man saw was a tall, handsome American in a blue +uniform, his face rather pale. + +Clif in turn saw also a man in a blue uniform; he had to take but one +glance to see that he was a lieutenant in the Spanish army. + +He was a tall, finely proportioned man, rather young, and with a slight +dark mustache. He had the dark skin and the features of a Spaniard; but +Clif thought he had never seen a finer looking military man. + +For a moment Clif gazed at him in silence. Then he stepped toward him. + +"Tell me, sir," he said. "Why have you done this?" + +The officer answered in a low, quiet voice: + +"You will soon know," said he. "Do not be impatient." + +"You have saved me from a horrible fate," said the cadet, his voice +choking. "I do not know how to thank you." + +"Do not try," answered the other. "You have some one else to thank." + +And then he became silent again, watching Clif. He seemed to be very +much interested in him, from the way he studied the American's face. And +once he gave a slight sigh. + +Clif looked at him in surprise; but the man turned away, and he went +toward the door. + +"I will return soon," said he, again in that quiet, firm voice. "Wait +here." + +There was nothing for Clif to do but wait; for when the door shut he was +locked in the cell. + +That man's action was a mysterious one indeed. It left the cadet plenty +to think of. He saw now where he got the keys. He was evidently one of +the officers in charge of the castle. + +But why had he done it? Clif was utterly baffled before that question. + +But it was not for very long; he soon learned, and in a startling and +unexpected way. + +Clif had not noticed it, but there was another door to that cell. It was +behind him, leading to a small room in the rear. + +While he stood there motionless and lost in thought waiting for the +Spaniard's return, that door was silently opened, and a figure stood +watching him. + +And then suddenly it stepped out and came across the room. + +The cadet heard it then, and whirled about. He took one glance. + +And then he staggered back with a cry of consternation. + +It was Bessie Stuart! + +For one instant the two stood and stared at each other as if to make +sure that their eyes did not deceive them. And then, with a cry of +delight that came from his very soul, Clif sprang toward the girl. + +Bessie Stuart looked as if she had been through some terrible ordeal, +for her face was pale; the emotion of meeting Clif almost overcame her, +and she burst into tears upon his shoulder. + +Clif himself was so dazed that he hardly knew what to think. He caught +the girl in his arms to keep her from falling. + +"Bessie," he cried, "how on earth did you get here?" + +The cadet's brain was in a whirl at that moment. He began to see what +the Spaniard meant when he said it was for some other person's sake that +he had rescued Clif. It was for her sake! + +And it must have been by some terrible sacrifice that she had saved him +from the torture. + +"Bessie!" he cried. "Tell me--that officer. What----" + +The girl looked up through her tears. + +"S-sh!" she exclaimed. "It is all right. Wait." + +And at that instant Clif heard a key turn in the door, and knew that it +was the man returning. + +Clif gazed into the girl's face and he saw a look of joy upon it that +partially reassured him; then he looked up and saw that the Spanish +lieutenant had entered and was watching them. + +In his quiet way he studied the faces of the two; he saw the look of +happiness on Bessie Stuart's face, and he must have known that it was +because she had met the cadet again. + +Clif saw him press his lips together resolutely. The cadet was watching +him with the intensest anxiety, for he hoped in that man's actions to +read the meaning of this mystery. + +But the Spaniard's handsome face showed little emotion, though his chest +heaved and fell as he stood there. + +And then suddenly he stepped forward toward the two. + +"I have brought it, Miss Stuart," he said, with a dignified bow. + +He held out a heavy cloth cape, which the girl flung over her shoulders; +then, leaning on Clif's arm, she stepped toward the door. + +"I am ready," she said. + +And without another word the officer turned and led the way out of the +cell. + +He shut the door and locked it behind him and then went on down the +corridor. + +Clif was mystified beyond expression, but he asked no questions. The +three went on silently. Bessie Stuart was so weak that she had to be +half carried. + +They had gone but a short way down the long passage before they met a +sentry with a gun upon his shoulder; he glanced at them inquiringly. + +But the lieutenant was not one who could be asked for explanations, and +the soldier saluted and passed on. + +They passed through two heavily grated doors, each guarded in a similar +way. But still not a word was spoken. + +And then suddenly Clif saw the passage broaden out into a wide hall, and +a moment later he came to what he knew to be the great door by which he +had first entered. + +There were two men standing on guard there, either sentries or jailers. +Clif could not see which. The party came to a halt. + +"Garcia," said the lieutenant, "these are two prisoners, Americans, whom +I have been directed to take across the bay." + +The man saluted and bowed respectfully. + +"Have you the order?" he inquired. + +"I have not. The commander had no time to give one to me. There is some +hurry in the matter, I believe." + +"It is somewhat irregular, lieutenant." + +"I will assume full responsibility," said the other, quietly. + +The man scanned the two prisoners closely. + +"They are not even bound," he objected. + +"I will assume full responsibility," said the officer again. + +He spoke rather sharply; and without another word the man hastened to +swing back the door. + +And the three stepped out of that black prison into the open air and +under the broad sky of heaven. + +And the lieutenant turned toward the two Americans. + +"You are free," he said, quietly. "Fly for your lives!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +CLIF FARADAY'S SACRIFICE. + + +It is needless to say that Clif stared at the man in amazement. But an +instant before he had heard him state that he was willing to assume +responsibility for them as prisoners. + +And now he was saying that they were free! + +But there was no time to ask any questions. Bessie Stuart was clinging +to Clif's arm and urging him on. + +"Have you got some place to hide us?" she inquired anxiously of the +officer. + +"It is hardly likely that I would leave you here," was the other's quiet +answer. "Come." + +He led them away from the prison. A short distance off there was +standing a small closed carriage. + +"Here it is," said the Spaniard. "Step in." + +Clif helped the girl inside; and then entered himself. He expected the +officer to follow, but he did not; he clambered up with the driver. + +And the carriage rattled off down the road. + +Clif saw his chance then. He turned eagerly toward the girl. + +"Bessie!" he cried, "for Heaven's sake, tell me what this all means. Who +is this man? And why is he setting us at liberty?" + +The girl sank back weakly in the seat. + +"I will tell you the story, Clif," she said. "There is plenty of time, +for we have a long ways to go." + +"He is ruining himself for us!" Clif exclaimed. "For you! Why he will be +court-martialed and shot if he lets us get away." + +"I know it," groaned the girl, choking down a sob. "I know it. We talked +it all over beforehand. But it was a question of his life or mine." + +"Are you sure he is not tricking us?" gasped Clif--"kidnapping us?" + +The girl smiled sadly. + +"You do not understand the circumstances," she said. "Wait, and let me +tell you." + +Clif missed in his friend the old self-reliant manner that she had +always had; she was nervous and weak, and it was plain that she was not +well. + +And Clif was trembling all over with anxiety as he watched her. + +"Go on!" he cried. "Tell me. How did you get here, in the first place?" + +"You left me with Gomez," began the girl, taking a deep breath. "I did +not stay very long, for he was marching about, and I could not stand the +strain. He wanted me to go to one of the Cuban villages in the interior +where his family was; but I was anxious to get back to the United +States. And so I came here to Havana----" + +"To Havana!" + +"Yes, for I thought no one would know me." + +"And Ignacio saw you?" + +"Yes, and recognized me. But that was only the other day." + +"Where were you meanwhile?" + +"I had a letter to the British consul, and I stayed at his home. There +was so much suffering in this city that I couldn't stay idle. I used to +go to the hospitals to take care of the poor people, the Cubans. And +that was how I met Lieutenant Hernandez." + +"Who is he?" + +"He is the man who has rescued us. He had been hurt in the Matanzas +bombardment, and one of his arms was terribly cut. I took care of +him--he was there because the military hospitals were crowded. And, +Clif, I--I--I guess he fell in love with me." + +The girl flushed as she said that. + +"I should not tell, perhaps," she went on, hastily. "But it is your +right to know this, and you would not understand if I didn't tell you. +Clif, he asked me to marry him." + +Clif started and turned pale. + +"Bessie!" he exclaimed in horror. + +The thought of that girl's marrying the Spanish officer was terrible. It +flashed over him that that was the reason why the rescue had been +attempted. + +"Oh, Bessie!" he cried again. + +Clif had never breathed a word of love to her in his life. But all +through their trying journey through Cuba he had protected her, fairly +worshiped her. And he had thought she understood his feelings. + +And now he thought that he had lost her--she had promised to be that +officer's wife! It was no wonder that he felt his hands grow icy. + +His heart fairly stood still as he waited for the girl to go on. + +"I will tell you," said Bessie. "You must know in the first place that +this man is a gentleman, a hero in fact. You will understand it when I +tell you what he has done." + +"Go on." + +"When he left the hospital, as I say, he begged me to marry +him--declared he would resign from the army if I would." + +The girl was breathing hard as she continued; it was evident that the +subject pained her. + +"I felt so sorry for him," she said, in a low, trembling voice. "For I +think it has nearly broken his heart. I refused him. I told him that I +liked him, but I did not, I could not marry him. I had been kind to him +because he was ill. He swore that he would die for me--and, Clif, I +think he has nearly carried out his promise." + +Bessie Stuart choked down a sob. + +"I refused him," she said again. "And then came the horrible Ignacio. He +saw me on the street. That was three days ago; and that same day I was +placed under arrest." + +"What for?" + +"Why, Ignacio knew that I had been fighting with Gomez; you know we had +a fight with some Spaniards when he was along. And so there was no +chance for me. The British consul did all he could for me, but there was +no hope. I could not deny the charges. And, oh, Clif, I have had a +frightful time. I was taken over to those horrible dungeons in Morro. +And I was sentenced to death. I was to be taken out and shot to-morrow." + +The girl stopped for a few moments to recover her composure. + +"And how did you find out about me?" asked Clif. + +"I will tell you," said Bessie. "But first I must go on about this +Lieutenant Hernandez. I did not know it, but he was stationed over here. +And when he found out what had happened to me he managed to come in to +see me." + +And then Clif felt able to complete that story. + +"I suppose," said he, "that he offered to free you if you would marry +him." + +Bessie Stuart smiled sadly. + +"You do not know the man," said she. "I will tell you what he did say. I +can almost hear him saying it." + +"What?" + +"'Miss Stuart,' he said, 'you have said you do not love me. And I think +you love some one else--I do not know whom; but I will not make you +unhappy by urging you any more. I might take advantage of your present +position to get you to promise to marry me. But I will not. If you will +be ready to-night I will help you to escape, and prove what I said about +dying for you.'" + +The girl stopped and sat silent, too much moved to speak. And Clif was +too astonished. + +That was indeed the act of a noble nature. The cadet saw it all then, +why the man had freed them and why he and the girl were both so quiet +and sad. Lieutenant Hernandez had given his life for hers. + +It was fully a minute before anything more was said. Then Bessie Stuart +began again, in a low voice: + +"About you," she said. "It was the lieutenant who told me, quite by +accident. He said there were five Americans captured, one a cadet, and +that he was to be killed. When I asked the name and he told me, I +fainted dead away. And I think that hurt the lieutenant more than +anything." + +"Why?" + +"I told him the story, how you had twice rescued me from the Spaniards. +And he asked--he asked if you were his rival." + +The girl stepped abruptly. + +"And you said that I was, I hope," said Clif, quietly. + +Most women would have been embarrassed by a question such as that. But +Bessie Stuart was not. + +There was some of the old-time self-possession in her voice as she +responded. She turned and looked fairly into Clif's eyes. + +"I know you well enough to speak my mind," she said. "Yes, I told him +that you were." + +And then the two sat perfectly silent, looking at each other. It was a +very few words they had said, but they covered a lifetime of feeling. + +In that quiet way and under those strange circumstances Clif had +unbosomed his heart; and Bessie Stuart had done the same. + +It was the first word that Clif had ever said to indicate how he felt +toward her. + +For the two sat in silence for a minute or so; and then Clif went on: + +"You told this officer that I was his rival," said he; "that you loved +me and that I was the only barrier to his hopes?" + +"I did," said the girl. + +"And he still was willing to save my life?" + +"You see what he has done," answered the other. "He said that he loved +me, that he would risk his life to make me happy. And here we are." + +"But not happy," Clif added, half under his breath. + +Then again there was a long silence. One cannot say much when one feels +as deeply as those two felt then. + +Clif thought of the heroism of that quiet Spanish officer. And his heart +went out toward him. He fancied what the man's own feelings must be, the +loneliness and the desolation. + +He had ruined himself, accepted voluntarily disgrace and a shameful +death. And all in order that a woman who had been kind to him might be +set free and made happy. + +Of the death there could be no doubt. When that officer was caught he +would have it to face. And he would face it for the sake of Bessie +Stuart. + +And moreover, he was aiding Clif, his rival, the one who was robbing him +of his heart's desire; he was helping him to freedom so that the cadet, +when his work in the war was done, might claim the woman he loved as his +reward. + +That was heroism; not the noisy kind in the battle, which every one sees +and applauds, but the quiet kind that knows it is right and cares for +no one else. + +Clif felt that he could worship such a man as that. + +And it is needless to say that his conscience troubled him. What right +had he to accept such a sacrifice? + +But the alternative was a terrible one. The lieutenant might flee with +them to the United States; and then---- + +Clif could not finish the thought; it made him shudder. + +Just then Bessie Stuart spoke again. + +"Clif," she said, "I have something to say to you. And I shall speak +plainly, for there is no time to hesitate. I have told you how I feel +toward you; I have told you that I loved you. Neither of us would have +declared our feelings, I suppose, if it had not been for this situation. +But I have been with you for months, and I have never known you to do +anything I could not admire. And mine is no childish fancy, Clif, for we +have been doing the work of men, you and I. Clif----" + +The girl choked back a sob--and then went on: + +"We must stop," she said, "stop where we are." + +Clif knew what was coming, and he felt his blood surging. Bessie +Stuart's hand was in his and it was trembling. + +For a moment she could not speak; the words would not come. + +But then with that terrible self-command she sometimes displayed, she +mastered her emotion and turned to look into her companion's face. + +"Clif," she said, "you know what I mean. You must let me marry this +officer." + +Clif had known, and so he did not move when he heard those awful words. +He sat perfectly motionless, almost frozen; he felt the girl's hand turn +cold in his. + +The carriage rolled on, and for at least one long, long minute there was +not a sound. The girl was listening, trembling again; and Clif, half +dazed was thinking to himself, thinking again and again of that death +knell, "You must let me marry this officer." + +And it was true. Clif knew it. It was his duty; and the feeling lingered +in his mind that if he had half the heroism of that Spaniard he would +have said so long ago. + +At last he spoke. His mouth was dry and his voice husky, but he forced +the words out. + +And they were the right ones. + +"Yes," said he, "you must marry him. And we must never meet again." + +And then once more came the terrible silence. Bessie Stuart heard him +choke down a sob; and her heart was ready to break. + +For this cadet was the dearest friend she had. She had been through +terrible dangers with him, coming to love him more every day, as she saw +the brave man's daring. And no one could ever know now how she felt +toward him. + +But there was her duty; and though she was nearly ready to faint, she +sat perfectly motionless by his side. + +And so for two or three minutes they rode on in silence; then suddenly +they heard the driver of the carriage stopping his horses. + +"We are there," said Clif, in a husky voice. + +He turned to look at the girl once more; he found that she was gazing at +him, and their eyes met. + +There was anguish in both of their faces; Miss Stuart could scarcely see +for her tears. + +But Clif took her hands in his. All the emotion of his lifetime seemed +crowded into that moment. He bent toward her and their lips met in one +trembling kiss. + +And then with a set look on his face the cadet rose from his seat and +opened the door of the carriage, which had stopped. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +A FAREWELL. + + +Clif found Lieutenant Hernandez waiting for them to come out. Both he +and the driver had descended from the carriage. + +It was quite dark where they were, apparently surrounded by a lonely +woods. But by such light as there was Clif looked at the officer +anxiously. + +Now since he had heard that story he was more than anxious to study his +face, to see what manner of man this was. + +The lieutenant still wore the calm, quiet look; he seemed almost +inspired. + +"If you will follow me a short distance," he said, "we shall reach a +place where we can remain concealed until morning." + +He started across the country, after a few words with the driver of the +carriage; they had not gone very far before the faint roaring of the +breakers on the beach became audible. + +"You see," said the Spaniard, "we are near the sea. We are only about +four miles from Havana harbor, and you may make an effort to reach the +blockading fleet in the morning." + +Obviously, it would not do to try it in the darkness. They might be run +down or lost or fired on or swept out to sea. + +"But it will be daylight in a few hours," said the lieutenant. + +And then the three went on in silence until suddenly a small hut loomed +up in the darkness. + +"It is deserted," said their guide. "We can conceal ourselves there." + +And accordingly, they crept through the low doorway, and finding the +place covered with straw inside, sat down to wait. + +There was no conversation among them, for each one of the trio was +wrapped in his own sad thoughts. The place was in absolute darkness, and +so they could not see each other. + +But Clif was revolving a plan over in his thoughts, and it was not very +many minutes before he made up his mind. + +He rose to his feet again. + +"Excuse me for a while," he said. "I will return." + +And with that he hurried out of the hut. + +Bessie Stuart knew why he had gone, and after a moment's silence she +turned toward the lieutenant. + +"My friend has left," she said, "in order that I may have a chance to +talk to you." + +The officer answered nothing; the girl went on slowly. + +"Lieutenant Hernandez," she said "will you answer me a question?" + +"What is it?" + +"What do you intend to do?" + +"How do you mean?" + +"I mean that you will be court-martialed if you return to Havana----" + +"Yes," said the other, "I know that." + +"Do you mean to return there?" + +"Such are my plans at present," was the quiet response. + +Miss Stuart thought a moment before she began again. + +"Lieutenant Hernandez," she said at last, "you have been a hero to-day." + +"I have done my best," said the man. + +"You have done what few men would have. You have given your life for our +safety." + +"Yes," answered he, "I have." + +"But there are other heroes, Lieutenant Hernandez," said the girl. "You +have inspired us two. That is what I wish to speak to you about. I have +a better plan than your return to Havana." + +"What is it?" + +"Come to America with us----" + +"And then?" + +"Then I will do my best to repay your favor. I will do as you have asked +me." + +"You mean----" + +"I mean that I will marry you the day that we arrive." + +The girl said those words in a low, earnest tone. She saw the officer +give a start, she even fancied she heard his heart begin to beat louder. + +But he said nothing. The two sat as they were in silence. The Spaniard +was having his struggle then. + +The pause continued for at least five minutes; it was broken only once. + +"Does Cadet Faraday know of this?" asked the officer. + +"He does," said the girl. "We talked it over in the carriage." + +"And he said that he was willing to give you up?" + +"He did." + +"I am glad that I saved him," muttered the man. + +Bessie Stuart was a little puzzled to catch the drift of that last +remark. But she soon saw what it meant. + +She was quite startled by the decision to which the Spaniard came. + +"Miss Stuart," he began, in a low, trembling voice, "this is indeed a +reward for my helping you. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it. +It shows me that those I helped were worth helping. And it makes me all +the more sorry." + +"Sorry?" + +"Yes, sorry that it cannot be." + +The girl gave a slight gasp. + +"What cannot be?" + +"I cannot marry you. I will not." + +The officer paused for a moment, then he went on. + +"It is plain to me," he said, "that you have worshiped this cadet. I do +not blame you, after what I have just seen of him. I have heard of his +bravery, too, and he is worthy of you--more so than I am. As I say, Miss +Stuart, you love him; and you do not love me. You make this proposal to +me from a sense of duty, and I cannot think of accepting it. You would +never be happy again." + +The girl started to protest, but the lieutenant held up his hand to stop +her. + +"No," he said, "there are more reasons, even stronger ones, I could not +think of going to the United States. I could not think of turning +traitor to my country. You forget, since I have helped you, that I am +still a Spaniard; and while this war continues I shall remain with my +countrymen." + +"But they will kill you!" + +"They may do what they please with me. It is not for me to say. I have +done my duty; I will not become a traitor." + +The officer was silent for a moment, sadly staring ahead in the +darkness. + +"You Americans forget how we Spaniards feel," he began slowly. "You +think us foolish to fight for a dying country. I know that it is dying; +for I am not one of those who blind their eyes and boast. I know that we +are bankrupt and disorganized, our men dying, and our enemies closing +in on us. We cannot keep up with modern nations. But, Miss Stuart, it is +still Spain, my native land; my friends are there, my memories are +there. And Spain's enemies are mine." + +There was a gleam in the proud Castilian's eyes as he said that; but +then he sank back with a sigh. + +"It is useless," he said, "foolish, if you will. And I am tired of the +struggle, tired of weeping at my country's trials, her follies. I shall +be glad to leave. I can die without a murmur. When I go back to Havana I +shall have no one to care about me, and it will soon be over." + +The man stopped abruptly. + +"I am through," he said. + +"You say you have no one to care for you," said the girl. "I will care +for you." + +But the officer only shook his head. + +"I should ruin your hopes," he said. "You must not think of me at all. +If I came I should have no way of taking care of you; I will stay in +Cuba. And remember that I have done this to make you happy--because I +love you. If I leave you unhappy I shall know that I have died for +nothing." + +And there the matter ended. The calm officer only shook his head to all +of Bessie's arguments; he had his mind made up, and was as firm as +adamant. + +It seemed strange that the girl should be trying to persuade him to +marry her; but in her earnestness she never thought of that. The man's +sacrifice quite appalled her; she felt that she was not worth it, and +she did all she could to persuade him of her sincerity. + +But Lieutenant Hernandez was unmoved. + +"I know that you love him," he said, "and I know that your heart is +ready to break at the thought of leaving him. I can see it in the way +you look at him. I knew it when you fainted when I spoke of his danger. +And I do not blame you, for he is a braver man than I. But I will not be +coward enough to separate you. You would hate me." + +"Hate you?" + +"Yes, and every decent American, too. What else has any man for a +traitor? I should kill myself for shame. No, no!" + +And the girl realized to her despair what he said was true; but oh! how +her heart went out to that man! + +The officer rose to his feet just then, as if to close the painful +discussion. Bessie Stuart rose, too, and she held out her hand to him. + +He took and kissed it reverently; then his face still calm and +dignified, he stepped to the door. + +"It is best," he said, "that I should go." + +"Can you not wait to see us start?" asked the girl. + +"You will find a boat on the shore just in front of you," began the +other. "And you had best start as soon as it is light. But there is +nobody about here, and you are not in any danger. As to my staying, I +will watch you from the woods, a short ways back. It would not be well +for me to stay here, for I am human----" + +The man paused a moment as he gazed into the girl's beautiful face. + +"I am very weak," he said, with a sad smile. "I might accept the reward +you offer." + +And with that he bowed, then turned resolutely on his heel and strode +away into the darkness. + +As he did so he passed Clif; and Clif, as he saw him leave rushed toward +the dark figure that stood in the doorway of the hut. + +What had been Clif's agony of mind may be imagined. When he saw the +lieutenant going away it had flashed over him that perhaps he refused +the act of treason implied in his going to America. + +And Clif's heart began to throb once more with the wild hope he had +tried so hard to suppress. + +"Bessie!" he panted. "Bessie! What did he say?" + +"He has gone back to Havana," was the answer. + +For an instant the two stood staring at each other, their hearts +throbbing with an emotion they were ashamed to call joy. Clif saw the +girl's slender figure trembling. + +And he sprang forward and caught her in his arms just as she fainted +dead away. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +AN UNEXPECTED PERIL. + + +How the long hours between then and sunrise passed away those two hardly +knew. Bessie Stuart, exhausted by her long nervous strain, sank into a +restless slumber. And Clif sat with his eyes fixed on the gradually +lightening doorway. + +Clif wanted to feel happy, but he scarcely dared. For he had before his +mind the thought of that lonely Spanish officer, waiting somewhere in +the distance to see them depart and leave him to his fate. + +It was a solemn thought, and it made Clif tremble. He almost wished that +the man had not rescued him. + +But then again he thought of Ignacio and his frenzied cruelty, and he +felt that he would have died himself to save any man from such a fate as +that. + +And now it was done and there was no undoing it. There was no way of +aiding the lieutenant, no way of persuading him, nothing but death for +him to face. + +But as Clif sat there through the early hours of the morning and gazed +upon that silent figure by his side he felt that his love for that girl +was consecrated by that hero's sacrifice. There was a light of high +purpose in the brave man's eyes; he was accepting his life and hers at +the cost of another's, and the terms were such as made him feel the +meaning of his existence. It was to be no child's play, no blind hunt +for pleasure or wealth or fame, but a life with a purpose and meaning, +a struggle for the right. + +"I think his face will always be watching me," thought Clif. + +And there were moments in his after life when the thought that that +quiet Spaniard's eyes were watching made him shrink from the base things +of life. + +The light that shone in from the eastern sky gradually grew brighter and +brighter, and Clif awakened from his solemn reverie to the duty that lay +before him then. + +He had Bessie Stuart to protect, and to lead from that position of +peril. + +It would indeed be a frightful calamity, he thought, if that sacrifice +of Lieutenant Hernandez should avail nothing. If that girl should fall +once more into the clutches of the Spaniards. + +"For they are not all like that man," thought the lad. + +And so he waited nervously until the light was bright enough. And then +very gently he awakened her and assisted her to rise. + +The girl was weak and exhausted, but she gathered her strength for this +last final effort. + +"We have not far to go," Clif said. "And we will soon be safe." + +The two halted for a moment at the doorway of the hut and gazed out. + +In the faint gray light they could not make out the line of the shore +beyond, but they heard the noise of the breakers and knew that it was +not far away. + +And so half carrying his friend, Clif set out in the direction of the +sound. Once only he turned again. + +That was to take a parting look in the direction he knew Lieutenant +Hernandez to be. + +But he could make out only a dim line of woods behind him. No one could +be seen, and the place was lonely and silent and gray. + +But Clif fancied those quiet eyes were watching him from the distance. + +There was no time to be lost, however, for no one knew when they might +chance to meet with some of the enemy; they were in the midst of a +thickly settled country. + +And so they made their way swiftly down to the shore. + +There they found a rowboat, drawn up on the beach a little beyond them. +Clif was startled to see a figure standing by it. + +But it proved to be only a boy, and he hailed them and then disappeared. +Clif knew that he had been sent there to guard the boat; it was more of +the lieutenant's thoughtfulness. + +The sight of that guarantee of safety revived Bessie Stuart's spirits +considerably; her step grew quicker and in a few moments they reached +the spot. + +There were a pair of oars in the boat, which was a small one. Without a +word, Clif set to work to put it off from the shore. + +That was as hard a task as could have been given him; for great waves +were rolling upon the beach. But Clif was an athlete and a sailor +besides; and the realization of their danger nerved his arm. + +He seated the girl in the bow and ran the boat out with a rush; he +caught a favorable moment. He plunged on until the water was up to his +waist, and then he leaped into the boat and seized the oars just as +another great wave swept them in toward shore again. + +But Clif pulled for his life and held his own; and when the current set +out again, he breasted the line of breakers and reached the sea beyond. + +Bessie Stuart sat perfectly motionless, grasping the gunwale, until she +saw that they were safe. Then she gave a slight gasp and closed her eyes +wearily. + +Clif had but one object, and that was to get as far from the coast of +Cuba as he could; every stroke that he rowed put him further away from +that dreaded shore. + +And he knew, though he could not see them then, that far out to sea lay +the vessels of the blockading squadron. Once in sight of them and the +anxious fugitives were safe. + +And so Clif put every ounce of muscle he had into that task. Not a word +more was spoken; but the man's lips were set in a desperate resolve and +his broad back heaved as he fought his way on. + +There was a heavy sea, and progress was frightfully slow. Now that they +were so near to safety, to be recaptured would be frightful indeed. + +But yet the cadet knew that Spanish soldiers on the shore might catch +sight of them at any moment, and come rushing down the beach to open +fire. + +Clif had rescued one man from just such a plight as that; and so as he +rowed he glanced nervously along the shore. + +But he saw no one, and no one saw him. The light brightened until he +could make out everything along the coast, but there was no sign of any +one's having noticed them. + +An so with his heart growing lighter at every moment Clif tugged at the +oars and forced the frail boat ahead through the waves. It was but +natural that his relief should be great, for his adventures upon that +island had been terrible ones indeed. + +A warship is far from a safe place of residence, especially in war time. +But Clif felt that if he once got under the American flag again all his +worry would be at an end. + +And so every stroke nearer was a cause for joy. + +For perhaps five minutes he rowed on in silence. By that time he was +some distance from shore, though their progress was slow in the heavy +sea. + +But they felt that they were safe. They felt that there was no longer +anything to be feared. And there was a silent prayer of thanksgiving in +Clif Faraday's heart. + +And such being his feelings, the reader may imagine the horror and +consternation that swept over him a moment later. + +For an appalling discovery was made, one that seemed fairly to freeze +Clif's blood. + +He was struggling with his back toward Bessie Stuart. And the joy that +was in his heart was turned to horror by hearing the girl give a shrill +scream. + +The cadet whirled about. + +He saw the girl, her face transfixed and white as a sheet, pointing with +a trembling finger off to starboard. + +Clif followed the direction of her gaze; what he saw made his brain +reel, made him almost totter backward into the boat. + +Not half a mile away, coming straight down the coast and bearing down +upon them at full speed, was a vessel, a low gunboat. + +And high above her bow was floating a Spanish flag. + +Clif stared at the frightful apparition as if he had seen a ghost. + +What it meant to him may be imagined--the failure of all their +hopes--their capture and death! + +And there was not the slightest possibility of escape! + +Perfectly wild with terror the agonized cadet whirled about, gazing +seaward, with a faint hope of the possibility of there being seen by +some American vessel. + +But the gray horizon was not light enough for them to be sighted. And +all hope was gone. + +Bessie Stuart continued pointing to the vessel as if she were paralyzed +by fright. + +"Row! Row!" she shrieked. + +And Clif seized the oars frantically. But he knew that it was utterly +useless. The gunboat was coming on like a race horse. + +And scarcely had he taken two strokes before the matter was settled +finally. For there came a puff of white smoke from the Spaniard's bow. + +And almost at the same instant with a deafening, blinding crash, a solid +shot struck the tiny rowboat. + +It plunged through, almost tearing the frail craft in half, hurling +splinters about and sending the two horrified occupants tumbling into +the water! + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +RECAPTURED BY THE ENEMY. + + +Clif was so heartbroken at that sudden ending of all his hopes, that he +scarcely cared whether he was drowned or not. But he saw Bessie Stuart +struggling in the seething waters, and toward her he struck out +desperately. + +It took the cadet but a moment to reach her side. The shattered wreck of +the wooden boat was floating near, and to that he struggled, helping her +on. + +And they reached it, in what it sounds like mockery to call safety. The +girl scarcely knew whether it were best to hold on or to drown. + +But instinctively she clung to the side as the great waves swept over +them; and the two fixed their eyes upon the approaching vessel. + +She came on swiftly, sheering the water with her sharp bow. And Clif +could see half a dozen men standing in the bow watching them. + +"Perhaps they have heard of our escape," he growled, "and come after +us." + +The vessel was not coming from Havana, but the cadet knew that a +telegram might have sent it out. + +At any rate, they were recaptured; and the horrors of Morro were before +them again. + +Steadily the gunboat drew nearer; the two half-drowned Americans were +reached in a minute or two. + +And the vessel slowed up and a rope was thrown to them. Clif desperate +from despair, seized it and drew himself close. + +A couple of Spanish sailors leaned down from the low side and lifted +first the half unconscious girl and then the cadet up to the deck. + +And then, weak and pale and dripping wet, they confronted a tall, +ugly-looking Spaniard with an officer's chevrons. + +He stared at them curiously. + +"Who are you?" he demanded. + +And Clif, grim with desperation, looked him in the eye and answered +boldly: + +"We are Americans," said he. + +"Prisoners?" + +"Yes." + +"From where?" + +"Morro Castle." + +The Spaniard looked the amazement he felt. + +"Morro Castle!" he echoed. "Humph! How did you get out?" + +"Take us back there and you'll find out," was Clif's defiant answer. + +And with that he turned toward the girl to wipe her dripping hair from +her face. + +He expected that the man would continue questioning them. But he was +mistaken. The Spanish gunboat had done a risky thing, running out as it +had, and her officers were anxious to get back. + +The man turned away and hurried off. A sailor with a pair of handcuffs +approached Clif, and the cadet quietly allowed his wrists to be secured. + +Bessie Stuart was fortunately spared that indignity. The sailor gruffly +ordered them to go below. + +The vessel, meanwhile, had resumed her trip. She had been running along +close to the coast under cover of the darkness of the previous night. +And now she turned to steal back. + +Clif's heart was heavy, and he was miserable beyond description. + +But he turned and silently followed the sailor to the companionway. + +They did not go below at once, however, for just then something occurred +that made the sailor stop. + +The man who had first spoke to Clif, the captain, apparently, had been +sweeping the shore with his glass. And just then he gave a startled +exclamation. + +Everybody heard him, and the Spanish sailor stopped and turned to look. + +Clif was so listless and despairing that he did not take the trouble to +do likewise; but when he heard the exclamations of the men he felt his +heart give a leap. + +They were staring at a man on the shore. + +"What in the world can be the matter with that fellow?" cried the +captain. + +"Santa Maria! he is calling to us!" exclaimed another. + +"He must be crazy," declared a third. + +The captain, with his glass could see more plainly than the others, and +his astonishment grew greater. + +"Why, he's a Spanish officer--a lieutenant, I think! And he is trying to +hail us. What can it mean?" + +"Perhaps he's got dispatches!" suggested some one. + +It flashed over Clif in an instant what that meant, and Bessie Stuart +heard him give a muffled exclamation of delight. + +For he could see a blue-uniformed figure running down the shore and +waving its arms wildly. + +"It's Lieutenant Hernandez!" he panted. + +And there was a wild gleam of hope in his eyes as he realized what that +meant. + +He might rescue them again! + +Feverishly Clif watched to see what the gunboat would do. The captain +continued staring and muttering exclamations of astonishment. + +"I wonder if he does want us," he cried. "Por dios, I do think that's +it." + +And a second later he made up his mind and whirled about. + +"Hard a port!" he roared. + +And Clif's heart leaped with joy as he heard that order. + +The sailor was so much interested in that strange incident that he let +his prisoners remain on deck while he stood and stared. The Spanish +vessel raced swiftly in toward shore. + +And the stranger as soon as he saw that stopped his frantic +gesticulating and stood still to wait. + +The captain ran in as close as he dared, and then stopped. He stepped +into the bow. + +"What do you want?" he roared. + +"Send a boat," the man shouted back. "I must come aboard. Quick!" + +The captain muttered an exclamation of astonishment under his breath; +but his curiosity alone would have been sufficient to move him. The +gunboat's wherry boat was quickly gotten away. + +As for Clif, he was simply wild with delight. For he could see that it +was Lieutenant Hernandez after all. + +Bessie Stuart was so overcome by the sudden shock of the discovery that +she was scarcely able to stand, breathlessly the two watched the rowboat +speeding in. + +The lieutenant waded out as far as he could, and when the boat reached +him he climbed into the bow. In a few moments he was speeding back to +the gunboat. + +And when he stepped on board he found the captain staring at him. + +"Lieutenant Hernandez!" he gasped. + +"Yes," said the other with a bow. + +But he scarcely glanced at the man until his eager eyes had sought out +Clif and Bessie. When he saw them alive and unhurt a look of relief +swept over his face. + +And then he turned to the captain. + +"What in the world is the matter?" the man cried. + +The other nodded toward the two Americans. + +"It is about them," he said. + +"What about them?" + +"Why did you stop them?" + +"Stop them! Why they are Americans, and they were prisoners in Morro." + +"I know that," said the officer. "But they were released." + +"What!" + +"Yes. And I was charged with the duty of seeing them safe on board the +American ships." + +The Spanish captain stared in amazement. + +"Carramba!" he muttered. "Why didn't they say so?" + +"I don't see that you gave them a chance," said the other. "You fired on +them too soon." + +"But I had no idea of this!" cried the other. + +To doubt that story never once entered his head; he seemed to know who +the lieutenant was. + +"What in the world am I to do?" he asked, after a moment. + +"I don't see that there is but one thing," said the other. + +"Take them back to Havana and let them be sent from there?" asked the +captain. + +"No," said the lieutenant, quietly. "That will not do; for the +government has pledged its word that they shall be on the ships by +daybreak. To make haste is very important." + +"But what else?" + +"Give them your small boat." + +"Carramba! I haven't got but one! And how will I ever get it back?" + +The lieutenant was puzzled for a moment. + +But suddenly he hit on a daring scheme. + +"Captain," he said, "my orders are from General Blanco himself. He +charged me above all things to see these people safe at once, even if I +had to go out to the ships with them. I don't see that there is but one +thing we can do." + +"What is it?" + +"We will have to hoist a flag of truce and take them out on this +vessel." + +The captain started. + +"Can we trust the Americans?" he gasped. + +"They are expecting us," said the lieutenant quietly. + +And then for a minute the captain was silent; when he spoke it was to +the man at the wheel. + +"Steer us out to the Yankee fleet," he said. "It will have to be done, +and run up that white flag." + + * * * * * + +Perhaps ten minutes after that the blockading squadron sighted a Spanish +gunboat coming toward them with a flag of truce. + +The New York steamed to meet it; and the vessel came alongside and +without a word of explanation the two prisoners were sent aboard. + +Clif and Bessie both gazed longingly at the noble-hearted lieutenant as +he stood on the deck and watched them leave. Their look said plainer +than words, "Come with us!" + +But he only shook his head; and when he saw the two disappear upon the +deck of the big cruiser, and when the gunboat was well on her way back +to shore he turned with a slight groan and went below. + +Clif and Bessie wondered with anxiety and sorrow what would be his fate. +They dreaded for him the worst tortures of Castle Morro, but the heroic +Spaniard escaped that--in a way that Clif learned a few days later. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +CUTTING A CABLE. + + +The cadet's report was soon made. Under ordinary circumstances he would +have been ordered to report back to the Uncas, but that stanch little +gunboat was then miles beyond the western horizon. Moreover, the admiral +had other work for the cadet. + +As to Miss Stuart; there was a parting between her and Clif that was +such as should be between acknowledged lovers, but it was a parting of +the most decided kind, for his duty lay in the war, hers on land. She +was sent to Key West on a cruiser that was then leaving the squadron to +recoal. + +What the young man and the girl said to each other cannot concern us +here, for we have now to do with Faraday's experience as a sailor. His +love affair had to await the events of war, and so may the story of it. + +Clif's next service began on the morning following his escape. A small +boat left the flagship and headed for Point Rubalcava on the Cuban +coast. It was bent upon a dangerous mission; so hazardous, in fact, that +volunteers had been called for to man the boat. + +The first one to offer his services had been Clif Faraday. There was no +lack of followers among the brave American tars. Fifty offered +themselves a moment after the cadet stepped forward, and the task was to +select from them twelve men to form the boat's crew. + +"It is necessary to cut the cable as a war measure," said Rear Admiral +Sampson, when the selection had been made. "You will proceed cautiously +toward shore and grapple for the cable. If you find it, cut it. If not, +you must go ashore and locate the landing place of the wire. Are you +ready for the service?" + +"Ay, ay, sir!" came the ready response. + +Rear Admiral Sampson looked upon the brave, eager faces of the men for a +moment with evident satisfaction. + +"There is danger of discovery, and attack from the shore batteries," he +added. "Success will depend upon your quickness and skill." + +The men well knew the danger that lay before them, but there was no sign +of faltering upon their faces. Rather, there was an eagerness for +instant action that was not lost upon the commanding officer. + +"Then go!" he exclaimed, heartily. + +The boat was lowered, and quietly set out upon its mission. + +It was in charge of a lieutenant, and Clif Faraday, in recognition of +his being the first to volunteer, was placed beside him in the stern to +steer the boat through the rough waters. + +It was still dark, though the eastern sky gave promise of the near +approach of day. The time had been selected to enable the boat to near +the shore without great danger of detection in the dim light. But by the +time they should succeed in grappling the cable there would be +sufficient light to enable them to complete their task. + +"All seems quiet on shore," said Clif, after a time, to the lieutenant, +as they both peered forward at the coast line now looming up before +them. "The Spaniards don't seem to be looking for us." + +"True," responded the lieutenant. "It looks that way. But you can't +sometimes always tell. They may have a surprise for us." + +"If they don't shoot any straighter than they have been doing," said +Clif with a laugh, "they'll never touch us." + +"That's true, too," assented the lieutenant. "But still you must +remember----" + +"The Maine!" interrupted Clif. + +"Yes, remember the Maine! But, as I was saying, these fellows might +possibly aim at something else beside our boat and hit us accidentally. +At any rate, I hope they don't see us. We are not out to capture a fort +armed as we are with nothing but revolvers, and in this open boat we +would be an easy prey to decent marksmanship." + +"Still, the boys like action," said Clif. + +"We may have plenty of it yet," replied the lieutenant, with a suspicion +of uneasiness in his tone. + +Meanwhile the boat, guided by Clif's hand, had drawn nearer the shore. +They could see plainly the outlines of the fortifications, which had +been recently battered by shell from American gunboats, and which they +knew the Spaniards had attempted to repair. But as far as they could see +all was quiet there. + +The boat was following what was supposed to be the course of the cable, +and the men were constantly seeking to secure it with their grappling +irons. The crew proceeded cautiously but expeditiously with its work, +the boat passing to and fro across what they supposed was the line of +the cable. + +"How is it, Wilson?" at last said the lieutenant, speaking to one of the +men who was leaning over the side of the boat. "Struck anything yet?" + +"Not yet, sir," was the response. + +Nearer and nearer to the shore came the boat, the men coolly continuing +their labors, seemingly as unmindful of danger as though the coast was +not lined by hostile forces. The sun peeped above the face of the water +to the eastward, and the darkness slowly receded before it. Every +detail of the frowning fortification ashore was now plainly visible to +the boat's crew. + +Clif looked intently along the shore, but there was no hostile movement +to be seen. But he realized that the fast growing light of the rising +sun must betray their presence to the enemy, if any such were on watch. + +"What a fine target we would make for them, too," he thought. "And close +range at that." + +His thoughts were interrupted by an exclamation from one of the men who +had been previously addressed by the lieutenant. + +"Hurrah!" cried the man. "I've got it!" + +The boat was quickly brought to a standstill, and willing hands assisted +him. In a few moments the heavy cable appeared above the surface of the +water and was drawn up to the boat. + +"Now, men, quick with the saws!" cried the lieutenant, excitedly. "Quick +work, and we'll be done and away before the Spaniards discover us!" + +It required quick work, indeed--quicker than any of the brave boat's +crew then thought. + +The lieutenant had no more than given his orders when an interruption, +startling and unwelcome, occurred. He had been anxiously scanning the +outlines of the fortifications and congratulated himself that no +movement was visible in that quarter. The Spaniards were napping, he +thought, and all was well. + +But the reverse was the case, as he quickly discovered. No sooner had +one of the sailors began to saw away at the cable than suddenly and +without warning a shower of bullets rained around them in the water and +the ominous boom of a cannon from the shore told they had been +discovered. + +"A masked battery to the left!" cried Clif. "They have ambushed us!" + +This was true. The fortifications which had alone received the +lieutenant's attention remained silent, while from the left a concealed +battery kept up a raking fire upon the small boat and the intrepid crew. + +The Spaniards had not yet gotten the range, it is true, but it was a +tight place to be in--in an open boat, unarmed, helpless and exposed to +the raking fire from shore. + +But the men in that boat were full of nerve. Not once did they falter +while shells and shot whistled and burst over their heads, beyond them +and even among them. + +"Hurry up, Wilson," cried the lieutenant to the sailor sawing the cable. +"That cable must be cut before we leave the spot." + +"Ay, ay, sir," responded the other. "If it kills every man of us!" + +It began to look as if that would be their fate. The Spanish shot and +shell, which at first fell harmlessly into the water, now dropped nearer +and nearer. Clif heard an awful buzzing and whizzing sound in the air, +and seemed to feel something hit him in the face and head. It was not +his first time under fire, and he knew that a shell had passed near +them. + +The fire from shore increased in rapidity and with more accuracy. From +another quarter, a jut of land nearer to the boat, came a fusilade from +Mauser rifles, and their bullets passed near the heads of the American +crew. + +It was a hot place, but the men worked coolly on, determined that their +orders should be executed at all hazards. By rapid work one piece of the +cable was cut, but that was not enough. Another cut must be made at +least fifty feet away, so that the Spaniards could not repair it by +splicing. As the last strands parted and the free end of the cable fell +back into the water, it was discovered that the sailor held the shore +end in his grasp, and that to complete their work they must now draw +closer to the fire of their enemies. + +"Fifty feet nearer shore!" exclaimed the lieutenant, and the crew +grasped the oars and unflinchingly began to carry out the order. + +The shots of the Spaniards began to tell. Bullets splintered the sides +of the boat, and they had not moved but a few feet from the spot when +another volley severely wounded two of the men. + +Wilson, the man who had been so active, fell into the bottom of the boat +severely wounded in the shoulder, and another sailor who was near where +Clif sat, was shot in the thigh. But the boat kept on, rowing nearer and +nearer. + +Clif resigned the tiller to the lieutenant, while he bound up the men's +wounds and comforted them as best he could. Then he jumped back to the +tiller. + +This was an unfortunate move for him, for in that position he and the +lieutenant were the most conspicuous figures in the boat, and the +Spanish riflemen were making every effort to pick off the officer. A +bullet, intended for the lieutenant, struck Clif in the arm as he took +his place. + +"Are you wounded?" shouted the officer above the din, noticing that Clif +momentarily paled. + +"It is nothing," replied Clif, resolutely clinching his teeth and +continuing to guide the boat. + +Just then the welcome sound of the firing of cannon to seaward reached +their ears. + +"It is the New York!" cried Clif. "She is taking a hand in the +scrimmage!" + +It was true. With deadly accuracy, the flagship was hurling shrapnel +shell over the heads of the bluejackets into the battery on shore. + +And thus between the two fires the little band in their frail boat +continued coolly with their labors, Clif assisting those who became +wounded wholly unmindful of the fact that he himself was bleeding +freely. + +But it was soon over. The terrible havoc of the well-directed shrapnel +shot from the New York quickly silenced the masked battery and dispersed +the gunners and the cutting of the cable received no further +interruption from the Spanish forces. + +They were enthusiastically received upon their return to the flagship, +bearing a section of the cable to be cut up as souvenirs. The wounded +were tenderly cared for, and Clif himself examined the nature of his own +injury. Fortunately, though it had bled freely, it was but a slight +flesh wound, which gave him no uneasiness after being properly bandaged. + +This operation was just completed, when a jaunty young ensign appeared, +and turning to Clif, said: + +"Cadet Faraday, you are requested to report to the rear admiral at +once." + +Clif saluted and promptly followed the officer. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +A PERILOUS DETAIL. + + +Clif did not have long to speculate upon the cause of the summons. The +ensign led the way to the rear admiral's cabin, knocked, and with Clif +closely following, entered. He then saluted and went out again, leaving +the cadet alone with the officer. + +Rear Admiral Sampson noticed the paleness of Clif's face, and +thoughtfully directed him to sit down. + +"I hear that you were wounded while cutting the cable," he said at once. +"You were under hot fire while it lasted, and I am proud of the way the +men behaved. I am told that you did not give up the tiller in spite of +your injuries." + +Clif, though pleased to receive the praise of the rear admiral, bore +himself modestly. It did not seem to him that he had done any brave act. + +"My wound was slight, sir," he said quickly. "It has been properly +dressed, and gives me no trouble." + +"I am glad to hear that," replied the officer, "for I have an especial +mission upon which I desire to send you, but of course would not think +of your going if it should endanger your health. Other danger you do not +seem to fear." + +Clif reassured the officer that he was ready and able to undertake any +mission intrusted to him. + +"It is briefly this," continued the rear admiral. "While you were out +with the boat, I received a communication by the dispatch boat saying +that a courier from the Cuban chief, Gomez, is to be at a certain spot +near, the coast to-night, bearing important dispatches from the +insurgents. It is necessary that we send some one to meet him, and your +previous experience on Cuban soil and your knowledge of the Spanish +language recommend you as the leader of the party. Are you prepared to +go? There may be danger----" + +Clif eagerly interrupted him. To his mind it seemed a great honor, as it +really was to be placed in command of so important a mission, and he +counted no danger great enough to cause him to hesitate. + +He told the rear admiral as much, forgetting in his eagerness for active +service, that he was but a cadet. + +"Then it is settled," said the rear admiral. "To-night the New York will +reach a spot nearly opposite the place of meeting, and you will be ready +with a party of ten, whom you may select. Here is a diagram of that part +of the coast, indicating the appointed spot where the courier is to be +met." + +He handed Clif a roughly drawn map, which the latter examined curiously. + +"I know the spot well," he exclaimed, after looking at the diagram for a +moment. + +"All the better," said the rear admiral. + +Then after some further directions and instructions from the officer, +Clif saluted and took his leave, happy in the thought that he had been +singled out for such important duty and that he would have this +opportunity of active work. + +He was really glad, though he would hardly admit it to himself, to be +permitted to seek some rest during the day, for his wound was painful, +if not serious. + +It was late at night when, with a picked company of ten men, all armed, +Clif parted company with the flagship and steered his boat toward the +shore. The New York had dropped them near the appointed spot, but it had +been deemed prudent not to take the ship near enough to attract +attention to the intended destination of Clif and his crew. They +therefore had considerable distance yet to row before touching land. + +"I know the coast pretty well along here," thought Clif, as he set in +the stern, tiller ropes in hand. "We'll get there all right." + +Success depended upon their own efforts, for the New York slowly steamed +away along the coast and in the opposite direction. + +Clif and his party sped along without any uneasiness. It was night and +darkness favored them. There was no reason to think that their presence +there was suspected or their purpose known. + +Still, for all this evident security, Clif kept a sharp lookout for any +of the enemy who might be prowling along like himself, or, worse still, +who might be scouring those waters with one of those silent little +terrors, a torpedo boat. + +All went peacefully until they were within less than half a mile of +their destination, and quite near shore. Then suddenly a rifle shot rang +out upon the shore, and sounds of voices came to their ears. + +The Spaniards had discovered them! + +"Perhaps not," thought Clif, hopefully. "Silence everybody," he said, +addressing the men, "and listen." + +Instantly the men ceased rowing, and every one strained his ears to hear +the sounds from shore. + +That there was a company of the enemy at that point was evident, from +the noise of many voices and the confused sounds that were borne to the +listeners' ears. + +"They have discovered us," whispered Clif to the one nearest him. "I +caught a few words of Spanish that convinces me that the sentry has +heard our oars. Not a sound now! They can't see us in the dark, and will +think it all a mistake." + +It was a waiting game that Clif had set out to play, and it seemed the +only thing that could help them under the circumstances. It was out of +the question to think of attacking the Spaniards, superior at least in +numbers. There was other work for the night. + +Silently the American crew waited, listening for every sound. Soon these +voices died out, and Clif concluded that they could venture to move once +more. + +"Row quietly," was his whispered order. "I'd like to give them a volley, +but that would spoil our plans." + +The men cautiously plied the oars and were soon steering softly toward +their appointed place of landing. But quietly as they moved, the sound +was borne ashore and they had not proceeded many boat lengths before +another shot echoed across the water. + +"To thunder with the Spaniard," exclaimed Clif, out of patience with the +fresh outbreak. "He's firing at random. Go ahead. We'll meet them +further down the shore if they're not satisfied." + +This sentiment met the approval of the men, and they bent to the oars +with vigor and spirit. + +They were gliding swiftly across the water, and had nearly reached their +landing place, when Clif heard a noise that put him on the alert. + +"Do you hear that?" he exclaimed, after hastily stopping the rowers. + +The men rested on their oars and listened. + +"Sounds like the throbbing of an engine, sir," at last said one of the +men. "It's a boat, sure." + +"Yes, but friend or foe?" exclaimed Clif. "It's not the New York. She +went in the other direction, and I don't know of any more of our boats +in this place." + +"Perhaps the New York is coming back," ventured one of the men. + +"No," replied Clif. "She's not been here for at least three hours. By +that time we will be ready to return to her." + +"It must be a blockade runner," suggested one of the men. + +"Well, I don't see as it makes any difference," said Clif, finally. "If +it is, we can't stop her. She can't be after us, for I am sure no one of +the enemy knows our mission. There is our landing place. We must hurry +or we will be late." + +With this he turned the prow of the boat toward shore, and gave orders +to proceed. A few minutes later the boat grated upon the beach and the +sailors sprang ashore. + +There was no one to dispute their landing. The coast at this point was +wild and uninhabited, and but a short distance inland was the spot +appointed for the meeting with the insurgent courier. + +Clif hid the boat among some bushes and quickly led the men up the steep +bank toward a clump of trees. + +"This is the spot," he exclaimed as they reached it, "and we are +evidently ahead of time." + +No one was in sight, as far as the eye could penetrate the darkness. +There was barely enough light from the moon just emerging from behind a +cloud to enable the sailors to take some notice of the surroundings. +Where they stood, near the sparse clump of trees, it was smooth and +level, but close to one side of them rose a ridge of ground forming a +natural rampart. It almost seemed as though Spanish forms might at any +instant appear upon it behind threatening guns. + +Seaward the view was unobstructed, and as Clif turned his gaze in that +direction, he could see the moonbeams reflected on the heaving bosom of +the waters. He saw another sight an instant after that caused him to +utter an exclamation of surprise. + +Far out to seaward the beam of a searchlight suddenly shot across the +water. It swept from side to side in a gradually widening radius, until +after a few moments its glare fell upon a steamer whose hulk rose up +between it and the shore. + +"It is one of our ships chasing a blockade runner," cried Clif. "She was +trying to sneak out, but is caught in the act." + +The little party on shore watched with eager eyes the chase as shown by +the bright beam from the warship's searchlight. In the excitement of the +novel sight that was afforded them they for the moment forgot why they +were there. + +Then a strange and mysterious thing happened. As they watched the +pursued vessel they suddenly saw a flash from a gun on the side facing +the land. + +"What fools!" cried Clif. "Firing toward the land instead of at our +ship. The fool Spaniards must be rattled worse than usual. That +beats----" + +He did not finish the sentence. As he spoke the shell fired from the +ship crashed through the trees and landed almost at his feet. The fuse +was burning and spluttering, and it seemed ready to explode on the +instant, carrying death and destruction to the little party. + +It was a perilous moment. Several of the men instinctively dodged and +seemed on the point of running away. + +Clif saw his peril in an instant and the only hope of averting it. +Without a moment's hesitation he sprang forward and picked up the shell +as it seemed about to burst. With a mighty effort he hurled the +spluttering missile over the ridge of earth that he had noticed to one +side, and then, with an involuntary sigh of relief, he instinctively +huddled with the balance of the party in an expectant attitude, waiting +for the explosion on the other side of the rampart. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE CUBAN COURIER. + + +But the explosion never came. + +The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from +the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them. From a +safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt +personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was +quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth. + +Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship +firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more +than ever perplexed. To add to the mystery, the ship did not fire +another shot, either at its pursuer or in the opposite direction. + +Its only purpose now seemed to be to get away from the American ship. It +seemed to stand a good chance of doing it, too; for it was evidently a +very swift boat, and the pursuing vessel was still far away. + +"That's the queerest thing that ever happened," exclaimed Clif, when a +sufficient time had elapsed to enable the shell to explode if it was +ever going to. "What possessed them to fire over here, and what's the +matter with the shell? I'll investigate the latter, at any rate; it's +within easy reach." + +Though it seemed as though more than enough time had passed to give the +shell a good opportunity, still Clif, for reasons of prudence, concluded +not to be too exacting on the thing, but to give it a fair chance. He +didn't want to crowd it too close. + +So he waited a while longer, and then cautiously climbed up the side of +the embankment and peered over. + +There in the moonlight he could see the shell lying quietly upon the +ground. There was no smoke now rising from it, and the fuse had +evidently burned itself out. It seemed a harmless enough piece of steel +now. + +He waited but an instant, and then vaulted over on the other side. His +curiosity had been aroused regarding the matter and he for the time +being lost all interest in the chase at sea, as well as the appointed +meeting under those trees on shore. + +When he picked up the shell he was more surprised and mystified than +ever. + +"What does this mean?" he exclaimed aloud. "A round shell of the +old-fashioned type instead of the conical ones used nowadays! Why, a +shell like this has not been used in any navy for ages!" + +He had been too excited at the moment of picking up the spluttering +shell to note its shape or size, but now he saw at a glance that the one +he held in his hand was obsolete and out of date. It was well enough for +the old-fashioned smooth-bore guns, but those of modern make had no use +for them. + +As he puzzled over the mystery surrounding the projectile he suddenly +heard a whistle from the other side of the embankment. He recognized it +as the signal from the insurgent courier, and at once was alive to the +importance of carrying out the instructions that had been given him. + +He hastily dropped the shell upon the ground and sprang up and over the +ridge of earth. + +He gave an answering whistle and soon a form cautiously appeared from +among some bushes not far away. + +"Alto quien va?" called Clif before the newcomer had advanced a step. + +This was the challenge, meaning, "Who goes there?" + +The response came promptly: + +"Cuba!" + +This is the countersign of the insurgents, and Clif knew that it was the +courier who had reached the appointed rendezvous. + +He called out to him to advance, and in the moonlight appeared the +figure of an insurgent soldier, a mambis, as he is called in that +country, a figure with which American tars were to become more familiar +as the war progressed. + +His equipment was typical of the insurgent soldier. Beside a pair of +linen trousers and a knitted woolen shirt, he wore a short blouse, +called mambisa. This was a small shirt-like vest, with pockets front and +back, opening at the belt, a handy way of carrying their cartridges +devised by them through necessity during the previous ten-years war. A +panama hat turned up in front and fastened with a silver star, completed +his attire; for as to his feet, they were innocent of a covering. + +"Rather a summery outfit," thought Clif as he took it in with a glance. + +But he knew that it was sufficient for the needs of the insurgents in +that climate, and that brave hearts beat under the unpretentious +mambisa, and brave deeds were done by the poorly equipped soldiers of +the army of liberation. + +The newcomer was effusive in his greeting. + +"I bring you greeting from our brave general, Gomez," he exclaimed in +Spanish. "Greetings to our noble friends and allies." + +Clif received him cordially, but lost little time in preliminaries. Much +more time had already been consumed than he had calculated upon, and he +was anxious to have his business over with and return to the flagship +with the important dispatches for which he had come. + +"I am honored by your words," he said, in reply to the other. "Cuban +liberty is assured by force of American arms, and at the same time we +have our own score to settle with Spain." + +"It will be done," said the Cuban. + +"But to business," continued Clif. "You have some papers for me, have +you not?" + +"Yes," replied the courier, raising his blouse and drawing forth a +package of papers from its place of concealment. "Important dispatches +from our general for your gallant rear admiral. Besides much information +concerning the Spanish fortifications and troops, there are details of +our own plans and preparations which it would be ruinous to have fall +into Spanish hands." + +"I'll see that the Spanish don't get them," he said, with a confident +air. + +"Be cautious," exclaimed the Cuban. "The enemy have made one effort to +intercept them. I was pursued a mile back from here, but my knowledge of +the country enabled me to give them the slip. It was that encounter that +delayed me." + +This was a danger that had not been reckoned on. Every preparation for +the transfer of the papers had been arranged with utmost secrecy. + +"But did the Spaniards know of your mission here?" asked Clif, in some +surprise. + +"I know not," replied the other. "It is incredible how they could have +discovered it, but I do know that I encountered a detachment of their +troops and that they pursued me." + +"Then they may be following you to this point," exclaimed Clif. + +"I think not," replied the Cuban. "I made a wide detour and know the +ways of the land too well to leave any trail." + +"Nevertheless," said Clif, "our business is transacted, and the sooner +we go our respective ways the better. These papers are now in my care, +and I shall run no risk of their falling into the hands of our enemies." + +"You are a wise officer," exclaimed the courier. "And before we part +allow me to present you this. It may interest you." + +With this he drew from his mambisa a paper which he quickly unfolded. It +proved to be a sheet about ten by fourteen inches, and Clif could see, +as he examined it by what light the moon afforded, that there was +printing on both sides. + +"This," said the courier, somewhat proudly, "is the first copy of 'Las +Villas' ever printed. It is set up and printed at General Gomez's +headquarters under his own direction. It contains, besides orders, and +an address from our beloved general, an account of your intrepid Dewey's +victory at Manila. Ah! that was a magnificent victory!" + +"Yes," assented Clif, "and there will be others." + +"The American battleships are invincible!" exclaimed the Cuban, with +enthusiasm. "With such noble allies we cannot fail to secure our +liberty. We are no longer instruments, but members of the regular army +of Cuba. God bless America!" + +The Cuban seemed in a fair way to continue his rhapsodies indefinitely, +but Clif, having secured the papers for which he came, was now intent +upon delivering them as soon as possible to the rear admiral. + +He therefore intimated as much to the courier, and the latter took his +departure. + +Clif watched him disappear among the trees in the direction by which he +had approached. + +"Now, men," said he, addressing his companions, "to the boat. The New +York will soon be back ready to receive us." + +But they had not taken more than a few steps toward the shore when Clif +suddenly stopped as if remembering something. + +"Hold on just a minute!" he exclaimed. "That shell! I have special +reasons for wanting to carry that along. It will take but a minute to +find it." + +As he started toward the ridge of earth beyond which he had thrown it, +they were all startled to hear the sounds of musketry apparently near at +hand. One volley was quickly followed by another. + +Clif sprang upon the embankment for which he had started, and looked off +beyond the clump of trees in the direction from which the sounds came. + +He was in that position but a moment or two. A half-dozen reports in +quick succession greeted his appearance--one bullet passing through his +cap. + +He dropped on his feet to the ground beside his companions. + +"The Spaniards!" he exclaimed, hurriedly. "At least a hundred of them. +From what I saw they were hurrying in this direction and not far away." + +They were on the alert on the instant. The sounds that reached their +ears told them unmistakably that the force of the enemy far outnumbered +their own, and were rapidly approaching. + +Should they await an attack or run for the boat? + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +"IN THE NAME OF HUMANITY AND THE SAILORS OF THE MAINE!" + + +"They must have followed the courier in spite of his cleverness," +exclaimed Clif. "And if they have tracked him, they know we are here. +The question is, shall we meet them here or take to the boat and run the +risk of being shot down without a chance to defend ourselves? The danger +is yours as well as mine. What do you say?" + +But before the men could make reply a rousing cheer from the Spanish +soldiers rang out upon the air. + +The little band of Americans expected to see the forms of their enemies +appear among the trees at every second in an impetuous charge upon them. +They had no doubt that the cheers were the signal for the attack. + +But to their amazement the sounds of approaching steps died out. Clif's +practiced ear told him that the enemy had halted; but at the same time +he recognized marks of enthusiasm among the Spanish forces. + +What could it mean? + +"Do they think they can scare us off by yelling at us?" exclaimed Clif, +contemptuously. "They don't know us, if they think so--that's all!" + +The group of Americans listened intently. There was no doubt of it, the +Spaniards had halted after their vociferous cheers. + +Clif decided to find out what it meant. If the Spaniards were preparing +a surprise for him, he intended finding it out. + +Cautiously he climbed upon the little rampart of earth and looked away +beyond the trees where he had first seen the approach of the enemy. In +the moonlight he could plainly distinguish the forms of the soldiers. +There were not as many as he had at first supposed--they numbered not +more than fifty. + +In the midst of them he recognized a figure that explained the cause of +their mysterious conduct, and at the same time aroused his fighting +instinct. + +He quickly rejoined his companions, his eyes ablaze with the fire of +combat. + +"They have captured the courier," he explained to his waiting +companions. "That was why they cheered so lustily. A lot of jubilation +over the capture of one man!" + +"They don't have such good luck very often," exclaimed one of the men. + +"They fired enough shots to repulse a whole regiment of insurgents," +exclaimed Clif, "but it was all for the benefit of this one mambesi. I +don't believe they saw me at all, but that bullet through my cap was one +of their stray shots." + +"But they must know we are here," exclaimed the men. + +"I doubt it," replied Clif, "else why do they halt so near and not +charge on us? Shall we force the fight and go to the rescue of our Cuban +friend?" + +"How many are there of them?" asked one of the men. + +"Only about fifty." + +"And there are eleven of us here! We can set them on the run! Let's do +it." + +"We have done almost as much on other occasions," said Clif, "but now we +are armed with only our revolvers. They are five to one." + +"We have plenty of ammunition," spoke up the men, eagerly. "You know we +took an extra supply." + +"But there is another thing we must bear in mind," said Clif, who had +been doing some quick thinking. "I'd like nothing better than to give +them a lively tussle. But here are these important dispatches. They must +not fall into Spanish hands. The New York will soon be due. If we delay +we might miss her." + +"That's so," exclaimed the men. "But we can fire one volley at them +anyhow." + +"One volley would do no good. It would simply betray our presence. +Either we must fight to the end, or else sneak off to our boat before +they discover us." + +The idea of having a lot of the enemy so near at hand and not offering +them battle, went against the grain of all of them. They were not +deterred by the superior numbers of the Spaniards, but Clif's words +about the importance of seeing the dispatches safely in the rear +admiral's hand had some restraining effect upon their ardor. + +Clif, with all his bravery, was naturally prudent, but was strongly +tempted to make one effort to release the captive Cuban. He was their +friend and ally, and in his heart Clif felt that if the captive were one +of his own men, there would be no thought of hesitancy or delay. + +"One minute," he said, after weighing both sides of the question, "I'll +take a look and see what they are doing." + +He sprang upon the embankment and peered off toward the enemy. The main +body of the troops were resting on their arms, apparently satisfied with +the capture of the solitary Cuban. + +Clif, however, could see that several of the soldiers were moving about +from side to side, close to the ground, as though hunting for some +object among the grass. Clif was puzzled to think what they could be +seeking, but he felt convinced that the Spaniards had no idea of the +near proximity of the Americans. + +Everything seemed to prove that, and Clif was not slow to make up his +mind. There was time yet for some quick action. + +"They don't know we are here, men," he exclaimed, when he rejoined the +others. "The Cuban will not betray us. We can surprise them, and if we +sweep down on them with a rush and create noise enough about it we can +make them think the whole ship's crew is after them." + +"We'll do it!" chorused the men, eagerly. + +"Then, forward to the rescue!" cried Clif, leading the way. "But quietly +through these trees until we reach the other side." + +It would seem a foolhardy thing to do--to invite battle with such an +overwhelming force, when they might quietly reach their boat and make +away without detection. But their blood was up, and there was a friend +and ally in peril of a Spanish dungeon or death. + +Without a moment's hesitation or further thought, they advanced silently +through the sparse woods, revolvers in hand. They were few in numbers, +but determination was written on every face. + +They reached the further edge of the clump of trees without giving a +sound that would betray their presence to the enemy. Here they formed in +line under Clif's leadership, shoulder to shoulder, ready for the +charge. + +The moon had gone behind a cloud, but here and there they could detect +the glistening of a hostile bayonet, and the sound of Spanish voices. + +They did not pause to contemplate the scene. The time for action had +come. + +"The stars are fighting with us!" exclaimed Clif. "The Spaniards will +never know how few we are in this darkness. Now, all together. A rousing +cheer and at them!" + +At the signal a shout as of a hundred voices startled the unsuspecting +Spaniards. + +"Fire!" cried Clif and a volley from their revolvers carried +consternation into the Spanish ranks. + +The shots had told. Groans of the wounded mingled with the hoarse, +startled commands of the officers. + +A moment later a return volley rang out upon the air, but the bullets +flew harmlessly among the trees. The Spaniards in their fright were +firing wildly. + +The Americans returned the fire and kept it up as rapidly as possible, +yelling for all they were worth. This noisy charge had the effect Clif +had reckoned upon. The Spaniards were thoroughly frightened and Clif's +sharp ear told him that some of the soldiers were already on the run, +and that the officers had difficulty in keeping them all from +retreating. + +Clif knew very well that if the enemy had any idea of how meagre were +his forces they would be bolder, and instead of trying to get away would +sweep down upon him with overwhelming force. He, however, was too shrewd +to give them a chance of finding that out. A bold dash would keep up his +"bluff," and now was the time to put it into execution. + +Drawing his sword, he started toward them, shouting at the top of his +voice: + +"Up and at 'em, boys!" he roared. "Charge!" + +Then facing about for an instant, he added in a lower tone: + +"Yell like sixty!" + +With a wild shout, the little band rushed forward, firing their +revolvers as they advanced in compact line. + +This bold dash had the desired effect. The enemy could be heard +retreating in disorder before them. + +With redoubled clamor the Americans pressed forward, spurred on by the +excitement of the chase. The moon at this point emerged from its +retirement and showed them the demoralized ranks of the fleeing +Spaniards. + +But, unfortunately, it also showed to such of the enemy as looked back +at their pursuers, what a handful of men had caused such terror and +havoc. Clif felt that his "bluff" would now be called. + +But the beams of the moon also showed another scene that aroused all the +Americans' indignation and fairly made their blood boil with rage. + +In spite of the panic the Spaniards had retained hold of their prisoner. +But the first sight that Clif saw as the moon shone out clear once more, +was one of the Spanish soldiers deliberately placing his revolver +against the unfortunate Cuban's head and sent a bullet crashing into his +brain. + +"Treachery! base treachery!" cried Clif, beside himself with indignation +and horror at the scene. "Assassination of a prisoner of war! Boys, +shall we allow such a vile deed to go unavenged?" + +The others had also seen, and there was no need to ask the question. But +the answer came prompt and without a dissenting voice: + +"No, by thunder! Never!" + +"Then at them to the death!" cried Clif, leading them on. "In the name +of humanity and the sailors of the Maine!" + +The blood-curdling atrocity had made demons of them all, and with a +hoarse shout they sprang to the charge. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +A GAME OF BLUFF. + + +Clif urged his little band of avengers forward with no thought of danger +or of the consequences. The inhuman scene he had witnessed drove from +his mind all thoughts of the flagship or the important papers he carried +upon his person. + +Such barbarity called for vengeance, and that brave American handful of +American tars meant to wreak it on their treacherous foes, or die in the +attempt. + +"Come on!" shouted Clif, wildly. "Give it to 'em! Don't let a man +escape!" + +A well directed volley was the answer to his command, that sent +death-dealing bullets among the frightened soldiers just before them. +But, unfortunately for the heroic little band, they were now fighting in +the open, and their strength was known to the enemy. + +A little further ahead Clif could see that a Spanish officer had +succeeded in rallying some of his men, and they were now forming in +solid line to repulse the charge of the Americans. + +The first result of this was a shower of bullets from the Spanish rifles +that fortunately for the most part went wide of the mark. But one +slightly wounded a sailor at Clif's side, as a sharp exclamation of pain +quickly told him. + +It also aroused his native caution. What was the use, he quickly +thought, of holding his men there in the full glare of the moonlight as +a target for the enemy's guns, when a more certain conflict could be +carried on from the shelter of the trees just behind him? He had too few +men to risk losing any on those uneven terms. + +He quickly ordered his men to drop back into the woods. But it was with +great difficulty at first that he could inforce his commands upon the +now thoroughly aroused sailors. They wanted to continue their impetuous +charge. + +But a second volley from the remaining troops showed them the wisdom of +Clif's decision, and with a return volley they fell back into the +darkness and shelter of the trees. + +"Now, boys," cried Clif, "every man behind a tree and fight for all you +are worth. Let every shot tell." + +The wisdom of Clif's stand became at once apparent. From the ambush of +the woods they could fire with little fear of stopping a Spanish bullet +with their own bodies. + +And they did fire, and that to good purpose. + +The Spaniards were now bolder and bore down upon the ambushed Americans +with some semblance of order. But at each volley from the sailors there +was a wavering in the ranks of the foe, and Clif could see that more +than one dropped wounded from the ranks. + +"We'll lick 'em yet!" cried Clif, with enthusiasm. "Keep it up, boys!" + +But the Spaniards advanced steadily in spite of their losses. They, too, +were fully aroused at the thought that they had been so roughly handled +by such a small number of men. + +Clif and his gallant band were compelled to drop back from tree to tree. +It began to look as though the Spaniards would in the end become +victorious. + +But with the Americans it was do or die. There was no hope of help or +succor from any source. No reinforcements were at hand, and none could +be sent in time from the flagship, even did those on board suspect the +plight in which that boat's crew found itself. + +But desperate cases require desperate measures, and Clif was equal to +the emergency. When it became evident that the Spaniards would indeed +fight, Clif's busy brain thought of a means to turn the tide of +conflict. + +It was a slight hope, to be sure, but the only one that presented +itself. He smiled in spite of himself, in view of his meagre forces at +the thought that the only way to achieve victory was by a flank +movement. + +"I'll take two men," he said hurriedly, "and slip around behind those +fellows. The rest of you keep up your fire here, and if our lungs hold +out we'll make them think we have reinforcements." + +It was a very risky move, but with two companions Clif put it into +execution at once. They hurried through the woods so as to flank the +enemy, an easy task, as the latter were now well up to the little grove. + +As they reached the edge of the woods which would bring them in the +enemy's rear, they set up a mighty shout. + +"At them, boys!" Clif yelled at his imaginary forces. "Come on! we've +got 'em!" + +Then in Spanish he cried, so that the enemy could hear: + +"Surrender, you Spaniards! Twelve men have held you, and now we'll take +you!" + +He had reached the edge of the clearing, and paused a moment, facing +around and beckoning to his imaginary reinforcements. + +The Spaniards were completely bewildered. The fire from those that Clif +had left behind continued without intermission, and the Spaniards could +not but think that the vociferous sailors in their rear were new +arrivals. + +They could not in the first place conceive of the daring and hardihood +that would lead a dozen men to oppose their forces unless reserves were +near at hand. And now, thought they, these reinforcements had arrived. + +Clif and his companions made noise enough to give color to this belief, +and without stopping to see what there was behind the demonstration, the +Spaniards took to their heels. + +"They are not men, but devils!" Clif heard some one say in Spanish, as +they dropped their rifles and start on the run. + +Even the officer who had succeeded once in holding a remnant of his +panic-stricken forces together, now gave up the fight and sprinted away +as fast as the rest. + +Every man seemed to be looking for his own safety, and they did not +pause to see what was behind them. Here and there, it is true, one of +the fleeing Spaniards could be seen helping a wounded companion in his +flight. But as for further resistance, there was none. + +Clif could not forbear to laugh at the odd sight of an army in a foot +race to escape a few American sailors. + +"American bluff has won the day," he laughed. "Our Cuban friend's death +has been avenged, and that without the loss of a man on our side." + +"The Spanish are good sprinters, at any rate," said one of the men, as +they started with Clif to rejoin their companions. + +Here Clif had all he could do to restrain his followers from continuing +in pursuit of the enemy. + +"No," said he in response to the earnest pleading. "We had better leave +well enough alone. These Spaniards say we are not men, but devils, and +I guess they don't care for another interview. The New York no doubt is +waiting for us, and these dispatches are yet to be delivered." + +There was no use to grumble, so the party set out on the return to their +boat. They were highly enthusiastic over the good work done under Clif's +leadership, and were proud of his pluck as well as the good generalship +he had shown. + +The tide of battle had carried them some distance from the spot where +they had met the Cuban courier, and further still from where they had +concealed their boat. + +But they picked their way expeditiously through the woods, and reached +the beach without further incident. + +They were near the clump of trees which they recognized as that behind +which they had hidden the boat when Clif stopped with a sudden +exclamation. + +"Gorry!" he said, "I have forgotten that shell. It won't take but a +minute to return for it." + +"What's the use, sir?" ventured one of the men. "As you said, we'd +better let well enough alone, and not run any further risk for a shell +that don't even explode." + +"That's just the reason I want it," said Clif. "That shell is more +important than you might think. I'll----" + +But here occurred an interruption that opened up more startling +possibilities, and drove the unexploded shell from the attention of all. + +It was in the shape of an exclamation of surprise and alarm from one of +the men who had gone a few steps in advance of the others, and had +reached the boat's hiding-place as Clif spoke. + +It arrested Clif's attention at once. + +"What's the matter?" he called, sharply. + +"The boat, sir," cried the marine, appearing from behind the bushes. + +"What of it?" + +"It's gone!" + +"Gone?" + +"Yes, sir." + +Clif, followed by the others, hastened to the spot. + +The man had spoken the truth. The boat, which was now their sole +dependence, was no longer there. + +They looked in blank amazement at one another and at the spot where they +had fastened it in fancied security. + +What could it mean? + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +IN WHICH CLIF MEETS WITH A SURPRISE. + + +They were now in a perilous position. + +They could not return to the flagship, and at any moment the Spaniards, +finding they were not pursued, might pluck up courage to seek them out +and try conclusions with them once more. If they should find them on +that narrow strip of beach the story of the conflict might be a +different one. + +And then the disappearance of the boat itself pointed to enemies they +had not counted upon. Who could have found and taken it? + +"Well, now we're in a pretty pickle," exclaimed Clif, when he became +satisfied that the boat had really been taken. + +"Perhaps, sir, this is not the place where we left it," ventured one of +the men, catching at that faint hope. + +"I wish you were right," said Clif, "but there's no doubt about it. The +boat has been taken." + +"There's no doubt of it," the men echoed. "The boat is gone." + +But to make assurance doubly sure, they searched the beach under Clif's +direction, examining every clump of bushes that was large enough to +conceal the boat. But the result was a foregone conclusion. The boat was +gone. + +"Now what's to be done, sir?" asked one of the men. + +What, indeed! + +"Something's got to be done," said Clif, with determination. "We've got +to get off this island before daybreak. It's easy to dodge the +Spaniards in the darkness, but entirely a different matter by day. +Besides, we seem to have enemies down here as well as back there on the +hill." + +He was scanning the water earnestly as he spoke. It was time, he knew, +for the flagship to return to her position opposite that point, and +await the return of Clif and his crew. + +Was she there? + +He could not tell. The face of the moon was again obscured by clouds as +it had been most of the night, and it was impossible for Clif to discern +any object at a distance across the water. + +He strained his eyes trying to catch a glimpse of the ship they had left +not many hours ago, but the thought occurred to him, "What good will it +do if I do see her?" + +But even as he looked the sky suddenly brightened in a tiny spot out to +sea. A long pencil of light shot up from the water, and a cloud was +tinged with a speck of dull white light. + +"It's the New York!" cried Clif. "The signal of her searchlight to +return." + +They watched that tiny beam of light as though there was hope of succor +in its rays, until it suddenly disappeared, and all was dark as before. + +"Now they are waiting for our appearance," said Clif. "But, +unfortunately, we haven't got wings. Hello! What does that mean?" + +Clif had turned suddenly in a listening attitude toward the land. The +others had heard the same sound that had attracted Clif. It was the +solitary report of a rifle shot not far in their rear. + +"The Spaniards must be returning," said Clif. "They have made up their +minds that we had no reinforcements because we did not pursue them +further. I'll go up and reconnoitre, to see what they are up to." + +"I'll go, sir," volunteered one of the men before Clif could get away. + +"You stay here. You may be able to see some way of getting us off." + +With this he cautiously hurried up the side of the bank, leaving Clif +and his companions in the shelter of the bushes below. + +With ears alert to any sound by land, they anxiously strained their eyes +across the water. Could any way be found to cross the expanse that lay +between them and the flagship? + +All were silent for many minutes, and then at last the searchlight of +the flagship flashed out once more and swept across the waters before it +disappeared. + +"So near and yet so far," exclaimed Clif. "They are getting impatient +for our return." + +"If we could signal them," suggested one of the men, "they would send a +boat." + +"But we have no means of doing that," said Clif. "We can't shout at +them, and a pistol shot would not be heard, except by our friends the +enemy." + +"Perhaps they will send a boat anyhow," persisted the hopeful member of +the crew. + +"Perhaps," assented Clif, "after they get tired of waiting for us." + +In a short time the scout returned with news that was at least +disquieting in their situation. + +"The Spaniards are after us, sir," he reported. "They seem to have +rallied most of their men, and are now near the woods where we met them, +cautiously advancing. They have scouts out looking for us, for I barely +escaped running into one of them." + +"They have guessed the trick we played on them," said Clif, "and it will +go hard with us if they find us. How near are they, did you say?" + +"They seem to be in the woods now, but they are advancing steadily. +They are scouring the place thoroughly, and may be down on us any +moment." + +"Well, boys, we'll do the best we can, if they do get here," said Clif, +quietly. + +A calm settled upon the band, for now they knew their situation was +critical. Their ammunition was nearly exhausted, and if the enemy should +succeed in attacking them from the vantage of the hillside, there was +little hope of a successful resistance. Should they succeed in eluding +the enemy in the darkness, there was no doubt that daybreak would seal +their fate. + +"There's no two ways about it," exclaimed Clif. "We've got to get off +this island, and that pretty soon." + +"See, sir," cried the hopeful member, who had been intently gazing +across the water. "They have sent a boat!" + +Clif looked in the direction in which the other was eagerly pointing. + +Sure enough, he could discern the outlines of a boat slowly moving +toward them some little distance from shore. + +An involuntary little cheer went up from the others as they, too, saw +the boat approaching. + +"We are saved!" exclaimed Clif, "and these dispatches will soon be in +the rear admiral's hands." + +But suddenly the eager watchers saw the boat stop, then after a few +moments veer around, and continue its course down the coast until it was +almost abreast of the spot where they stood. + +Then it as suddenly stopped, and after a moment's pause retraced its +course. + +"What's the matter with those fellows?" exclaimed Clif. "Are they afraid +to land?" + +"Hadn't we better signal them, sir?" suggested the man. "They don't know +where we are." + +The boat had again turned and was apparently patroling up and down, +seemingly waiting for just such assistance in locating the position of +the waiting sailors. + +But just as Clif was about to attract their attention by a mighty shout, +his practiced ear caught sounds from the hill above that caused him to +stop. The Spanish soldiers were unmistakably advancing. + +"Silence!" he cautioned, in a whisper. "The Spaniards are on the hill +above us and the slightest noise will betray us." + +"But the boat, sir!" exclaimed the man. "We must signal it." + +"I'll bring it here," said Clif, with a sudden resolve. + +He began divesting himself of his blouse and trousers as he spoke. + +"What do you mean to do, sir?" asked the men, wonderingly. + +"Swim for it," replied Clif. "That's the only way." + +"But, sir----" + +"Don't delay me," said Clif. "Every moment is precious now." + +With this he quietly slid into the water and with quick, powerful +strokes shot through the waves toward the boat. + +Clif was in his element. + +In the whole ship's crew none excelled him in swimming and diving, and +it was with a feeling of confidence that he forced his way through the +water. + +He made not a sound as he went along--for it was to avoid alarming the +Spaniards that he had hit upon this plan. + +The boat was not far from shore and he reached it in a few moments. He +was overjoyed to recognize that it was, as he expected, one of the boats +from the flagship. + +There were two occupants of the boat, one at the oars and the other in +the stern. Clif did not recognize them, but he did not pause on that +account. Time was precious, and the boat must be gotten to shore and the +balance of the party taken aboard without delay. + +"Boat ahoy!" he exclaimed joyously, as he reached the side without +having been seen by the occupants. "Take me aboard, men, and then pull +for the shore for all you are worth." + +Clif's sudden appearance and the words he spoke had a startling effect +upon the oarsman by whose side Clif made his appearance. + +The latter started with an oath, and as Clif seized the side of the boat +and raised himself partly from the water, his gaze fell upon the +glistening barrel of a revolver and back of it he saw a face distorted +with rage and hate. + +"Carramba!" fell upon Clif's ear. "It is an Americano! Death to the +American pigs!" + +The occupants of the boats were Spaniards. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +A STRUGGLE AGAINST ODDS. + + +The position in which Clif found himself was so startlingly unexpected +and so full of peril that for a brief instant it almost unnerved him. + +Had he suspected the possibility of the boat being manned by Spaniards, +he would have given up the thought as soon as he recognized it as one +belonging to the flagship. It seemed natural that a boat should be sent +to look for them after their protracted absence, and it was a decided +shock to find that he had fallen, alone and unarmed, in the way of his +enemies. + +But his surprise affected him but for an instant. He did not propose to +be shot down if he could help it. + +The report of the pistol that met Clif's gaze rang out upon the air, but +the bullet did not reach its intended mark. + +Like a flash Clif had released his hold upon the boat, and dropped +beneath the water, just in the nick of time. + +The Spaniard peered over the side of the boat in the darkness, expecting +to see Clif's form appear on the surface, and hoping to see his life's +blood staining the waters, a testimony to his marksmanship. + +How could he have failed to send that bullet crashing through the +American's brain? thought he. + +But nothing of the sort happened. Clif not only was not wounded, but was +chipper as a lark. When he disappeared, he dove under the boat and rose +again on the opposite side. The Spaniard would look in vain in that spot +for his intended victim. + +But the Spaniard in the bow discovered Clif's head as it appeared for an +instant above the water. With an imprecation of wrath he called his +companion's attention to the spot. But one of them was armed, it seemed. + +The other rushed to that side, but when he looked in the direction +indicated, revolver in hand, Clif had again disappeared. + +The American lad was as lively as a cricket, and busy thoughts surged +through his brain. + +In the first place, he did not propose being a target for a Spanish +bullet. But, above all, he wanted that boat, and, like the cowboy when +he wants a revolver, wanted it "bad." + +"How can I get it?" he thought, as his dive brought him up near the bow +of the boat. Help came from an unexpected source, for a few moments +after, he was driven by a new peril to attempt the only plan that could +accomplish it. + +The agency that led to his delivery was a shark. That was not the +every-day business of his shark-ship--that of saving an imperiled life +for those inhabitating those waters are especially hungry and voracious. + +But it happened this way: As Clif was quietly keeping himself afloat at +the bow of the boat, confident that in that position he ran little risk +of immediate discovery by his enemies, the plans and schemes revolving +in his mind were brought to a sudden standstill by a sight that filled +him with horror. A sharp triangular fin cutting the water like a knife, +flashed past him. + +"Merciful Heaven!" he muttered under his breath. "A shark!" + +Death faced him on every side. To be sure he might frighten the shark by +churning the surface of the water, but that very act would betray him to +a no less certain death at the hands of his enemies. + +His resolve, a desperate one that caused him to shudder as he formed it, +was reached on the instant. The broad back of his enemy, who sat in the +stern, was within easy reach, and inspired his action. + +Quick as a flash Clif grasped the stern of the boat with one hand and +with one mighty effort raised himself high out of the water. Before the +Spaniard could divine what was happening, Clif's free arm was thrown +around the fellow's neck, and he was drawn back into the water behind +him. + +An instant after Clif clambered over the stern into the boat. With a +shudder at the thought of the fate that awaited the luckless Spaniard, +he addressed himself to the work that lay before him. + +And there was plenty of it, and lively, too, while it lasted. + +The other Spaniard, who had been peering into the water ahead, turned +sharply around when he heard the noise made by the splash of his +companion, and in the act involuntarily dropped the revolver. + +What must have been his feelings upon beholding the lithe and dripping +form of the plucky young American emerging from the sea, may well be +imagined. + +But Clif did not pause to study the effects. He seized an oar and sprang +toward his remaining foe. + +"Surrender, you villain!" he cried in Spanish as he advanced. + +The Spaniard seized an oar and with an oath sprang toward the American. + +And there, on the quiet bosom of the water in the dim light of night, +ensued a stubbornly contested duel, in which oars took the place of +broadsword and sabre. + +Clif fought savagely and desperately. His blood was up, and he knew that +now, if ever, he was, fighting for his life. + +But in the end it was fortune that favored him. A chance blow upon his +antagonist's head rendered the latter unconscious, and victory again +perched upon the young American's banner. + +There was no time for exultation, even if he had felt that way. The work +had been too serious, and necessity for action was too imperative. + +Satisfied that he had nothing to fear from his enemy, now lying helpless +in the bottom of the Boat, Clif seized the oars and turned the boat +toward shore. + +It was trying work for one man to row that boat even the short distance +that lay between him and shore--especially after the ordeal through +which he had passed. But excitement buoyed him up and he made good +progress. + +His companions in the shade of the bushes where he had left them had +witnessed his exciting duel and were wrought up to tense excitement. How +they bemoaned the fact that they were not there to help him! + +It became evident that there were other spectators, too; for no sooner +had Clif seized the oars and began to row for the shore than a volley of +bullets rattled out across the water from the hill that had witnessed +such thrilling scenes earlier in the night. The Spanish soldiers had +discovered Clif! + +In the face of this, Clif redoubled his efforts to reach the beach and +rescue his companions, who might any moment be attacked by the soldiers +in their rear. + +But the enemy's attention was concentrated upon Clif and his boat, and +he shot through the waters in a perfect hail of missiles. They spattered +into the waters all around him, but wide of their mark. + +He reached the shore, and as he sprang upon the ground his faithful +little band could not repress a cheer at his bravery and pluck. + +But he urged them on. Not a moment could now be lost. The enemy, shut +off temporarily by the overhanging hill, might be down upon them any +second. + +Clif gathered up his clothing and at a word they all sprang to their +places and the boat leaped through the water with a bound, and was away. + +"To the flagship!" Clif cried, and then uttered an exclamation of alarm. + +"The dispatches!" he cried, as he felt among his clothes. "They have +been left behind!" + +At a word the boat was turned round and shot swiftly toward the beach. + +Yelling Spaniards could be heard racing down the hillside. They had +discovered the landing-place, and bullets began again to rain about the +water. + +It seemed sure death to return in the face of that fire, but the +intrepid crew sped on. The dispatches must not fall into Spanish hands! + +The boat grated on the sands, and Clif sprang out. One instant brought +him to the spot where his clothes had lain. Fortune favored him. As he +felt along the ground, his hand touched a package of papers. + +"The dispatches!" he cried, as he sprang to his place in the stern of +the boat, which had been turned ready for the start. He gave the word +and away they sped, this time with the flagship as the goal. Spanish +bullets flew after them, but they were safe. It was only when they were +for a moment brought out into bold relief by the searchlight that again +began to play from the flagship that the bullets of the enemy came near +their mark. + +And then the firing ceased and the boat sped on. An enthusiastic and +jubilant crew it was. Only Clif seemed in a dissatisfied mood. + +"Gorry!" he suddenly exclaimed, "I came off without that shell after +all!" + +"You seem to lay great store by that, sir," said one of the men. + +"I do," said Clif. "But will not return for it just now. To the +flagship!" + +Not many minutes later they were safe aboard, the captured Spaniard in +proper custody, and, best of all, the dispatches were personally +delivered by Clif to the rear admiral. + +But still Clif was not entirely satisfied. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +CLIF'S SECOND EXPEDITION. + + +In spite of the glorious work accomplished in those few hours Clif felt +chagrined that he had, in the excitement of the struggle on the boat and +under fire of the Spanish soldiers on shore, been forced to return to +the flagship without the shell. + +He had thought considerably about it even during the stirring scenes +through which they had passed. He had his own ideas about it and wanted +to put them to the test. + +Everything connected with it indicated to his mind some mystery, the +solution of which would materially help the American forces. + +In the first place, the way in which it was brought to his attention was +unusual, to say the least. That a ship being pursued by a hostile craft +should deliberately fire away from the pursuer and toward the land was +peculiar, even for a Spaniard. + +It was ridiculous to think that the shell had been aimed at Clif and his +party, for even had it been broad daylight the American boat's crew +would not have been visible to those on the Spanish ship. It was merely +a coincidence that Clif happened to be where the shell landed. + +"No," thought Clif as he revolved this in his mind, "that shot was not +aimed at our forces. There was some other reason for firing it." + +What that was he could merely conjecture, and he was not entirely clear +in his own mind. That the mysterious purpose had been carried out to the +satisfaction of those on the Spanish boat, Clif felt convinced, was +evident from the fact that not another shot was fired. + +Then the shape of the shell was an important factor. + +"They are not using those round ones nowadays," thought Clif. "This one +must be used for a special purpose. What that is, I'm going to find +out." + +The arrival of the Spanish soldiers and their peculiar actions before +the little battle that followed also demanded explanation. + +"They didn't know we were there," mused Clif, "or they would not have +been so easily taken by surprise. Why were they there? Their capture of +the Cuban courier was accidental, I'm sure. They were on some other +mission." + +Last of all, the theft of the ship's boat and the strange behavior of +the two Spaniards who had taken it and whom Clif had been forced to +overcome added a peculiar feature to the affair. + +Taking it all in all, Clif felt that though they had bravely avenged the +murder of the Cuban, and had brought the dispatches safely to the rear +admiral, and with them a prisoner, still an important object had not +been accomplished. + +He meant to return for that unexploded shell in the face of every +difficulty and put his ideas to the test. He had this purpose in view +when he delivered with his own hands the dispatches to the rear admiral. + +Rear Admiral Sampson glanced quickly over the papers after they were +handed to him, and seemed highly pleased. + +"These are of the utmost importance," he exclaimed. "With this +information we will be the better able to act in conjunction with the +insurgents when the proper time comes." + +Clif knew the papers must indeed be of especial value from the rear +admiral's manner, for it was decidedly unusual for an officer of such +importance to unbend to that extent with an ordinary cadet. The rear +admiral was evidently more than satisfied with the result of Clif's +mission. + +After a hasty examination of the papers, he turned to Clif, who had +remained standing, and asked some particulars of his meeting with the +Cuban courier. + +Then Clif briefly but graphically told of his receiving the papers from +the hands of the insurgent and of the latter's tragic death so soon +after at the hands of the cowardly Spanish soldier who held him as a +prisoner of war. + +Rear Admiral Sampson's blood fairly boiled as Clif gave him the details. + +"The cowards!" he exclaimed, with clinched fist. "It was barbarous!" + +"But, sir," continued Clif. "It has been avenged." + +And then he briefly and with modest demeanor told of their attack upon +the company of Spanish soldiers, and their victory over them without +the loss of an American life. More than one Spaniard had gone to his +death to atone for that cowardly assassination. + +The rear admiral was plainly interested, and at his request Clif gave +the particulars of his subsequent adventures and of the narrow escape in +the boat from the Spanish soldiers firing upon them from the hill and +shore. + +"Admirable! admirable!" exclaimed the rear admiral, when the brief +narrative was finished. "I am proud of the bravery of yourself and the +men with you." + +"And now, if you please, sir," said Clif, calmly, "I want to go back +there." + +"Back there!" exclaimed the admiral. "Where do you mean?" + +"To the spot where I met the Cuban," replied Clif. + +"What do you mean? According to your account the place is swarming with +Spanish soldiers." + +"Not many of them, sir," said Clif. "And it is not my intention that +they should see me. I left something behind that I think is important." + +Then he told of the shell that came crashing through the trees where +they stood, and of the series of incidents that had prevented his +examining it as fully as he wished. + +He insisted strongly that the recovery of the shell was of the greatest +importance, and intimated something of his ideas concerning the mystery +that it suggested. He spoke to such good purpose that at last the rear +admiral was disposed to grant his wish. + +"But it would be better to wait until you have had a chance to rest a +bit," said the latter. "To-morrow night, for instance." + +"Delay is dangerous, sir, I think," said Clif. "Others are seeking it, I +know, and it may not be there unless I go at once. There are still +several hours of the night left, and I can easily accomplish it." + +The rear admiral had evidently been impressed with what Clif had told +him concerning the shell, and at last agreed that he should go about it +in his own way. + +"Very well, then," he said at last. "Take a boat's crew and go at once." + +"If you please, sir," exclaimed Clif, "I would rather take one of the +small boats and go alone. One man can move about with less fear of +detection." + +"Young man, you are undertaking a very dangerous mission," exclaimed the +rear admiral. "But you seem to have the pluck, and I have confidence +that you can take care of yourself. Do then as you wish, but take some +signal rockets with you. Don't hesitate to use them if necessary. We +will be ready to send you assistance if needed." + +Clif, highly pleased at the confidence that was reposed in him, saluted +respectfully and hastened away to prepare for the venture. + +In a few minutes he was ready, the boat was lowered, and for the second +time that night he left the flagship to face fresh dangers on the shore. + +But this time he was alone. Success and safety depended upon his unaided +efforts. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +THE BATTLE IN THE BRUSH. + + +Was it a foolhardy venture, he thought, as with steady stroke he forged +ahead away from the flagship, and toward the shore he had so recently +left amid the clatter of hostile bullets. + +The enemy now must be on the alert, and he might be detected and +captured the instant his boat touched shore. And he was not blind to the +dangers that might confront him on land. + +"I'm in for it now, at any rate," he thought, "and I've got to succeed. +This mystery must be solved, and I believe the result will show that it +is worth all the risk." + +Darkness favored him, and besides he was alone; and for that very reason +could move around with less risk of discovery once he reached land. He +knew exactly where he had dropped the shell, and it would not take long +to get it. + +It was therefore with confidence that he urged the boat forward. + +It was a long pull, for the flagship lay well out to sea, but Clif did +not seem to feel the strain. He drew near the shore without detecting +any hostile movement or hearing any sound that would lead him to think +that the enemy were on the lookout. + +He decided that it would be prudent not to land at the same spot as +previously. He therefore steered for a clump of trees a little further +down the coast, and still not a great distance from the hill where the +shell lay. + +Not a sound from the enemy reached his ears as his boat grated upon the +sandy beach, and he sprang out to secure the painter to a bush. + +Then, feeling that his revolver was ready and handy for business, he +cautiously began to steal his way through the shrubbery that fringed the +shore. + +These screened his advance and soon he was ascending the steep bank in +the direction of the previous encounter. He was getting further away +from his boat and nearer and near to his destination. + +"All serene, so far," he muttered, as he advanced steadily without any +adventure. "The Spaniards must have gone." + +But suddenly, as he was about to step from the concealment of the trees +into a slight clearing that lay in his path, he heard a sound that +caused him to dodge quickly back. Looking out he saw a figure close at +hand and slowly approaching. + +A step further and Clif would have brought himself directly within the +other's view. + +It was not Clif's purpose to invite an encounter, although he grasped +his revolver in readiness for an emergency. He desired, rather, to avoid +it, and to quietly make his way to the spot where the shell lay. That +once secured, he felt that he could in the same way return to his boat +and to the flagship. + +He therefore silently waited in his place of concealment to see what the +enemy would do. The latter evidently had not heard Clif's movements, and +continued slowly to advance, stooping occasionally and peering from side +to side. + +"I think I know what you're after," muttered Clif below his breath. "But +you won't find it here; nor me, either," he added, as he began to edge +away from the position he held. + +As he did so, the other turned and slowly continued his course in the +opposite direction. + +The coast was again clear, and Clif lost no time in putting what +distance he could between himself and the unwelcome visitor. His course, +too, led him toward the mound of earth behind which lay the object of +his coming. + +When he reached the spot where he had met the Cuban courier he found it +deserted. The Spaniards, after the escape of Clif and his men, had +evidently withdrawn. + +With a light heart he sprang toward the rampart of earth and began to +ascend its side. + +"In one minute it is mine," he thought exultingly, "and then back to the +flagship and the test!" + +But a surprise was in store for him. As he vaulted over the top of the +mound on to the other side, he landed almost into the arms of a man who +was just ascending that side. + +The man was unmistakably a Spaniard, and from his hands there fell a +round shell, that rolled away across the ground. + +The encounter was startling to both, but Clif was the first to recover +his wits. His quick eye detected the fallen shell, and he divined the +fellow's purpose. + +Before the other could recover from his evident fright, Clif sprang upon +him. + +"So you have found it!" he muttered, as he closed in upon the Spaniard, +"but finding's not keeping's this time." + +Clif's attack brought the Spaniard quickly to his senses, and he was not +slow to defend himself. + +In a flash he drew his revolver, but Clif was too quick for him. The +latter knocked the weapon from the fellow's grasp before he had a chance +to fire it. + +Clif's own weapon was within easy reach, but for several reasons he did +not care to use it. He wanted, among other things, to avoid a pistol +shot which might attract others to the spot. + +The contest must be one of muscle against muscle; and to unusual +strength Clif added a surprising agility that came in good stead in such +a struggle. + +They grappled, and there in that enclosure formed by the mounds of earth +on several sides the two began a furious hand to hand battle, the result +of which long hung in doubt. + +The Spaniard was no mean opponent, and fought with enraged fury. Clif's +astounding exertions during the past hours had been enough to exhaust +the strongest and sturdiest, and he was compelled to acknowledge to +himself, as the battle progressed, that it had made inroads upon his +strength. + +Back and forth across the little enclosure the pair fought fiercely. +Once Clif slipped and fell beneath his opponent; but an instant after he +was upon his feet. + +His keen eye followed his antagonist's every move. He was watching for a +chance to deliver one blow that would settle the combat. Several times +he had landed upon the Spaniard's head and face, inflicting severe +punishment, but not enough. + +At last the moment came. The opening presented itself in the Spaniard's +guard, and with all the strength that was in him, Clif shot out his +right hand. It went home. With a force that seemed to lift the fellow +high into the air, his fist met the Spaniard's chin, and the latter fell +backward to the ground. + +It was a clean knockout. Breathing heavily, the fellow lay where he had +fallen, unconscious of his surroundings. + +Clif was panting from the exertion. He had received some punishment, and +the wound in his arm was throbbing fiercely. + +But he paused only long enough to see that the fellow would not give him +further trouble, and then hurried toward the spot where the shell had +rolled. + +"I guess that'll hold you for a while," he muttered, looking at his +fallen foe as he started away. + +"But he'll come out of it after a time," he added. "Gorry! how my arm +aches all the way up to the elbow." + +It took but a moment for him to find the shell, for he had seen it roll +from the other's hand. + +"That's it," he exclaimed, as he picked it up. "I'd know it in a minute +by its shape and weight. Rather light for a cannon ball." + +But he did not wait to examine it there. There would be time enough for +that when he reached the flagship. + +With a parting look at his unconscious antagonist he started away. + +"I'm sorry, my dear sir," he exclaimed, sarcastically, as he looked back +on reaching the top of the rampart. "You seemed so attached to this +shell, I'd like to take you along with it. But as I can only take one at +a time, I'll content myself with this." + +Then he turned his back upon the scene of his contest, and started for +his boat as expeditiously as due caution would allow. + +He met with no obstacle in the way, and found the boat just as he had +left it. He threw the shell in the stern, and with a feeling of +exultation sprang in after it and seized the oars. + +A few steady strokes and he was on the way toward the flagship. But +there had been a change in those quiet waters while he was on the land. + +He had not gone many boat lengths from shore before he discovered +looming up before him a slowly moving steamer. It was apparently hugging +the coast and proceeding with as little noise as possible. + +"A boat trying to run the blockade!" exclaimed Clif, as he backed water +and rested upon his oars. "She'll succeed, too, unless one of our ships +should happen to discover her with its searchlight." + +And then his responsibility, in view of the discovery he had made, +flashed upon him. + +"I must warn the flagship at once," he exclaimed, seizing the oars and +sending the boat forward with a spurt. + +But after a couple of strokes he suddenly stopped again. + +"What a fool I am!" he exclaimed. "By the time I can row out to the +flagship, it will be too late. They must be warned instantly, and there +is only one way of doing it." + +He reached for the signal rockets he had brought at the rear admiral's +order. Should he fire them? + +Those on board the strange boat that was nearly abreast of him did not +know that he was there. If he gave the signal it would betray his +presence, and no doubt lead to an attack upon himself in his open boat. + +Clif looked far out to sea for a moment, half hoping to see the flash of +the searchlight play upon the water, and lead to the detection of the +strange craft. + +But the delay was only momentary. + +"It is my duty to warn the ships," he exclaimed, as he set a rocket up +in the stern, and drawing a match from his pocket, struck it upon the +seat of the boat. "Here goes!" + +A moment later, with a sharp whirr and a flash of light, the rocket shot +up into the air. A second and third followed; then Clif sprang back upon +his seat and seized the oars. + +The signal had been given. He had done his duty at whatever risk there +might be to his own safety. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +CAPTURED. + + +Clif had elected to imperil his own existence rather than allow one of +the enemy's boats to pass that blockade without warning to the American +ships. But he had no intention of lying idly by in the path of the +hostile craft. + +He waited but a moment after the glare of the last rocket had died out +in the air, and then bent to the oars, and urged the boat toward the +open sea beyond. + +And then he had every confidence that he had little to fear from the +enemy's boat. + +"They'll have all they can do to look out for their own safety now," he +thought, "without paying any attention to me. The New York has seen the +signal, and will not be slow in making out the cause. Then look out, Mr. +Spaniard." + +But there was more taking place upon those waters than Clif was +cognizant of, and peril came from an unlooked-for source. + +His decision to send up the warning signal had been quickly formed after +his first discovery of the strange vessel. He had seen at a glance that +it was not a warship, but a merchant steamer. It was moving slowly, and +apparently seeking, as much as possible, the concealment afforded by the +shadow of the coast. Every feature about it showed that it was trying +to quietly steal out past the blockading vessels. + +Clif had not delayed, but on the impulse of the moment had sent up the +signal rockets while he was yet between the ship and the shore. But a +few steady strokes would carry him beyond the enemy and toward the +flagship, he thought. + +But to his surprise he noticed, on glancing over his shoulder as he drew +nearer the vessel, that the latter was moving slower than before and in +fact had just stopped. + +This was puzzling to him, for now, if at any time, the boat should be +showing its utmost speed. Those on board must surely know from the +signals that they had been discovered and that pursuit would instantly +follow. + +A few words will explain the situation to the reader. The vessel was, as +Clif suspected, endeavoring to steal out past the American ships, which +were known to be in the vicinity. But a short time before Clif had left +the shore for the second time, the blockade runner had slowed down, and +a boat, manned by half a dozen sailors, had been sent ashore. An officer +in the Spanish army, with important dispatches, was to be taken aboard +at a point not far from where Clif had landed. + +The work of the Spanish boat's crew had been expeditiously performed, +and when Clif sent up his signal, they were returning to the ship. +Unnoticed by Clif in his excitement at the time, they were close to one +side of his boat at that fateful moment. + +A pistol shot suddenly ringing out in the air and a bullet flying not +far from his head apprised the cadet of danger from that quarter. The +Spaniards, as was natural for them to be, were aroused to a high pitch +of excitement against the youth whose vigilance promised to set all +their plans at naught. + +With a hoarse yell of rage they tugged at the oars and their boat fairly +leaped through the water after the intrepid young cadet. + +Clif saw the movement, and redoubled his efforts at the oars. It was a +race for his life--one against seven! + +With frantic energy he tugged at the oars, and his boat shot forward +with encouraging speed. At that moment the searchlight on the flagship +sent its rays across the waters in answer to the signal, and a dazzling +stream of light played upon the scene. + +It brought in clear relief the form of the waiting steamer, and the two +boats racing so desperately near at hand. + +What a thrilling scene it must have been to the officers on the bridge +of the flagship as with glass in hand they watched the exciting race. +But it was not given to them long to note the cadet's desperate struggle +for freedom, or to marvel at his great endurance. + +The race was a short one, and the result a foregone conclusion. There +was no hope of Clif's escaping from the pursuing boat, with its crew of +fresh and eager oarsmen. The latter closed in upon him with a leap and a +bound, and soon were within oar's length of him. + +He recognized the uselessness of trying to escape from them, but was +determined not to surrender without a struggle even in the face of great +numbers. + +He dropped his oars and sprang to his feet, facing his enemies. He drew +his revolver, but before he could use it one of the Spanish sailors, who +had risen in the boat, knocked it from his grasp with his oar. + +The boats were now side by side, almost touching, and the dark hulk of +the steamer was not many feet away. + +From the latter arose aloud cheer as they saw that Clif had been +disarmed, and above the noise Clif could hear a few words of command +from the Spanish army officer who sat in the stern of the boat at his +side. It was to the sailor who had sprung up to attack Clif. + +"Don't shoot!" he said. "Take him alive!" + +Clif had seized an oar when his revolver fell with a splash into the +water, and there was no doubt that he intended using it. + +But two can play at that game, and the Spanish sailor, forbidden to +shoot, attacked Clif furiously with the oar, which he still held in his +hand. + +Clif dodged, but as he did so another sailor aimed a blow at his head. +The aim was good. + +A sharp pain shot through the young cadet's head, he reeled and all +became dark before him. With a faint moan he fell senseless into the +bottom of his boat. + +The contest had been short, and well it was for the Spaniards that such +was the case. Already the flickering of the searchlight told that the +flagship was hurrying to the scene. + +The Spaniards realized the importance of quick action. They had, on the +impulse of the moment, retaliated upon Clif because it could take but a +few minutes and because they felt that the chase would end not far from +their waiting vessel. + +They congratulated themselves that it had, indeed, brought them almost +to the ship's side, and now they lost no time in getting themselves and +their prisoner aboard. Willing hands assisted from above. + +A couple of strokes of the oars had brought them to the ship's side, +with Clif's boat in tow. In obedience to a command, Clif's boat with its +unconscious burden was raised bodily to the deck. The captain thought he +could use it in his business. + +A moment later the Spaniards with the army officer reached the deck, and +the ship's captain signaled to go ahead. + +All now was excitement on board the Spaniard. Beyond securely fastening +the arms and legs of their unconscious captive where he lay, they paid +but little attention to Clif. They were all too wrapped up in thoughts +of escape from the cruiser whose piercing searchlight was streaming upon +them. + +Among the crew there was, here and there, a murmur against the delay +that had been caused by stopping to take on the army officer, and with +this was coupled a note of resentment against the young cadet whose +appearance on the scene promised to spoil all their plans. + +But the captain's orders were carried out promptly, the more so as their +own safety depended upon it. + +They were not without hope of making good their escape in the end, for +they knew what speed their craft was capable of. It was a fast boat, and +the throbbing of the engines told that she was being urged to her full +speed. + +Amid intense excitement of crew and officers, the wild dash for freedom +and safety had begun. + +Through all this confusion and flurry the cadet whose prompt signaling +had occasioned it lay helpless and unconscious. The steady thump of the +machinery below, which was steadily carrying him further and further +from his friends, made no impression upon his ears, nor was his mind +aroused by the excitement of the chase or the hope of rescue. + +But the race had not been long under way before he began to show signs +of returning consciousness. He stirred uneasily in the bottom of the +boat where he lay, attempting to move his pinioned limbs; then a +long-drawn breath, and he opened his eyes slowly. + +The noise from shipboard fell upon his ears, and the sounds confused +him. His surroundings puzzled him and his mind at first could not grasp +the situation. Where was he? + +Then with a rush of recollection came the remembrance of the attack upon +him in the open boat. His enemies had triumphed, he thought, and left +him a helpless victim to drift about upon the open sea. But whence those +sounds? + +He painfully raised himself to a sitting posture and looked out. To his +astonishment, he found himself and boat upon the deck of a swiftly +moving steamer. + +Then he saw it all, and realized what had happened. He caught a glimpse +of the rays of the searchlight that still streamed across the water, and +a moment after heard the boom of a cannon out at sea. + +"The New York!" he exclaimed. "She is in pursuit! But she's too far +away, and can never catch this fast boat. The only chance of her +stopping it is with one of her big guns." + +And then, involuntarily, he shuddered as he thought that, bound and +helpless, he would share the fate of the Spanish crew if a shot from the +flagship should penetrate the ship's side and send it to the bottom! + +He moved a little toward the stern of his boat, as best he could, to get +a better view of the light that showed the approaching flagship. As he +did so he struck a round, hard object that lay behind him. + +"The unexploded shell!" he exclaimed, as he recognized what it was. "I +still have that with me, at any rate!" + +And then he began to tug at the ropes that bound his arms in a frantic +effort to loosen them. + +The rapid throb of the engines below and another boom of cannon from out +to sea told that the chase was becoming a hot one. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +CLIF FARADAY'S TEST. + + +The excitement among the crew of the Spanish steamer was intense as they +watched the light from the flagship and noted the course of the +projectiles that came toward them. For this reason they had not observed +Clif's movements, and gave themselves no concern about him. + +Whatever may have been his intended course of action, he was at last +compelled to abandon it. + +Strain and tug as he would at the cords that bound his arms, they +remained intact, nor could his ingenuity devise any way of releasing +himself from their hold. Though hastily tied, the knots had been put +there to stay, and Clif at last realized that it was a hopeless task to +try to undo them. + +But though he could not free his arms and legs, he could use his eyes, +and the scene was one thrilling enough to rivet his attention. + +The fast moving steamer, urged to its utmost speed, the exclamations of +hope and fear among its crew, the more majestically moving flagship +whose deficiencies of speed were more than atoned for by the range of +her guns, suggested possibilities to one in Clif's position that might +well set one's heart to beating wildly. + +If the steamer should escape by reason of superior speed, it would +bring joy to the crew, but disaster to Clif, their helpless prisoner. +If, on the other hand, a shot from the flagship should sink the Spanish +boat, Clif perforce would share death with them. Little wonder that +brave as he was, he struggled anxiously to free his arms and legs from +their bonds. + +"The New York can never catch us," he exclaimed, when he had settled +down to watching the flagship as best he could. "She is too far away, +and this boat is too fast." + +There was little need of the searchlight now, as dawn was approaching. +The forms of the ships could be distinguished in the uncertain light +without its aid. + +Clif had been watching the flagship which was astern, but now, looking +forward, he saw a beam of light in that direction. It was several miles +out to sea, and shot across their path. + +"That must be the Wilmington," he exclaimed, cheered by a suddenly +revived hope. "She can cut across our path, and all may yet be well." + +He looked back at the flagship and saw the red and the blue signal +lights flashing their message to the ship ahead which was, as Clif +surmised, the Wilmington. They also carried a message to Clif, nor was +their meaning lost upon the Spanish crew. + +"They have signaled the Wilmington to intercept her," exclaimed Clif. +"But it will be a close race." + +He heard the signal from the excited captain of the Spanish boat for +more speed, and the throbbing of the machinery told that they were +endeavoring in the engine rooms to carry out the order. It seemed as if +the engines were already doing their utmost, but Clif could notice a +slight increase in the headway they were making. + +It was a fast boat and no mistake, Clif thought, as he anxiously +strained his eyes to see what the Wilmington was doing. + +Answering signals told that she had received the order from the +flagship, and that those orders would be obeyed. Clif fervently hoped +that she would be successful. He hated to think of the possibility of a +hostile ship succeeding in running the blockade, and now this patriotic +impulse was heightened by the fact that he was a helpless prisoner on +board the very boat that promised to accomplish that feat. + +For, as he watched the race, there was a growing conviction in Clif's +mind that the Wilmington was so far out to sea that she could not hope +to stop the Spanish steamer except by the power of her guns. And a hole +in the side of the enemy's vessel, however desirable under ordinary +circumstances, did not coincide with his hopes or ideas on this +occasion. He had no desire to share a watery grave with his captors. + +The two boats were heading for the same point, the Wilmington seeking to +block the path the other was following. One of her guns spoke out, but +the shot fell short. She was not in range. + +Faster went the Spanish boat, and nearer to the objective point raced +the two vessels. + +Clif breathlessly watched the pursuing craft whose success meant so much +to him. Could she win? + +The Spaniards shared his excitement, and watched their opponent with +fully as much eagerness. At last they broke out into a cheer. + +Clif was not slow to understand its import. The Spanish boat was making +really a phenomenal run, and had reached a point where it was evident +that if they maintained their speed they would soon be past the +dangerous line. That once reached they could show the Yankee boat a +clean pair of heels. + +Clif's spirits fell when he realized that the Spaniards had good cause +for their jubilation. There was no doubt now that the steamer could pass +the danger line and then away. + +The Wilmington, too, seemed to realize that there was no hope of +catching up with the other vessel, for now the cannon boomed out in +rapid succession. They were rapidly drawing nearer and within range. + +A shot swept across the Spaniard's bows, but on she went. Then another +struck the bridge upon which the captain stood glass in hand, and he had +a narrow escape from flying splinters. But the goal was too near for +them to stop, and he signaled for more steam. + +Clif could not but admire this officer's pluck. Under other +circumstances, he would have said that the Spaniard deserved to win. + +The vessel seemed to struggle to do what was demanded of her, and sped +on. Another shot from the Wilmington rattled across her bows, but the +crew answered with a cheer. Five minutes more and they would be round +the point and then---- + +What would happen then was never to be known. Suddenly a loud explosion +was heard from below, and the whole frame of the steamer shook from end +to end. Men rushed on deck in a panic, and wildly proclaimed the cause. + +A steam pipe, urged beyond its strength, had exploded, carrying +destruction with it. The race was lost, and the captain promptly hauled +down his flag. + +But as he did so, he gave orders to steer toward the land, and the +steamer came to a standstill not far from the shore. + +The Spanish army officer carrying the dispatches entered a boat that was +quickly lowered and when the prize crew from the Wilmington boarded the +steamer he was safe upon land and his escape was assured. + +When the officer in charge of the prize crew had finished the +formalities, Clif attracted his attention. The cadet had apparently been +forgotten by his captors in the excitement of the chase and the calamity +that had come upon them. The American officer was astonished beyond +measure to find one wearing the familiar uniform in such a plight on +that boat. + +"Why, Mr. Faraday," he exclaimed upon learning Clif's identity, and +having released him from his bonds, "we were not aware that they had an +American on board as a prisoner." + +"I thought not, from the way you were firing at us," said Clif, with a +smile. "I thought more than once that you would send this particular +American to the bottom along with the shipload of the enemy. You were +firing too accurately to suit me this time." + +"Well, the American boys do come pretty near hitting what they aim at," +responded the officer, evidently pleased at the compliment to their +marksmanship. "But I am curious to know how it has happened that we find +you here." + +Clif then briefly told of the adventures that followed his finding of +the unexploded shell, which he picked up from its lodgment in the boat +and held in his hand. + +"So you have risked your life for that piece of steel!" exclaimed the +officer. "What can have been your purpose in that?" + +"Does it not strike you, sir, that there is something peculiar about +it?" asked Clif, as the other examined it. + +"Yes," replied the officer, "it is decidedly out of date, and might be +interesting as a relic, but not of sufficient importance to risk one's +life for." + +"I had an idea that there was a mystery about it that was well worth +solving," replied Clif. "And with your permission, sir, I will put the +matter to a test." + +"As you like," responded the officer, with the air of a man who is +indulging some childish fancy. + +Clif was not slow to take advantage of the permission granted, and +carried the shell to a table that stood upon the after deck, the officer +meantime paying no further attention to him, but attending to some +further detail of transfer. + +Clif had procured a fuse and inserted it into the shell and was upon the +point of lighting it when the officer appeared. + +"Stop, sir!" he commanded. "Would you blow us all to destruction?" + +Others standing near made a move as if to stop Clif, but it was too +late. The fuse was burning rapidly. + +With a cry of alarm and amazement, the officers, American as well as +Spanish, sprang to one side and dodged in great fright. + +But Clif calmly stood by, his arms folded and a confident smile playing +about his lips. + +He was putting his theory to the test. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +THE MYSTERY OF THE UNEXPLODED SHELL. + + +Mingled with evident fright and alarm there was upon the face of each a +look of incredulity at rashness of the cadet. Had his adventures and +narrow escapes turned his brain, and were they now at the mercy of a +maniac? was in the minds of all. + +They had not long to wait. The fuse burned rapidly and spluttered to the +end, and as they all involuntarily ducked their heads at the impending +explosion, a peculiar thing happened. + +When the fire from the fuse reached the shell there was a sharp clicking +sound, and those who were looking at the shell saw it suddenly open like +a book, and from its hollow interior fell a roll of paper upon the +table. + +This Clif seized and waved over his head in triumph. + +"Hurrah!" he cried. "It is as I suspected. Secret dispatches from the +enemy that are worth all they have cost!" + +The officers were struck dumb with amazement, and stood and stared at +the smiling young man as though they could not believe their eyes. But +after a time they crowded around him and examined the shell curiously, +and then the papers that Clif held in his hand. + +The papers were evidently written in Spanish, and though the American +officers could not read them, they now had conceived sufficient +confidence in Clif to believe that they were indeed of importance. + +The shell, whose quest had caused Clif so much peril and danger, was a +curious affair. It had been cunningly contrived for the purpose it had +so admirably fulfilled. Though very much in appearance like the +old-fashioned round shells, it was in two parts, ingeniously hinged so +that when closed it required very close scrutiny to detect the seam. + +It was hollow, and consequently light in weight. This fact had first +arrested Clif's attention and had set his thoughts to work upon the +mystery that was connected with it. In the opening where the fuse was +inserted there was a concealed mechanism so arranged that it might not +be detected or opened with the finger, but would readily give way to the +force of a slight explosion in that small cavity. If it should fall into +strange hands, unfamiliar with its design, it was meant to defy all +efforts at opening it. + +Clif was the recipient of many expressions of praise from the American +officers upon his ingenuity in fathoming the secret that was so +cunningly devised, and they questioned him at length. + +"That is indeed wonderful," said the superior officer. "But how did you +ever guess the purpose for which it was intended or the method of +opening it?" + +Clif then explained the circumstances connected with its appearance at +his feet among the trees where he was awaiting the Cuban courier. + +"I thought it was strange that a ship being pursued should fire a shell +at the land instead of at its enemy," he said, "and when I picked it up +I was struck with its peculiarities, but my examination was interrupted +by the arrival of the Spanish soldiers. We were kept busy for a while +pursuing them, and did not have much time to pursue this mystery." + +The officer smiled knowingly at this, for he had gathered enough from +Clif's previous narrative to know that the little band of sailors had +done great feats that night. + +"The shell not exploding," continued Clif, "led me to think that perhaps +it was not intended to explode just then and when I saw that the Spanish +soldiers seemed to be hunting for something there, I jumped to the +conclusion that it was this identical piece of steel they were after. +That explained their presence there and their peculiar behavior. And +what could the Spaniards want with that shell if it did not contain +something of value to them and of greater value to the American cause?" + +"You reasoned well," exclaimed the officer, "and so you decided to risk +going back for it, and your ideas have come out triumphant through the +test. But, young man, don't try any more experiments like that when I'm +around." + +They all laughed heartily at this sally, at which Clif joined in. + +"But it was decidedly a peculiar way to send dispatches," continued the +officer, "and it would seem as though it was uncertain and unnecessary +as well." + +"There seemed to me to be a good reason for it, sir," said Clif. "I +figured that that boat had been sent to deliver the dispatches, with +instructions that if they were pursued to fire the shell at a point +agreed upon, and then make their escape. They were pursued, and did fire +toward shore, and the soldiers in waiting evidently saw the flash, and +knew about where to hunt for it. I think, sir, that when these papers +are examined it will be found that they contain information that the +Spanish army ashore wants the worst way." + +This proved to be the case. Clif was given custody of the peculiar shell +and the papers it had contained, and after a little delay was taken in +the boat to the Wilmington. + +Signals were exchanged between this vessel and the flagship, and in due +time Clif was rowed to the latter and ordered to report to the rear +admiral. + +He turned the shell and its contents over to that officer with an +explanation of all that had taken place. + +"I see that you had good cause for desiring to go back to find this +shell," said the rear admiral when Clif had finished. "We have learned +from the prisoner whom you secured after a struggle in your boat, that +they had stolen your boat to facilitate the transfer of some papers. +They were late and missed seeing the boat that fired this shell. Now +that you have secured these papers I will call your knowledge of Spanish +into requisition and allow you to transcribe these for me." + +And this Clif did; and when he had completed the task it was found that +the most important work he had done that night, was in securing that +shell and unraveling its mystery. + +As he issued from the admiral's room Cadet Wells, one of Clif's best +friends, approached him. + +"Faraday, old fellow," he said, "I've got news that will interest you." + +"I'm listening." + +"It's about that exception among Spaniards, the lieutenant who helped +you and Miss Stuart escape." + +"Ah! what of him?" asked Clif, eagerly. + +"You know he left us on a Spanish boat that brought you over under a +flag of truce. Well, we couldn't touch that boat then, of course, but +yesterday she ventured too far out, and the New York sunk her. We saved +all her crew and from one of them I learned what became of Hernandez. It +seems he sought a lonely part of the boat while she was on the way from +us to the shore, and knelt to pray. An officer of the boat saw him thus +and withdrew. A moment later all hands were startled by a pistol shot. +Hurrying below they found Lieutenant Hernandez prone on the deck, a calm +smile on his face, a bullet in his brain." + +Faraday was deeply affected. + +"And thus," he said gravely, "perished one of Spain's real heroes." + + +[THE END.] + + + + +[Transcriber's Note: In the original edition, the following +advertisements appeared at the beginning of the book, before +the title page.] + + +THE MEDAL LIBRARY + +FAMOUS COPYRIGHTED STORIES +FOR BOYS, BY FAMOUS AUTHORS + + +This is an ideal line for boys of all ages. It contains juvenile +masterpieces by the most popular writers of interesting fiction for +boys. Among these may be mentioned the works of Burt L. Standish, +detailing the adventures of Frank Merriwell, the hero, of whom every +American boy has read with admiration. Frank is a truly representative +American lad, full of character and a strong determination to do right +at any cost. Then, there are the works of Horatio Alger, Jr., whose keen +insight into the minds of the boys of our country has enabled him to +write a series of the most interesting tales ever published. This line +also contains some of the best works of Oliver Optic, another author +whose entire life was devoted to writing books that would tend to +interest and elevate our boys. + +PUBLISHED EVERY WEEK + + +To be Published During April + +357--Jack Harkaway Among the Pirates By Bracebridge Hemyng +356--Frank Merriwell's Baseball Victories By Burt L. Standish +355--Tracked Through the Wilds By Edward S. Ellis +354--A Thoroughly Good Story By Horatio Alger, Jr. +353--A Prisoner of Morro By Ensign Clark Fitch, U. S. N. + + +To be Published During March + +352--Frank Merriwell's Double Shot By Burt L. Standish +351--The Boys of Grand Pre School By James De Mille +350--A Thoroughly Good Story By Horatio Alger, Jr. +349--The Two Scouts By Edward S. Ellis + + +To be Published During February + +348--Frank Merriwell's Duel By Burt L. Standish +347--Jack Harkaway Afloat and Ashore By Bracebridge Hemyng +346--A Thoroughly Good Story By Horatio Alger, Jr. +345--The B. O. W. C. By James De Mille + + +To be Published During January + +344--Frank Merriwell on the Boulevards By Burt L. Standish +343--Among the Redskins By Edward S. Ellis +342--A Thoroughly Good Story By Horatio Alger, Jr. +341--The Fighting Squadron By Ensign Clark Fitch, U. S. N. +340--Frank Merriwell in England By Burt L. Standish + + * * * * * + +339--In School and Out By Oliver Optic +338--A Cousin's Conspiracy By Horatio Alger, Jr. +337--Jack Harkaway After Schooldays By Bracebridge Hemyng +336--Frank Merriwell's Great Scheme By Burt L. Standish +335--The Haunted Hunter By Edward S. Ellis +334--Tony, the Tramp By Horatio Alger, Jr. +333--Rich and Humble By Oliver Optic +332--Frank Merriwell's Stage Hit By Burt L. Standish +331--The Hidden City By Walter MacDougall +330--Bob Burton By Horatio Alger, Jr. +329--Masterman Ready By Capt. Marryat +328--Frank Merriwell's Prosperity By Burt L. Standish +327--Jack Harkaway's Friends By Bracebridge Hemyng +326--The Tin Box By Horatio Alger, Jr. +325--The Young Franc-Tireurs By G. A. Henty +324--Frank Merriwell's New Comedian By Burt L. Standish +323--The Sheik's White Slave By Raymond Raife +322--Helping Himself By Horatio Alger, Jr. +321--Snarleyyow, The Dog Fiend By Capt. Marryat +320--Frank Merriwell's Fortune By Burt L. Standish +319--By Right of Conquest By G. A. Henty +318--Jed, the Poorhouse Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr. +317--Jack Harkaway's Schooldays By Bracebridge Hemyng +316--Frank Merriwell's Problem By Burt L. Standish +315--The Diamond Seeker of Brazil By Leon Lewis +314--Andy Gordon By Horatio Alger, Jr. +313--The Phantom Ship By Capt. Marryat +312--Frank Merriwell's College Chums By Burt L. Standish +311--Whistler By Walter Aimwell +310--Making His Way By Horatio Alger, Jr. +309--Three Years at Wolverton By A Wolvertonian +308--Frank Merriwell's Fame By Burt L. Standish +307--The Boy Crusoes By Jeffreys Taylor +306--Chester Rand By Horatio Alger, Jr. +305--Japhet in Search of a Father By Capt. Marryat +304--Frank Merriwell's Own Company By Burt L. Standish +303--The Prairie By J. Fenimore Cooper +302--The Young Salesman By Horatio Alger, Jr. +301--A Battle and a Boy By Blanche Willis Howard +300--Frank Merriwell on the Road By Burt L. Standish +299--Mart Satterlee Among the Indians By William O. Stoddard +298--Andy Grant's Pluck By Horatio Alger, Jr. +297--Newton Forster By Capt. Marryat +296--Frank Merriwell's Protege By Burt L. Standish +295--Cris Rock By Capt. Mayne Reid +294--Sam's Chance By Horatio Alger, Jr. +293--My Plucky Boy Tom By Edward S. Ellis +292--Frank Merriwell's Hard Luck By Burt L. Standish +291--By Pike and Dyke By G. A. Henty +290--Shifting For Himself By Horatio Alger, Jr. +289--The Pirate and the Three Cutters By Capt. Marryat +288--Frank Merriwell's Opportunity By Burt L. Standish +287--Kit Carson's Last Trail By Leon Lewis +286--Jack's Ward By Horatio Alger, Jr. +285--Jack Darcy, the All Around Athlete By Edward S. Ellis +284--Frank Merriwell's First Job By Burt L. Standish +283--Wild Adventures Round the Pole By Gordon Stables +282--Herbert Carter's Legacy By Horatio Alger, Jr. +281--Rattlin, the Reefer By Capt. Marryat +280--Frank Merriwell's Struggle By Burt L. Standish +279--Mark Dale's Stage Venture By Arthur M. Winfield +278--In Times of Peril By G. A. Henty +277--In a New World By Horatio Alger, Jr. +276--Frank Merriwell in Maine By Burt L. Standish +275--The King of the Island By Henry Harrison Lewis +274--Beach Boy Joe By Lieut. James K. Orton +273--Jacob Faithful By Capt. Marryat +184--Frank Merriwell's Trip West By Burt L. Standish +183--The Diamond Hunters By James Grant +182--The Camp in the Snow By William Murray Graydon +181--Brave and Bold By Horatio Alger, Jr. +180--One of the 28th By G. A. Henty +178--Frank Merriwell's Foes By Burt L. Standish +177--The White Elephant By William Dalton +176--By England's Aid By G. A. Henty +175--Strive and Succeed By Horatio Alger, Jr. +173--Life at Sea By Gordon Stables +172--The Young Midshipman By G. A. Henty +171--Erling the Bold By R. M. Ballantyne +170--Strong and Steady By Horatio Alger, Jr. +169--Peter, the Whaler By W. H. G. Kingston +168--Among Malay Pirates By G. A. Henty +167--Frank Merriwell's Chums By Burt L. Standish +166--Try and Trust By Horatio Alger, Jr. +165--The Secret Chart By Lieut. James K. Orton +164--The Cornet of Horse By G. A. Henty +163--Slow and Sure By Horatio Alger, Jr. +162--The Pioneers By J. F. Cooper +161--Reuben Green's Adventures at Yale By James Otis +160--Little by Little By Oliver Optic +159--Phil, the Fiddler By Horatio Alger, Jr. +158--With Lee in Virginia By G. A. Henty +157--Randy, the Pilot By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry +156--The Pathfinder By J. F. Cooper +155--The Young Voyagers By Capt. Mayne Reid +154--Paul, the Peddler By Horatio Alger, Jr. +153--Bonnie Prince Charlie By G. A. Henty +152--The Last of the Mohicans By J. Fenimore Cooper +151--The Flag of Distress By Capt. Mayne Reid +150--Frank Merriwell's School Days By Burt L. Standish +149--With Wolfe in Canada By G. A. Henty +148--The Deerslayer By J. F. Cooper +147--The Cliff Climbers By Capt. Mayne Reid +146--Uncle Nat By A. Oldfellow +145--Friends Though Divided By G. A. Henty +144--The Boy Tar By Capt. Mayne Reid +143--Hendricks, the Hunter By W. H. G. Kingston +142--The Young Explorer By Gordon Stables +141--The Ocean Waifs By Capt. Mayne Reid +140--The Young Buglers By G. A. Henty +139--Shore and Ocean By W. H. G. Kingston +138--Striving for Fortune By Horatio Alger, Jr. +137--The Bush Boys By Capt. Mayne Reid +136--From Pole to Pole By Gordon Stables +135--Dick Cheveley By W. H. G. Kingston +134--Orange and Green By G. A. Henty +133--The Young Yagers By Capt. Mayne Reid +132--The Adventures of Rob Roy By James Grant +131--The Boy Slaves By Capt. Mayne Reid +130--From Canal Boy to President By Horatio Alger, Jr. +129--Ran Away to Sea By Capt. Mayne Reid +128--For Name and Fame By G. A. Henty +127--The Forest Exiles By Capt. Mayne Reid +126--From Powder Monkey to Admiral By W. H. G. Kingston +125--The Plant Hunters By Capt. Mayne Reid +124--St. George for England By G. A. Henty +123--The Giraffe Hunters By Capt. Mayne Reid +122--Tom Brace By Horatio Alger, Jr. +121--Peter Trawl By W. H. G. Kingston +120--In the Wilds of New Mexico By G. Manville Fenn +119--A Final Reckoning By G. A. Henty +118--Ned Newton By Horatio Alger, Jr. +117--James Braithwaite, The Supercargo By W. H. G. Kingston +116--Happy-Go-Lucky Jack By Frank H. Converse +115--Adventures of a Young Athlete By Matthew White, Jr. +114--The Old Man of the Mountains By George H. Coomer +113--The Bravest of the Brave By G. A. Henty +112--20,000 Leagues Under the Sea By Jules Verne +111--The Midshipman, Marmaduke Merry By W. H. G. Kingston +110--Around the World in Eighty Days By Jules Verne +109--A Dash to the Pole By Herbert D. Ward +108--Texar's Revenge By Jules Verne +107--Van; or, In Search of an Unknown Race By Frank H. Converse +106--The Boy Knight By George A. Henty +105--The Young Actor By Gayle Winterton +104--Heir to a Million By Frank H. Converse +103--The Adventures of Rex Staunton By Mary A. Denison +102--Clearing His Name By Matthew White, Jr. +101--The Lone Ranch By Capt. Mayne Reid +100--Maori and Settler By George A. Henty +99--The Cruise of the Restless; or, On Inland Waterways By James Otis +98--The Grand Chaco By George Manville Fenn +97--The Giant Islanders By Brooks McCormick +96--An Unprovoked Mutiny By James Otis +95--By Sheer Pluck By G. A. Henty +94--Oscar; or, The Boy Who Had His Own Way By Walter Aimwell +93--A New York Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr. +92--Spectre Gold By Headon Hill +91--The Crusoes of Guiana By Louis Boussenard +90--Out on the Pampas By G. A. Henty +89--Clinton; or, Boy Life in the Country By Walter Aimwell +88--My Mysterious Fortune By Matthew White, Jr. +87--The Five Hundred Dollar Check By Horatio Alger, Jr. +86--Catmur's Cave By Richard Dowling +85--Facing Death By G. A. Henty +84--The Butcher of Cawnpore By William Murray Graydon +83--The Tiger Prince By William Dalton +82--The Young Editor By Matthew White, Jr. +81--Arthur Helmuth, of the H. & N. C. Railway By Edward S. Ellis +80--Afloat in the Forest By Capt. Mayne Reid +79--The Rival Battalions By Brooks McCormick +78--Both Sides of the Continent By Horatio Alger, Jr. +77--Perils of the Jungle By Edward S. Ellis +76--The War Tiger; or, The Conquest of China By William Dalton +75--Boys in the Forecastle By George H. Coomer +74--The Dingo Boys By George Manville Fenn +73--The Wolf Boy of China By William Dalton +72--The Way to Success; or, Tom Randall By Alfred Oldfellow +71--Mark Seaworth's Voyage on the Indian Ocean By William H. G. Kingston +70--The New and Amusing History of Sandford and Merton By F. C. Burnand +69--Pirate Island By Harry Collingwood +68--Smuggler's Cave By Annie Ashmore +67--Tom Brown's School Days By Thomas Hughes +66--A Young Vagabond By Z. R. Bennett +65--That Treasure By Frank H. Converse +64--The Tour of a Private Car By Matthew White, Jr. +63--In the Sunk Lands By Walter F. Bruns +62--How He Won By Brooks McCormick +61--The Erie Train Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr. +60--The Mountain Cave By George H. Coomer +59--The Rajah's Fortress By William Murray Graydon +58--Gilbert, The Trapper By Capt. C. B. Ashley +57--The Gold of Flat Top Mountain By Frank H. Converse +56--Nature's Young Noblemen By Brooks McCormick +55--A Voyage to the Gold Coast By Frank H. Converse +54--Joe Nichols; or, Difficulties Overcome By Alfred Oldfellow +53--The Adventures of a New York Telegraph Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr. +52--From Farm Boy to Senator By Horatio Alger, Jr. +51--Tom Tracy By Horatio Alger, Jr. +50--Dean Dunham By Horatio Alger, Jr. +49--The Mystery of a Diamond By Frank H. Converse +48--Luke Bennett's Hide-Out By Capt. C. B. Ashley, U.S. Scout +47--Eric Dane By Matthew White, Jr. +46--Poor and Proud By Oliver Optic +45--Jack Wheeler; A Western Story By Capt. David Southwick +44--The Golden Magnet By George Manville Fenn +43--In Southern Seas By Frank H. Converse +42--The Young Acrobat By Horatio Alger, Jr. +41--Check 2134 By Edward S. Ellis +40--Canoe and Campfire By St. George Rathborne +39--With Boer and Britisher in the Transvaal By William Murray Graydon +38--Gay Dashleigh's Academy Days By Arthur Sewall +37--Commodore Junk By George Manville Fenn +36--In Barracks and Wigwam By William Murray Graydon +35--In the Reign of Terror By G. A. Henty +34--The Adventures of Mr. Verdant Green By Cuthbert Bede, B. A. +33--Jud and Joe, Printers and Publishers By Gilbert Patten +32--The Curse of Carnes' Hold By G. A. Henty +31--The Cruise of the Snow Bird By Gordon Stables +30--Peter Simple By Captain Marryat +29--True to the Old Flag By G. A. Henty +28--The Boy Boomers By Gilbert Patten +27--Centre-Board Jim By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry +26--The Cryptogram By William Murray Graydon +25--Through the Fray By G. A. Henty +24--The Boy From the West By Gilbert Patten +23--The Dragon and the Raven By G. A. Henty +22--From Lake to Wilderness By William Murray Graydon +21--Won at West Point By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry +20--Wheeling for Fortune By James Otis +19--Jack Archer By G. A. Henty +18--The Silver Ship By Leon Lewis +17--Ensign Merrill By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry +16--The White King of Africa By William Murray Graydon +15--Midshipman Merrill By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry +14--The Young Colonists By G. A. Henty +13--Up the Ladder By Lieut. Murray +12--Don Kirk's Mine By Gilbert Patten +11--From Tent to White House By Edward S. Ellis +10--Don Kirk, the Boy Cattle King By Gilbert Patten +9--Try Again By Oliver Optic +8--Kit Carey's Protege By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry +7--Chased Through Norway By James Otis +6--Captain Carey of the Gallant Seventh By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry +5--Now or Never By Oliver Optic +4--Lieutenant Carey's Luck By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry +3--All Aboard By Oliver Optic +2--Cadet Kit Carey By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry +1--The Boat Club By Oliver Optic + + + + +THE BOUND TO WIN LIBRARY + + +We called this new line of high-class copyrighted stories of adventure +for boys by this name because we felt assured that it was "bound to win" +its way into the heart of every true American lad. The stories are +exceptionally bright, clean and interesting. The writers had the +interest of our boys at heart when they wrote the stories, and have not +failed to show what a pure-minded lad with courage and mettle can do. +Remember, that these stories are copyrighted and cannot be had in any +other series. We give herewith a list of those already published and +those scheduled for publication. + + +PUBLISHED EVERY WEEK + + +To be Published During May + +167--On Government Service By Fred Thorpe + + +To be Published During April + +166--Ben Bolton, Mascot By Weldon J. Cobb +165--On a Phantom Trail By Harrie Irving Hancock +164--The Outcast Prince By John De Morgan +163--Grit and Wit By Fred Thorpe + + +To be Published During March + +162--The Submarine Pirate By Cornelius Shea +161--Bob, the Acrobat By Harrie Irving Hancock +160--Rob Rollalong at Sea By Bracebridge Hemyng +159--Under the World By John De Morgan +158--Smart Alec By Weldon J. Cobb + + +To be Published During February + +157--From Footlights to Riches By Fred Thorpe +156--Among the Nomads By John H. Whitson +155--For Fun and Fortune By Cornelius Shea +154--The Meanest Boy Alive By Harrie Irving Hancock + + +To be Published During January + +153--Rob Rollalong, Runaway By Bracebridge Hemyng +152--An Indian Hero By John De Morgan +151--The Fourteenth Boy By Weldon J. Cobb +150--The Young Snake Charmer By Fred Thorpe +149--Right on Top By Cornelius Shea +148--Fighting the Cowards By Harrie Irving Hancock +147--Through Air to Fame By John H. Whitson +146--With the Kidnapers By John De Morgan +145--Adventures in Other Worlds By Weldon J. Cobb +144--A Bid for Fortune By Fred Thorpe +143--Archie Atwood, Champion By Cornelius Shea +142--In the Path of Duty By Harrie Irving Hancock +141--Out For Fun By Bracebridge Hemyng +140--The Young Coast Guard By John De Morgan +139--A Million a Minute By Weldon J. Cobb +138--Through the Earth By Fred Thorpe +137--The Boy King Maker By Harrie Irving Hancock +136--Spider and Stump By Bracebridge Hemyng +135--The Creature of the Pines By John De Morgan +134--In the Volcano's Mouth By Frank Sheridan +133--Muscles of Steel By Weldon J. Cobb +132--Home Base By Bracebridge Hemyng +131--The Jewel of Florida By Cornelius Shea +130--The Boys' Revolt By Harrie Irving Hancock +129--The Mystic Isle By Fred Thorpe +128--With the Mad Mullah By Weldon J. Cobb +127--A Humble Hero By John De Morgan +126--For Big Money By Fred Thorpe +125--Too Fast to Last By Bracebridge Hemyng +124--Caught in a Trap By Harrie Irving Hancock +123--The Tattooed Boy By Weldon J. Cobb +122--The Young Horseman By Herbert Bellwood +121--Sam Sawbones By Bracebridge Hemyng +120--On His Mettle By Fred Thorpe +119--Compound Interest By Harrie Irving Hancock +118--Runaway and Rover By Weldon J. Cobb +117--Larry O'Keefe By Bracebridge Hemyng +116--The Boy Crusaders By John De Morgan +115--Double Quick Dan By Fred Thorpe +114--Money to Spend By Harrie Irving Hancock +113--Billy Barlow By Bracebridge Hemyng +112--A Battle with Fate By Weldon J. Cobb +111--Gypsy Joe By John De Morgan +110--Barred Out By Fred Thorpe +109--Will Wilding By Bracebridge Hemyng +108--Frank Bolton's Chase By Harrie Irving Hancock +107--Lucky-Stone Dick By Weldon J. Cobb +106--Tom Scott, the American Robinson Crusoe By Frank Sheridan +105--Fatherless Bob at Sea By Bracebridge Hemyng +104--Fatherless Bob By Bracebridge Hemyng +103--Hank the Hustler By Fred Thorpe +102--Dick Stanhope Afloat By Harrie Irving Hancock +101--The Golden Harpoon By Weldon J. Cobb +100--Mischievous Matt's Pranks By Bracebridge Hemyng +99--Mischievous Matt By Bracebridge Hemyng +98--Bert Chipley By John De Morgan +97--Down-East Dave By Fred Thorpe +96--The Young Diplomat By Harrie Irving Hancock +95--The Fool of the Family By Bracebridge Hemyng +94--Slam, Bang & Co. By Weldon J. Cobb +93--On the Road By Stanley Norris +92--The Blood-Red Hand By John De Morgan +91--The Diamond King By Cornelius Shea +90--The Double-Faced Mystery By Fred Thorpe +89--The Young Theatrical Manager By Stanley Norris +88--The Young West-Pointer By Harrie Irving Hancock +87--Held for Ransom By Weldon J. Cobb +86--Boot-Black Bob By John De Morgan +85--Engineer Tom By Cornelius Shea +84--The Mascot of Hoodooville By Fred Thorpe +83--Walter Blackshaw By Frank Sheridan +82--The Young Showman's Foes By Stanley Norris +81--On the Wing By Weldon J. Cobb +80--Yankee Grit By John De Morgan +79--Bicycle and Gun By Cornelius Shea +78--The Backwoods Boy By Horatio Alger, Jr. +77--Ahead of the Show By Fred Thorpe +76--Merle Merton By Frank Sheridan +75--The Three Hills of Gold By Harrie Irving Hancock +74--A Barrel of Money By Weldon J. Cobb +73--Lucky Thirteen By John De Morgan +72--Two Ragged Heroes By Earnest A. Young +71--A Slave for a Year By Fred Thorpe +70--In the Woods By Frank Sheridan +69--The Prince of Grit By Harrie Irving Hancock +68--The Golden Pirate By Weldon J. Cobb +67--Winning His Way By John De Morgan +66--Boats, Bats and Bicycles By Ernest A. Young +65--Rob, The Hoodoo By Fred Thorpe +64--Railroad Ralph By Engineer James Fisk +63--Comrades Under Castro By Victor St. Clair +62--Life-Line Larry By Frank Sheridan +61--Track and Trestle By Ernest A. Young +60--The Phantom Boy By Weldon J. Cobb +59--Simple Simon By Herbert Bellwood +58--Cast Away in the Jungle By Victor St. Clair +57--In Unknown Worlds By John De Morgan +56--The Round-the-World Boys By Fred Thorpe +55--Bert Fairfax By Frank Sheridan +54--Pranks and Perils By Ernest A. Young +53--Up to Date By Weldon J. Cobb +52--Bicycle Ben By Herbert Bellwood +51--Lost in the Ice By John De Morgan +50--Fighting for a Name By Fred Thorpe +49--Lionel's Pluck By Frank Sheridan +48--The Mud River Boys By Ernest A. Young +47--Partners Three By Weldon J. Cobb +46--Rivals of the Pines By Herbert Bellwood +45--Always on Duty By John De Morgan +44--Walt, the Wonder-Worker By Fred Thorpe +43--Through Flame to Fame By Frank Sheridan +42--A Toss-Up for Luck By Ernest A. Young +41--The Jay from Maine By Herbert Bellwood +40--For Home and Honor By Victor St. Clair +39--A Bee Line to Fortune By John De Morgan +37--Never Give Up By Fred Thorpe +36--Vernon Craig By Frank Sheridan +35--The Young Showman's Triumph By Stanley Norris +34--The Roustabout Boys By Herbert Bellwood +33--The Young Showman's Pluck By Stanley Norris +32--Napoleon's Double By John De Morgan +31--The Young Showman's Rivals By Stanley Norris +30--Jack, the Pride of the Nine By Frank Sheridan +29--Phil the Showman By Stanley Norris +28--Bob Porter at Lakeview Academy By Walter Morris +27--Zig-Zag, the Boy Conjurer By Victor St. Clair +26--The Young Hannibal By Matt Royal +25--Git Up and Git By Fred Thorpe +24--School Life at Grand Court By Frank Sheridan +23--From Port to Port By Ensign Clarke Fitch, U. S. N. +22--The Rival Nines By Walt Winton +21--The Young Journalist By Harrie Irving Hancock +20--John Smith of Michigan By Herbert Bellwood +18--Cruise of the Training Ship By Ensign Clarke Fitch, U. S. N. +17--Chris, the Comedian By Fred Thorpe +16--Lion-Hearted Jack By Frank Sheridan +15--The Rivals of Riverwood By Herbert Bellwood +14--His One Ambition By Harrie Irving Hancock +13--A Strange Cruise By Ensign Clarke Filch, U. S. N. +12--Dick Derby's Double By Fred Thorpe +11--The House of Mystery By Matt Royal +9--From Switch to Lever By Victor St. Clair +8--Clif, the Naval Cadet By Ensign Clarke Fitch, U. S. N. +7--The Boy in Black By Fred Thorpe +6--The Crimson "Q" By William G. Patten +5--The Balas Ruby By Capt. Geoffrey Hale +3--Bound for Annapolis By Ensign Clarke Fitch, U. S. N. +2--Blind Luck By Fred Thorpe +1--The Boy Argus By William G. Patten + + + + +THE HARKAWAY LIBRARY + + +This line contains, exclusively, the exciting adventures of Jack +Harkaway, now for the first time offered to our boys in low-priced +edition. + +Bracebridge Hemyng, the author, has established an enviable reputation. +No better stories of adventure in school and out, on land and sea, have +ever been written. The boy reader at once feels a most lively interest +in Jack's welfare and desires to follow him through all the adventures +that he experienced. + +The following is a list of the titles now ready and those scheduled for +early publication. + + +34--Young Jack Harkaway on the Isle of Palms By Bracebridge Hemyng +33--Young Jack Harkaway In Search of His Father By Bracebridge Hemyng +32--Young Jack Harkaway at Mole's Academy By Bracebridge Hemyng +31--Jack Harkaway in the Toils By Bracebridge Hemyng +30--Jack Harkaway in the Black Hills By Bracebridge Hemyng +29--Jack Harkaway's Cadet Days By Bracebridge Hemyng +28--Jack Harkaway Among the Indians By Bracebridge Hemyng +27--Jack Harkaway Out West By Bracebridge Hemyng +26--Jack Harkaway Among the Counterfeiters By Bracebridge Hemyng +25--Jack Harkaway in New York By Bracebridge Hemyng +24--Jack Harkaway's Battle With the Turks By Bracebridge Hemyng +23--Jack Harkaway's Duel By Bracebridge Hemyng +22--Jack Harkaway's Confidence By Bracebridge Hemyng +21--Jack Harkaway and the Bushrangers By Bracebridge Hemyng +20--Jack Harkaway in Australia By Bracebridge Hemyng +19--Jack Harkaway's Resolve By Bracebridge Hemyng +18--Jack Harkaway's Pluck By Bracebridge Hemyng +17--Jack Harkaway in Greece By Bracebridge Hemyng +16--Jack Harkaway and the Red Dragon By Bracebridge Hemyng +15--Jack Harkaway in China By Bracebridge Hemyng +14--Jack Harkaway's Perils By Bracebridge Hemyng +13--Jack Harkaway in America By Bracebridge Hemyng +12--Jack Harkaway Around the World By Bracebridge Hemyng +11--Jack Harkaway's Return By Bracebridge Hemyng +10--Jack Harkaway's Capture By Bracebridge Hemyng +9--Jack Harkaway Among the Brigands By Bracebridge Hemyng +8--Jack Harkaway's Triumphs By Bracebridge Hemyng +7--Jack Harkaway's Struggles By Bracebridge Hemyng +6--Jack Harkaway at Oxford By Bracebridge Hemyng +5--Jack Harkaway Among the Pirates By Bracebridge Hemyng +4--Jack Harkaway Afloat and Ashore By Bracebridge Hemyng +3--Jack Harkaway After School Days By Bracebridge Hemyng +2--Jack Harkaway's Friends By Bracebridge Hemyng +1--Jack Harkaway's School Days By Bracebridge Hemyng + + + + * * * * * + + + +Transcriber's note: + +The following typographical errors in the original edition have +been corrected. + +In Chapter I, "he fond eating" was changed to "he found eating". + +In Chapter II, "It's to far west" was changed to "It's too far west"; +"line of smoke wihch" was changed to "line of smoke which"; a missing +quotation mark was inserted before "and it's black, with a red top"; and +"Clif studied the cost" was changed to "Clif studied the coast". + +In Chapter III, a missing parenthesis was inserted after "some two +hundred six-pounder cartridges". + +In Chapter IV, "the forward companionway he met" was changed to "the +forward companionway where he met". + +In Chapter VII, "signifiance in an instant" was changed to "significance +in an instant". + +In Chapter IX, "'We won't try to go far,' Cilf said" was changed to "'We +won't try to go far,' Clif said"; and "a moment iater came" was changed +to "a moment later came". + +In Chapter X, "might none be" was changed to "might not be". + +In Chapter XI, "They'll head us of!" was changed to "They'll head us +off!"; and a missing quotation mark was inserted before "and you will be +treated as such." + +In Chapter XII, "clinch his fist and skake it" was changed to "clinch +his fist and shake it". + +In Chapter XIII, "would afll to his lot" was changed to "would fall to +his lot". + +In Chapter XIV, a missing quotation mark was inserted before "so you are +interested in her". + +In Chapter XV, "facd a dozen rifles" was changed to "faced a dozen +rifles". + +In Chapter XVI, "would make hasste" was changed to "would make haste". + +In Chapter XXI, "The vesesl was not coming" was changed to "The vessel +was not coming"; and "A couple of Spanish saliors" was changed to "A +couple of Spanish sailors". + +In Chapter XXII, "beside out boat" was changed to "beside our boat". + +In Chapter XXIV, "repled the courier" was changed to "replied the +courier". + +In Chapter XXV, a missing quotation mark was inserted before "They must +have followed the courier" + +In Chapter XXVI, "a doen men to oppose their forces" was changed to "a +dozen men to oppose their forces"; and a missing quotation mark was +inserted after "these dispatches are yet to be delivered." + +In Chapter XXVII, "to make assurance doubly sre" was changed to "to make +assurance doubly sre". + +In Chapter XXX, "he grasped his revolver in readness" was changed to "he +grasped his revolver in readness". + +In Chapter XXXII, "the captain promply hauled down his flag" was changed +to "the captain promptly hauled down his flag"; and "some futher detail +of transfer" was changed to "some further detail of transfer". + +Also, the table of contents has been created for this electronic edition. +It was not present in the original work. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRISONER OF MORRO*** + + +******* This file should be named 24770.txt or 24770.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/7/7/24770 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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