CHAPTER XIX
FORTUNE FAVORS THE BRAVE
Well might it be said that the good wishes and anxious thoughts ofhundreds followed the gallant Hobson and the meager crew of the_Merrimac_ as she steamed towards Santiago. High hope of success,apprehension increased by the darkness and uncertainty as to herwhereabouts, kept everyone in a fever. No one could sleep, and from theopen ports, and from the silent and darkened decks of battleships,cruisers, and gunboats, a thousand and more pairs of anxious eyes staredinto the gloom.
"Where was she? Had she run aground? Had she lost her bearings in thedarkness? Hush! Did anyone hear that? What was it then? Oh, onlyescaping steam? What a relief to think of it!"
The questions were passed along the decks, time and again, and for themost part left unanswered. Then, as each man became silent in despair ofhearing anything, a faint, almost inaudible hail came across the heavingwater.
"Hark! Huss-s-s-h! Did anyone hear that? What was it? Discovery?"
Almost instantly a spout of flame shot from a cliff beneath the MorroCastle, cutting the darkness in twain as with an arrow, while adeafening report set the air throbbing and reverberating. Anotherfollowed, and then a third, and within a few seconds a line of flamingdots cut along the dark hillside, while shells flashed brilliantly redin the air as they shivered into a thousand pieces. Nor was this all.The torpedo-boat _Pluton_ was patrolling the entrance, and at once addedthe sharp, angry snap of her quick-firers to the din, while guns fromanother battery ashore, and from the _Reina Mercedes_, a battleshipanchored within the harbor, played upon the black hull of the devoted_Merrimac_. Add to this a couple of torpedoes, which were discharged inher direction, and some idea can be obtained of the terrors thatassailed her.
Meanwhile Hal had been by no means idle. No sooner had the moorings beendropped, than he opened the cabin door and went into the saloon.
"I'll just stay here till I think we're getting close inshore," hemurmured; "then I'll get on deck. Let me think. The small torpedoes areplaced to port; that means that I must get away to starboard to escapethe explosion. Hobson stays on board for that, and so shall I. When shebegins to sink, I shall go overboard, and swim straight for the shore.By Jove! I forgot a life-belt, but perhaps there's one in the cabin."
He ran back, and felt above his head for the racks upon which the beltsare usually placed. A low cry of pleasure escaped his lips, for the verything he wanted was there. Taking it down, he promptly slipped his armsthrough the slings and quickly buckled the belt on. Then he crept to thecompanion-way, and sat down upon the bottom step of the ladder, where hewaited for what, in his overstrung condition, seemed to be hours.
Bang! The report made him start to his feet, and stand there holding tothe rail, while the thump of his heart seemed to shake him from head tofoot.
Bang, bang, bang! Crash! The _Merrimac_ shivered as a six-inch shellstruck her true in the center, and piercing her thin plates as if theywere sheets of tissue paper, exploded forward of the engines, blowing abig gaping hole through the saloon in which Hal sat.
"Another such as that, and I shall get caught down here," he thought."If I am to be hit, it will be better to receive the wound on deck, forthen, when she sinks, I may have a chance, and not be drowned like a ratin a cage."
He felt his way up the ladder, and crawled silently across the deck tothe starboard side, where he crouched close to the bulwarks. Above himthe bridge appeared dimly, and behind that a circle of sparks flew intothe air from the funnel. There, too, standing upon the frail support,was the hero of the hour--Lieutenant Hobson, the gallant officer who haddevised the scheme, and begged, not in vain, to carry it out.
More than once, as the guns on the hillside flashed, Hal saw his figuresilhouetted clearly against the light. He stepped from the side to thecenter of the bridge, and, placing his hands to his mouth, so that hisvoice should not be drowned by the din and uproar, shouted some order instentorian tones to the man who was stationed at the wheel. Then Halheard the tiller-chains rattling, and for an instant in the light of abrilliant flash, which had darted suddenly from the battery stationed onthe frowning heights of Morro Castle, caught sight of the steersmanbending to his work, and putting all his power into the spokes. But the_Merrimac_ kept steadily on, failing to answer to her rudder, which hadbeen smashed to pieces by a shell. At the same moment steam was turnedoff, and the two men who had been stationed in the engine-room hastilyquitted it, and tumbled up on deck as fast as their legs would carrythem.
"It's getting nearly time for the torpedoes," Hal murmured, "for I judgethat we must now be approaching the entrance of Santiago harbor. Ah!what was that?"
Two loud splashes reached his ear, coming from fore and aft, and amoment's reflection told him that the anchors had been let go. But theAmericans were not to have it all their own way, for ill luck againfollowed the _Merrimac_. A shell, unfortunate for them, but lucky forthe Spaniards had crashed into her stern at a most critical moment, andhad smashed her rudder into splinters; and now, when that defect mighthave been remedied by anchoring fore and aft, and afterwards floatingher down to the entrance to Santiago, the anchors, in whose powersLieutenant Hobson's hopes were centered, failed to grip the bed of theocean, and in consequence the long black hull forged slowly on throughthe water till it took the ground near Estrella Point. As it did so,there was a series of loud and deafening reports as her intrepidcommander pressed the button and exploded his row of miniaturetorpedoes.
"That will finish her!" thought Hal. "I'll wait till she sinks lower,and then I'll dive overboard. My best plan will be to swim away from heras far as possible, though there will be no great danger of beingcarried under as far as I can see, for the water here is very shallow,and will scarcely cover her upper works when the keel is resting uponthe bottom. I'll just creep to the bows, so as to make it as short aswim as possible."
He rose to his feet and stole forward. But, unfortunately for Hal, astrong tide was running, and floating the sinking _Merrimac_ free of theland, it swept her into deep water. An instant later, a Whiteheadtorpedo, discharged by the _Reina Mercedes_, which lay within theharbor, rushed seething through the water at more than thirty knots anhour, and struck the hull right forward almost directly beneath Hal'sfeet. There was a terrific concussion, and a blinding sheet of flameseemed to envelop the _Merrimac_. A column of water started high intothe air, while Hal was hurled overboard as if from the arms of aHercules. Indeed, so great was the shock that he lost consciousness, andmight very well have been drowned in that condition. However, the coldwater surging about him brought him to his senses almost instantly. Thenthe instinct of self-preservation asserted itself, and, without exactlyknowing why, he commenced to strike out lustily, swimming away from theshore, for he was almost too dazed to know what he was doing.
Suddenly the clatter of quick-firers behind attracted his attention,and, turning, he began to forge a way towards the shore. And now he hadcause to congratulate himself upon the fact that he had donned alife-belt, for the shock of the torpedo explosion had sadly deprived himof his strength. Indeed, but for the support he received, he would havesunk there and then, and the name of Hal Marchant would have disappearedfrom this narrative. He was not, however, the sort of lad to give inwithout a struggle, so, clenching his teeth, he turned on his side, andstruck out with all his power. Something touched his hand--somethingslimy and covered with weed--which he grasped with thankfulness. Then,having rested for a moment, he dragged himself on to a mass of rock,which jutted into the sea, and seated himself upon it, his head stillthrobbing painfully, while his brain was dizzy and overcome by the crashof the explosion.
"This won't do," he said at last. "Dawn will be breaking before verylong, and it is quite time that I looked for a hiding-place. On theappearance of the first ray of light I should at once be discovered if Iwere still seated here. Besides, I must not forget that, once theinterest in the _Merrimac_ is gone, the sentries whose attention isattracted just now to the entrance of the harbor will become morevig
ilant in watching for the possible landing of enemies upon theparticular part of the coast intrusted to each man's care."
He rose from his seat with an effort, for he was feeling thoroughly doneup. Then he groped his way across the rough surface of the rock, and,having waded through a deep pool, was in the act of climbing on to dryground, when someone pounced upon him with a guttural exclamation ofdelight, and he found himself in the arms of a Spanish sentinel.
"Halt! cease from struggling, or I will kill you!" the man cried,clutching him by the shoulder and endeavoring to place his bayonetagainst Hal's breast.
The point pierced the thin clothing he was wearing, and dug slightlyinto the flesh beneath.
"Halt, I say!" the sentry hissed. "The weapon points to your heart, and,by St. James, I will thrust it home if you do but move an inch!Surrender, I say!"
"Never!" Hal answered hoarsely. Then, shaking the sentry's hand off, andpushing his weapon aside with a hasty movement, he stepped back a pace,and struck out blindly with all his might. His fist hit the Spaniardfull on the chest, and sent him staggering backwards, and his riflecrashing to the ground. But he recovered himself in a moment, and threwhimself upon his prisoner with an exclamation of fury.
"Pig! Villain!" he cried. "Yield, or I will toss you into the water, anddrown you like a rat."
Clasped in each other's arms, they swayed from side to side upon therocks which fringe the margin of the sea. Then Hal's foot twisted upon astone, and both fell to the ground with a crash.
What followed was a blank to Hal. He remembered nothing, and lay uponthe seashore silent and apparently lifeless for the space of more thanten minutes. Then a puff of cold air fanned his cheek, and he suddenlyfound himself lying with his eyes wide open, staring at the starsabove.
"Hillo! What's this?" he murmured vacantly. "Stars! A clear sky! Whereis the cabin, then? Where is Billing?"
He stretched out a hand, and touched something that was wet. Then hisfingers came in contact with a head of hair, and he withdrew theminstantly, with an involuntary shudder. At once the struggle with thesentry flashed across his wandering mind, and brought him to his senseswith a start.
"By Jove! I wonder whether he's hurt?" he said. "I'll see, and then cutaway for safety, for it will never do to remain here."
He stretched out his hand again, and having discovered the sentry's arm,placed the tips of his fingers on the wrist. But there was no movementof the pulse, though he longed to feel it. Struggling into a sittingposition, he shuffled closer to the man, and listened to hear if he werebreathing. But there was not a sound; not even a sigh rewarded hisattention.
"Poor beggar! Dead!" he exclaimed. "Well, it is the fortune of war, forit was my life or his. I suppose he struck his head in falling."
This was, in fact, the case, and to it Hal no doubt owed his life. Buthe had no time to sit there and think. Dawn was dangerously near, and ifhe was to reach a safe haven, he must be moving at once.
"Ah, I've got it!" he exclaimed suddenly. "I'll change into hisclothes."
He started to his feet, and going to where the body lay, undid thebuttons, and tore tunic and trousers off. The boots and socks followed,and were rapidly transferred to his own person. Then he picked up therifle, and prepared to move away.
"Supposing his comrades come in the morning and find him?" he suddenlyasked himself. "They will suspect that someone has landed, and borrowedhis clothes. I must tumble him into the water."
He bent over the limp figure of the unfortunate sentry once more, andcarefully felt for a heart-beat. But there was none, and it was evidentthat the man was dead.
"It's not nice, I know," Hal murmured. "But it's for my safety, andtherefore must be done. He won't be any the worse off, poor fellow!"
It was indeed a trying act for any young man to carry out, and it wasnot without a fierce struggle that Hal at length overcame hiscompunction. War was war, he told himself, and this kind of thing wasbound to happen. He must put aside all feelings of compassion and actlike a man.
The thought braced his nerves, and dropping the rifle for a moment, hestooped, lifted the lifeless form in his arms, and tossed it into thesea.
Then the necessity for instant action asserted itself, and picking upthe rifle, he turned inland, and struck boldly for the town, leaving the_Merrimac_ sunk deep at one side of the channel leading to the harbor ofSantiago.
Up and up the steep rocks he toiled, till he came to a deep gully, downwhich a tiny watercourse tumbled towards the sea. He could feel shrubson either side, and thick grass beneath his feet. Then, as if fortunehad determined to follow him, the sky in the east commenced rapidly tolighten, and so enabled him to see his whereabouts.
"There is a thick mist, which will lie on the land till the sun is up,"he said with satisfaction. "That will give me time to hit upon a likelyspot. Ah! what is this? This should suit me."
He suddenly espied a hollow in the midst of a mass of volcanic rock. Itwas carpeted with grass, and was overhung by a few big-leaved rock palmsand ferns, all dripping with moisture. It was an ideal hiding-place,and he promptly crept into it and sat down, hugging himself in hisborrowed tunic, for the morning air was bitterly cold.
A little later the sun came up in all his glory, and, topping thebowlders on either side, poured a flood of grateful heat upon him,warming him, and drying the leaves and grass.
Hal removed his wide-brimmed hat from his head, and cautiously lookedout towards the mouth of the harbor.
"Ah! there is the _Merrimac_," he exclaimed, seeing the top of a mastprojecting. "Bad luck! it's in deep water on one side, so that theentrance is not closed. Cervera will be able to come out, after all. Butit was a plucky attempt, and I only hope that Hobson and his men havegot safely away. Hillo! there's the raft, and I can see men clinging toit."
This was the case, for the explosion had swept the crew overboard, tofind that their dinghy had been smashed by a shell. But a long,raft-like float had been prepared, and to this all swam. Even as Halcaught sight of them, a steam-launch flying Spanish colors ran out frombehind the headland of cliffs, and steered towards them.
"Prisoners at any rate," remarked Hal. "That is better than beingdrowned, and I've no doubt that the Dons will treat them well, andadmire them for their bravery; for it was a plucky thing to do."
Hobson and his men were, in fact, received in a most friendly manner.Admiral Cervera was himself on board the launch, and greeted theprisoners in the most courteous way. Then they were taken back to theharbor and placed upon the _Mercedes_, where the best of treatment wasaccorded them, Hobson being taken to the first lieutenant's cabin,while the men were sent to the quarters for'ard, where they were regaledwith biscuit and coffee, with Spanish cigarettes to follow.
So highly did Cervera think of their bravery that he promptly sent anofficer out to Admiral Sampson to acquaint him of their safety.
Hal watched the launch take the eight men on board, and then turned hiseyes inland.
High above him, and standing far back, was a battery with openembrasures. It was partly masked in low bush, which extended down to thegully in which he was lying.
"If I wait till night and follow the stream, it will take me to the leftof the fort," he said, rising to his knees, and looking between theleaves of the palm trees. "From there I will strike into the bush, andfollow its edge till I get behind Santiago. Then away for the hacienda."
He lay back in his hiding-place, and, feeling secure from discovery,opened his packet of food, and ate a hearty meal. A draught from thestream appeased his thirst, which was great after the salt water he hadswallowed. Then he lay down, and, worn out by his exertions, fellasleep. He awoke some hours later, when it was getting dark.
"Now for it," he said. "I'm feeling as fresh as a daisy, and, after thetrouble I have been put to, mean to reach the hacienda. If anyone triesto stop me, it will be the worse for him."
He jumped to his feet, and looked hastily to his rifle, to make surethat it was in good condition, and the bayonet fix
ed. Then he stole intothe gully, and waded up stream. It twisted and curved, bearing steadily,however, to the left. At last, when Hal judged that he was beyond thefort he stepped on to the bank, and struck off into the bush.
"Now I'll go for the mules," he said, suddenly recollecting that when heand Gerald left the hacienda on their way to Florida for the purpose offetching more negroes, they had placed their animals in the hands of anaged native living on the outskirts of the town. "The fellow we leftthem with is sure to have taken good care of them; and if only theSpaniards have not relieved him of his charge, I shall be able to get amount, and so reach the hacienda long before the dawn breaks."
An hour later he was at the tumble-down cottage in which the nativelived, and, having roused him, quickly got him to understand that herequired the mules. A few minutes sufficed to saddle them; then hemounted one, and, leading the other, set off towards Eldorado at a briskcanter.
"Halt dar! Who am dat? I fire if you come one step nearer!" a voicesuddenly cried out as he rode through the dense plantation of sugar-canewhich surrounded the hacienda.
"Don't shoot, boys! I'm Hal Marchant. I'm dressed in Spanish uniform,"Hal shouted in reply.
Then he heard a conversation being carried on in low tones, and a momentor two later someone struck a match and advanced with it between hisfingers. The tiny, fluttering flame showed the burly figure of a negro,clad in plantation clothes, and bearing a rifle slung over hisshoulders.
"Come forward if you de boss," the man cried, "Seems I know de voice."
"Of course you do, Jake," Hal answered, slipping from the mule andstepping up to the man, who was now closely followed by others. "Look atme carefully. Though I am disguised, you who knew me before will have nodifficulty in recognizing the overseer."
There were at once shrill cries of delight from the negroes, and theyran towards him with outstretched hands.
"Sure you am de boss right 'nough," Jake cried, for it was he who was inadvance of the others. "Oh, won't de missie be glad! Quick, sar; youcome right 'long up to de hacienda, and not wait one little moment. Allsay ebery day, 'Where am de boss Hal and de young master? Am dey killedby de Spanish dog? Oh, where am dey, Jake?'--Jake him not know. No boyknow, and eberyone go 'bout wid sad heart, and tink dat Jose dog gethold ob de masters and shoot. Tink never see 'em more. All de boysplenty sad, sar, and de missie an' de boss more dan all. Come quick,sar; eberyone be plenty glad."
The good fellow held out his hand, and clasped Hal's with a fervor whichshowed how genuine his feelings were, while the flickering and uncertainlight cast by a second match which one of the negroes struck at themoment showed tears in Jake's eyes, for he was very fond of Hal.
"Yes, I dare say that all will be glad," Hal answered gayly, "especiallywhen the news I bring of the young master is so good. But there, trotalong, Jake; I'm in a hurry to reach Eldorado."
"Quiet there, my men! What is this sudden commotion? Who is thatstanding there with the mules?"
It was Mr. Brindle's voice which came through the darkness, and Hal atonce shouted to him.
"It's Hal Marchant," he cried. "I'm just returning, and Gerald is well,and in Florida at this very moment."
"What? Hal again! Where on earth have you been? What has happened to youboth since you left us? Come into the hacienda at once. My dear, dearlad, how rejoiced I am to see you again!"
Mr. Brindle rushed forward and shook Hal eagerly by the hand, till hisarm positively ached.
"What does this mean?" he asked, noticing the Spanish uniform. "Dressedas one of the enemy! But not one, really, I am open to wager all that Ipossess. Come in, though. You can tell the tale when we are seated."
They hurried to the hacienda, and were just stepping upon the veranda,and were close beneath a lamp which threw all its light upon them, whenDora ran out, having been disturbed by sounds in the plantation.Instantly her eyes fell upon Hal; she stopped abruptly, brushed her handacross her forehead, as if uncertain of the reality of what she saw, andthen staggered towards him with a low, quavering cry upon her lips.
"Hal--Hal Marchant back to life again!" she murmured doubtfully.
"Yes, the same, safe and sound, too, and come back home again," said ourhero, advancing boldly and taking her by both hands. "Are you glad tosee me Dora?"
It was a question that might well have been left unasked, for the truthwas clearly to be seen in her upturned face, which was flooded with thelight from the lamp, and showed eyes sparkling with joy, and overflowingwith tears of thankfulness, while her lips trembled with emotion as sheendeavored to speak to him. Poor Dora could not steady herself to domore than whisper his name, but she did that which was far better, andwent a long way to make amends; for, like the brave, simple-hearted girlshe was, she straightway stood on tiptoe, and, placing a hand on eithershoulder, kissed Hal on the cheek.
"There," she said at last, with a return to her old playful mood, "youmay see for yourself, sir, whether or not I am pleased and glad at yourhome coming. Glad! I am overjoyed! A weight is lifted from my heart,for now I know that you are safe, and a glance at your face issufficient to tell me that Gerald, too, is well."
"Yes; he was wounded, but is recovering fast," Hal answered, still insome confusion after his hearty welcome, and the honest way in whichDora had shown it. "No wonder that you have been upset at our longabsence, and at receiving no news. We have had many adventures, and as Ican see that you are both longing to hear all about them, I'll runthrough them right away.
"Let me see; we had scarcely left the hacienda, when we were arrested asspies in Santiago. Things then were bad enough, for we offeredresistance, and, I am sorry to say, damaged the face of the officer whowas foolish enough to attempt to arrest us. We were captured after achase, and then Jose d'Arousta turned up like a bad penny, and made theaspect of affairs infinitely worse. We were found to be carrying arms;and, in short, with that fellow's evidence against us, we were convictedof spying, and were sent to the Morro Castle with the pleasant prospectof an early breakfast, a short walk, and then death at the hands of afile of soldiers. I need not tell you that we managed to get the betterof our captors, and escaped from our prison during the night. A launchhappened to be in the harbor, and we promptly steamed out to sea in her.Since that we have been with the American fleet. There, you have it all,I fancy."
"Escaped! Slipped out to sea in a launch! Why, a prisoner in the MorroCastle is deemed as secure as bullion in the strong rooms of the Bank ofEngland! And you two lads managed it? Splendid! Just what we might haveexpected. Now I can understand the noise and excitement that occurred inSantiago on the night of your arrival there. But tell us how it is thatyou have been so long away."
Mr. Brindle rattled off his remarks and his questions in a manner thatwas most confusing, and Hal at once prepared to give a full account ofhis adventures.
"Come," said Dora, with a smile, "Hal is thirsty, and, no doubt, hungrytoo. Let us take him in and give him something to eat and drink. Thenperhaps he will be good enough to satisfy our curiosity."
"That I will!" Hal exclaimed. "I can tell you that I am as hungry as ahunter or as fifty hunters, for the matter of that, for I have nottasted more than a bite since I swam from the sinking _Merrimac_ twentyhours ago."