A SPANIARD'S LOYALTY
Both officers sprang to their feet at the startling announcement that
the eagerly awaited but long delayed transports were in sight, and
Admiral Sampson extended his hand to Ridge, saying:
"Go back to Santiago and your duty, my boy. I will convey your report
concerning the meeting with Garcia to General Shafter."
Then all hurried to the deck, and in another minute the great war-ship
had started eastward to welcome the troops, while the Spanish launch,
which had been hastily dismissed, was heading towards Santiago Bay with
every member of the party she had brought out still on board.
"What is about to happen?" asked one of the Spanish officers, in
bewilderment.
"The ships bringing the American army have been sighted," replied
Ridge, who saw no reason for withholding information that must soon be
known to every one.
Upon this there was great excitement in the launch, which was pressed
to its utmost speed, that the news might be carried to Admiral Cervera
and General Linares as quickly as possible.
At his own request, Ridge, in company with Lieutenant Navarro, was
permitted to carry it to the General, who said, quietly:
"Very good, gentlemen; and now, since the time for action has arrived,
I will assign you to the important duty of patrolling the coast, from
which you will bring to me, at Sevilla, earliest word of any attempted
landing by the enemy. You will act independently, but in co-operation
with Captain del Rey, who is already scouting in the neighborhood of
Guantanamo with his company of cavalry. It is supposed that the
landing will be made there, but--as Heaven only knows what these
Yankees may do--we must watch every possible point."
Nothing could have suited Ridge better than this; and a few minutes
later, with Santiago left behind, he and his companion were galloping
in the direction of the Morro, from whose lofty walls they would be
able to command a vast sweep of ocean and coast. Already were its
garrison crowding tower and battlement to gaze wonderingly at the
American fleet coming from the eastward. A double column eight miles
long of ships, crowded to their utmost capacity with armed men, was
advancing under low-trailing banners of black smoke, like a resistless
fate. As they neared the war-ships, that had for a month impatiently
awaited them, these thundered forth a welcome from their big guns.
Bands played, swift steam-launches darted to and fro, and a mighty
volume of cheering from twice ten thousand throats was borne to those
who listened on land like the roar of a breaking tempest. The American
army and navy had met at last, and were joined in a common cause.
For an hour our young trooper watched with swelling heart this
wonderful meeting of his countrymen. Then he had the satisfaction of
seeing one of the transports steam away to the westward in the
direction of Aserraderos. While his companions asked one another the
meaning of this manoeuvre, he believed it to indicate that the meeting
between Generals Shafter and Garcia, for which he had arranged, was
about to be effected.
As it was evident that no landing was to be attempted that day, the
young men so reported to General Linares at Sevilla, where they also
spent the night. Another day of suspense and anxious waiting was
passed, with the American transports rolling idly in the offing, and
making no effort to discharge their human freight. At the same time
the war-ships kept the Spaniards in a state of feverish excitement by
shelling every place along twenty miles of coast where a landing might
be made.
A swarm of Spanish scouts watched these operations from the hill-tops,
and at short intervals during the day reported the enemy's movements to
General Linares; but of them all none was so active as Ridge and his
companion. From earliest dawn until dark they scoured the country
lying adjacent to the coast, gaining a complete knowledge of its
so-called roads, which were but the roughest of trails, only intended
for saddle or pack animals, and of its defences. They also made such
full reports to headquarters of everything that was going on as to
completely win the confidence of the Spanish commander. Consequently
he was not prepared to accept, without further proof, the abrupt
statement made by a major of his staff, that one of his favorite scouts
was an American, and probably a spy.
It was the second day after the arrival of the transports. The two
officers were alone in the room occupied by General Linares as an
office, and from it Ridge had just departed after making a report to
the effect that he had not yet seen anything indicating the selection
of a landing-place on the part of the enemy.
"What makes you think him an American?" asked the General.
"Because," replied the Major, "I have recognized him. His face was
familiar from the first, and when I saw him ride I knew that I had also
seen him ride before, but could not tell where. Only now has it come
to me, and I know that in Yokohama I saw him within a year win the
great hurdle-race of the English and American residents."
"Even that would not make him an American."
"It was everywhere proclaimed that he was such."
"Are you certain that this is the same man?"
"I am certain. I now also recall his name. It was Norreese--the Señor
Norreese."
"But he was introduced by Lieutenant Navarro, who is known to every
one, and whose loyalty is beyond question."
"Did Lieutenant Navarro know him in Spain?"
"I will ask him."
So an orderly was despatched to request Lieutenant Navarro to report
immediately at headquarters.
The two friends were eating a hasty lunch when this message reached
them, and Ridge had just announced his intention to start for Daiquiri
as soon as it was finished. He alone knew that the American landing
would be made there, and he wished to be on hand when it was effected.
Navarro had arranged to go with him, and both were impatient of the
delay promised by the General's order.
"It is too bad!" exclaimed Ridge; "for we ought to be there now, since
they may already be landing. I hope the General doesn't want to send
us off in some other direction."
"For fear that he may," said the other, "you had better start at once
towards Daiquiri, and I will follow the moment I am at liberty to do
so."
"That's good advice," repeated Ridge, "and I will do as you suggest."
With this understanding, and having arranged a place of meeting, the
young trooper set forth on his twelve-mile ride over the narrow trails
of the broken and densely wooded hill country lying southeast from
Sevilla, while Navarro hastened to obey the summons of the Spanish
General.
"How long have you known the Señor Remelios?" was the first question
asked of the young Lieutenant.
"Only since meeting him in Holguin, where General Pando introduced us,
and ordered me to accompany him."
"Have you noted anything suspicious in his actions--anything that would
lead you to suspect him of being other than what he claims?"
"I have not, sir," answered the Lieutenant, calmly, though with inward
trepidation, since the question showed that a suspicion of some kind
had been directed against his friend.
"Neither have I," said the General; "for he has admirably performed the
duties assigned to him. At the same time I am desirous of asking him
some questions, and so have sent for him. I will request also that you
remain during our interview, and carefully compare his answers with
your own knowledge of his recent movements."
Just here the Major who had recognized Ridge, and who had gone to bring
him to headquarters, returned with the information that he whom they
sought was not to be found.
"Do you know where he is?" asked the General, sharply, of Lieutenant
Navarro.
"I do not, sir, though I think it likely that he has started for
Siboney, where we had planned to go together to watch the American
ships."
"Then you will accompany Major Alvarez to that place, find the Señor
Remelios, and use your friendly influence to bring him back here. If
for any reason he should refuse to come, he must be compelled by force,
for he is suspected of being an American spy. I tell you this, because
there is no question of Lieutenant Navarro's loyalty, and I assign you
to this duty to show how entirely I trust you."
"I will do my best, sir," replied the young Spaniard, acknowledging
this compliment with a bow. Then, wondering in which direction his
duty really lay, he departed in company with the Major, who was
impatient to make good his charges against the Señor Remelios.
Lieutenant Navarro had been moody and unhappy ever since the coming of
the American transports. He had not confided his trouble to his
companion, but had performed his duties mechanically, and would not
talk of anything else. Ridge noticed this change in his friend, and
had formed a shrewd guess as to its cause, but waited for the other to
speak first concerning it.
In the mean time, as the young trooper neared Daiquiri, he met scouts
from Captain del Rey's detachment hastening towards headquarters with
news that the Americans were landing. At this he increased his speed,
until he finally reached the hill agreed upon as a place of meeting
with Navarro, and then his heart was thrilled with the sight out-spread
before him. Half a dozen transports and a few of the smaller war-ships
lay in the little harbor. Steam-launches towing strings of boats
crowded with troops were plying between the ships and the one small
pier that offered a landing-place. The Spaniards had retreated,
burning houses and bridges behind them, and already dark masses of
American troops were forming on the narrow strip of level land
separating the hills from the sea. These were his own people, and
Ridge longed to rush forward and join them, but was faced by two
obstacles. One was a strong Spanish force concealed in a ravine
between him and the Americans as though to dispute their advance at
that point, and the other was the memory that he had promised to await
at this place the coming of Navarro, whom he expected to see with each
minute.
Suddenly, as he impatiently wondered what he ought to do, there came a
quick rush of feet, and the young Spaniard, breathless with haste,
stood beside him.
"Amigo," he gasped, "you are in great danger. By some mischance the
General has discovered that you are an American, and Major Alvarez is
charged with your capture. You have been traced to this point, and
even now the hill is being surrounded to prevent your escape. Within
two minutes soldiers will ascend from all sides, and, until they come,
you are my prisoner."
At this Ridge started back and clapped a hand to his pistol.
"But I do not forget," continued the other, "that I am also your
prisoner, on parole not to fight against your countrymen, or that to
you I owe my life. So I am come to save yours and aid your escape, or
die beside you in making the attempt. First, though, let us exchange
prisoners, for, amigo, it has come to me within these two days that I
cannot desert my own people in this time of their need. Let me then
remain with them until all is over, which must be shortly. Then, if I
still live, I will return to you and seek my cousin. Oh, my friend,
grant me this favor, and with every breath I will thank you! May it be
so? Will you do as I ask?"
"Of course I will," answered Ridge, heartily. "I had already guessed
your feelings, and made up my mind to give back your parole if you
should ask for it. So now you are free to act as seems to you best."
"God bless you, amigo!" cried the young Spaniard, his face radiant with
joy. "Now they come! Conceal yourself, while I do what may be done to
save you."