THE MIDNIGHT MESSAGE
Harry clutched the rail involuntarily. It seemed as if at any moment
they would strike the shore with a crash, and yet he could not but
believe that the captain knew what he was doing. He stood quietly at the
wheel, scarcely moving it after he had once taken his course, but his
eyes were fixed intently ahead.
Nearer and nearer they rushed to the shore. Now they were almost upon
it. Harry steadied himself, and cast one quick glance at the captain.
Now the bow cut the thick foliage like a knife, but there was no shock,
and the _Mariella_, with trees and vines scraping her sides and rising
almost to her funnel-top, shot into a broad lagoon that lay completely
hidden by the dense foliage at the entrance.
As they passed in, Harry looked back. The passage through which they had
entered was scarcely wider than the steamer, and formed on either side
by two points of rock. It needed a bold and skillful hand to bring them
safely through that naturally-masked channel. The foliage dropped partly
back again but there still remained a gaping hole to show where the
steamer had pushed her way through.
Again the bells in the engine-room clanged, the screw churned the water
violently; there was a roar and rattle of the anchor chains, and within
twice her own length the _Mariella_ came to a standstill and her
dangerous voyage was safely terminated.
"Washington," called the captain, leaning out of the wheelhouse; "shut
the door."
"Aye, aye, sah," responded the negro, as he emerged from the galley.
"George Wash Jenks knows his duty."
Two of the men lowered a boat and jumped in. The negro followed with a
long boat hook. They rowed back to the entrance of the inlet, and Jenks
with his hook, deftly pulled the vines and creeping plants across it
again. In five minutes none could have told that the luxurious growth
had been disturbed.
The tropical night now began to settle rapidly over the still lagoon.
The business of making the steamer snug at her anchorage, which is
usually attended by the creaking of cordage, the clanking of chains, and
the discordant shouts of sailors and commanders, was carried on almost
in silence. The orders of the captain and mate were given in tones
scarcely louder than used in ordinary conversation, but the men
responded with alacrity. Within half an hour the _Mariella_, her
throbbing engines stilled, lay silently at anchor and not a sound broke
the stillness of the night. The shore of the main coast piled up in a
black mass, without shape or color, in front of them, while the
protecting arm that shielded them from the ocean loomed high above the
steamer's funnel, showing in silhouette against the star-lighted sky in
fantastically waving lines of palm leaves.
Tired out with the exciting and unusual events of the day, the boys,
after gazing for a time at the strange, silent scene around them,
retired to their bunks, and were soon fast asleep.
Captain Dynamite lay dreamily back in a steamer chair on the quarter
deck, lazily puffing a cigarette, but his eyes were intently fixed on
the black shore. The steamer was in total darkness. Not a lamp was
lighted except a small red lantern, like a signal light, that hung over
the side facing the shore.
The captain lighted a match and looked at his watch.
"Five minutes to midnight," he murmured. "They are late. Can anything
have gone wrong? Ah, there's the signal now."
A small red light flashed out of the darkness of the shore. Three times
it showed, and then disappeared. A dark figure that had been standing
by the light on the _Mariella_ swung it three times from side to side.
Captain Dynamite rose from his chair, stretched his great body lazily
and walked to the rail. As he did so, he threw open his coat and eased
up one of the pistols in its holster. His hand remained resting on the
butt.
A small boat with two rowers, and a man in the stern, shot out from the
black shadow of the shore onto the star-lighted surface of the lagoon.
They rowed without the splash of an oar straight to the _Mariella_.
"Who goes there?" called Dynamite in a whisper, as the boat shot under
the steamer's quarter.
"_Independencia_," came the prompt reply, and in a second the dark form
amidships tossed over a rope ladder. In a moment more the man in the
stern of the small boat had scrambled over the rail of the _Mariella_
and strode rapidly aft. He sprang lightly up the steps to the
quarter-deck, and seizing the hand of Captain Dynamite, who met him at
the companionway, shook it vigorously.
"Captain Morgan, sure it's glad I am to see ye again."
"God bless you, O'Connor. Another of your dare-devil expeditions safely
ended. We didn't look for you for two nights yet."
"Fair weather and only one little brush with a small gunboat.
Altogether, quite an uneventful trip. And how goes the cause of
independence, Captain?"
"We still hold our own, O'Connor, despite the butcher's boasts. We left
them two hundred dead and wounded at our last three meetings, while our
loss was only five killed and ten wounded."
"Bravo, Morgan, we'll wear them out yet. Let them pour their troops into
Cuba by the thousand. Disease, our insidious ally and insurgent bullets
will take care of all they can send."
"Aye, but the bullets are getting scarce, O'Connor."
"Ah, but there are enough here to do for ten thousand Spaniards," cried
Dynamite, stamping excitedly on the deck, "and there will always be
enough to go around so long as O'Connor lives, and the planks of the
_Mariella_ hold together."
The woolly head and grinning countenance of George Washington Jenks
showed above the top step of the companionway.
"And what of Gomez, Morgan?"
"Gomez is now with President Betancourt at Cubitas, waiting for a report
of your expedition."
"He shall have it within forty-eight hours Are your men ready for the
landing?"
"The lagoon is guarded inland and shore. There is not a Spaniard within
twenty miles."
"Then we will begin at once. What are you doing on the quarter-deck, you
black rogue?"
The captain had just discovered Jenks as he stood respectfully at the
head of the companionway, apparently awaiting orders.
"Sut'nly, the Cap'n call?"
"No, I didn't call, blockhead. Get below."
"Ah, ain't such a mucher as a guesser, but sut'nly I guess the cap'n
stamp him foot."
"You're right, Washington. I did stamp, but I didn't want you. However,
as long as you are here bring out a chair for Captain Morgan and that
box of cigars on my cabin table."
"Well, Washington, you are back in Cuba with a whole skin again," said
Morgan, cordially extending his hand to the negro.
"Cap'n Morgan, suah," said Jenks, carefully rubbing his hand on his
trousers before accepting the captain's. "Ah'm right glad to see you
again, sah. O yes, sah, George Wash Jenks' skin am whole, sah. Cap'n
Dynamite, he see to that, sah. Nevah leave Cap'n Dynamite, sah."
"That's right, Washington, stick to the captain and he'll pull you
through, and Cuba needs a few more honest hearts like yours."
"Ah serve Cap'n Dynamite, sah. He serve Cuba."
With great dignity the negro turned away and entered the cabin.
"An honest fellow, O'Connor, and seems devoted to you."
"Yes, I think Washington would follow me to the ends of the earth; but
what are the orders, captain? We must be up and doing. I should not like
to lie here long enough for the Spaniards to discover our
landing-place."
"Ah, there I am as ignorant as you. Here are sealed instructions from
Gomez."
Captain Morgan handed a packet to O'Connor, who broke the seal eagerly.
When he had read what the message contained the hand that held it
dropped nervelessly by his side. He gasped as if for breath, and pulled
nervously at the collar of his shirt like a man choking. Morgan, who
noticed his singular actions started toward him.
"What's the matter, O'Connor?" he asked, anxiously. "Are you ill?"
For a moment the captain did not answer, and then he said, faintly:
"Wait. I must think."
Morgan, wondering, but respecting his mood, stepped back. Captain
Dynamite folded his arms and his head sank low on his chest. For fully
five minutes he sat thus, and then suddenly leaped to his feet, clenched
his hands, straightened up to his full heighth, and stamped his foot,
loudly on the deck. The negro appeared with the steamer chair. He
stopped in terror at the wild appearance of Captain Dynamite, and
believing that he was the cause of his anger, stammered and stuttered in
an effort to speak.
"Ah, sut'nly, came as fast as ah could, sah. George Wash Jenks no
loafing nigger, sah."
"Call Suarez," said Dynamite, in a low voice, ignoring the negro's
attempted apologies.
"Misser Suarez turned in, sah."
"Call Suarez," roared the captain, taking a threatening step in the
direction of Jenks.
"Yas, sah," answered Jenks, his eyes big with wonder. "Needn't be so
uppish. Ah shall sut'nly call Misser Suarez." Jenks backed away to the
companionway in an effort to keep his face to the angry skipper and
miscalculating his distance rolled backward down the stairs.
"You clumsy idiot," bellowed Dynamite, stepping to the top of the stairs
and peering down into the darkness, out of which came a whisper:
"Yas, sah. Ah shall sut'nly call Misser Suarez."
Dynamite stepped back, and without speaking to Morgan, who watched him
anxiously, paced the quarter-deck with nervous strides. Suarez appeared
in his pajamas, rubbing his eyes. The captain stopped as he saluted, and
looked from one to the other of the men. Finally he said, holding out
the message to Suarez:
"Suarez--Morgan--here are the instructions regarding the removal of the
cargo. They are simple. There is also news--bad news--but that concerns
only me. Take this paper, Suarez, and with Captain Morgan's assistance
carry out the orders to the letter. You are in command."
Then he turned to Washington, who had followed Suarez to the
quarter-deck.
"Bring me my night coat, Washington, and my rifle. Suarez, have the gig
lowered. I am going ashore."
"Alone, captain?"
"Alone."
"And may I ask the captain where at this hour of the night?"
"To Gomez."
"Take a file of my men, O'Connor. The country between here and Cubitas
is full of Spaniards."
"Thank you, Morgan. I have good, true men of my own who know the country
as well as I do myself, but they would only hamper me. I must make
speed--speed, do you hear? Suarez, why do you stand there like a wooden
Indian? Get my gig into the water."
"If you are bent upon going, O'Connor, and I know how useless it is to
try to swerve you, why not take my boat. It is manned and lying at the
ladder."
"That is better, Morgan. I will send it back to you. Come on, you lazy
rascal, with that coat."
He seized his coat and rifle, and ran down the stairway to the
companionway, and along the deck to the point where Morgan's boat lazily
floated on the black water.
"Take your orders from Captain Dynamite," called Morgan to his men as
O'Connor slid down into the boat. The negro who had followed close at
his heels peered over the side and whispered pleadingly:
"Cap'n Dynamite, sah, you'se not going without George Wash Jenks?"
"To the shore, lads, and pull for your lives," said O'Connor. The boat
shot away from the steamer's side and was soon lost in the dark shadow
of the shore.
Washington shook his head deprecatingly, and returned to the
quarter-deck, where he gravely saluted the mate.
"Your servant, sah," he said. "Cap'n Dynamite he say you in command."
"Bring a lantern, Washington, quick," said Suarez. Then turning to
Morgan, he continued:
"What do you suppose the bad news can be that has so affected the chief
and which he says concerns only him?"
"Gomez's message will tell. Quick, boy, with that lantern."
As Jenks stepped into the cabin, Harry, fully dressed, came out of his
stateroom. The unusual noise on deck and the loud commands of the
captain had awakened him.
"What's up, Wash?" he asked.
"Plenty. Cap'n Dynamite get bad news in message, and bang--he scoot for
shore."
"Captain gone ashore, to-night?"
"Suah, enough."
"What's the bad news, Wash?"
"Nobody knows yet. George Wash Jenks get cap'n's lantern and then we
find out."
He took the lantern from the hook, and with Harry behind him returned to
the deck. Morgan took the light and held it so that Suarez could read
the message.
"Ah, here it is" said the mate, after he had scanned the instructions.
He read aloud:
"'My heart is full of grief for you. Notwithstanding the heavy guard
maintained around the house the Spaniards succeeded last night in
seizing Juanita and have taken her to prison. She is charged with aiding
the rebels. Come to me at once that we may plan together to effect her
escape or rescue.'"
"Spaniards got Missee Juanita?" shouted Washington, who had listened
eagerly while Suarez read. "I guess I go to cap'n."
The negro made a flying leap for the rail and in another instant would
have dived into the sea toward the shore. Morgan was too quick, though,
and seizing him by the collar dragged him back to the deck.
"Never was such a mucher at guessing," murmured the negro.
"What do you say to putting the boy ashore and letting him join
O'Connor?" asked Morgan. "He knows the country and might be of much
assistance to that stubborn man in his dangerous journey."
"Please, Misser Suarez, sah, lemme go after Cap'n Dynamite. He and
Missee Juanita need George Wash Jenks."
The negro dropped on his knees as he pleaded with the mate.
"And we will go with you, Washington."
It was Harry who spoke, and the men turned to him in astonishment.
"You do not know the danger, my boy," said Suarez, quietly.
"We'll chance it. We owe Captain Dynamite a big debt. If there is a
chance to help him in his trouble it is our duty to do so."
"It is a question whether you would help or hinder him."
Suarez was undecided. While he bore the boys no malice he had always
chafed at their presence on the ship. No interest in them as individuals
would have caused him to oppose their wishes. His thoughts, hopes,
desires, and ambitions were all Cuba's. The fate of the three boys whose
lives meant nothing to the cause, was nothing to him. Deep down in his
heart he would be glad to rid the ship of them. But he feared the wrath
of his chief. He walked the deck in silence for a few minutes and then,
as if speaking to himself he said:
"If any one should take one of the boats and make the shore during the
night, their escape might not be discovered until daylight."
As he finished speaking, George Washington Jenks beckoned to Harry, and
together they made their way silently down to the main deck.