WITH THE AMERICAN FLEET
It was a long swim that Hal and Gerald had started upon, but
circumstances were in their favor, and they made light of it. The summer
was scarcely at an end, and the water, therefore, was beautifully warm,
so that there was no reason to fear an attack of cramp; and the farther
they moved from the shore, the more they were helped on their course by
a current which, sweeping in from the sea through the long, narrow,
neck-like opening, struck a projecting bluff below the Morro Castle, and
was deflected to the center of the harbor, carrying the swimmers with
it. Halfway across, Hal's hand struck gently against a large iron buoy,
to which life-lines were attached, and which was anchored in mid stream.
He at once turned to Gerald, laying one hand on his shoulder to attract
his attention, while with the other he obtained a firm grasp of one of
the ropes.
"We'll rest and get our wind here," he said. "Come round to this side,
old boy. It is the farthest from the searchlight, and we shall be hidden
in the shadow. Next time it has safely passed us, we'll make tracks
straight for the launch, and do our best to get on board before the
light revolves in our direction again."
It was a wise course to pursue, for the beam cast by the electric
lantern had long ago won the race, and was already sweeping the streets
of Santiago, _en route_ for the Morro Castle and the harbor again. Soon
it reached the buoy, appearing to hover over it, just as it had done
five minutes before in the case of the upturned boat. But it only did
so in the imagination of the fugitives, for, in reality, it swept on
without a pause, and went trailing its silent, inquisitive way across
the lonely water.
"Now is the time," whispered Hal. "When we reach the launch swim to the
after-end, and crawl on board. The cabin is right up in the bows, for I
took particular note of that when watching from the cell."
Gerald nodded, for floating with one's mouth just clear of the water is
not conducive to much conversation. Then he let go his hold of the
life-line, and closed up to his friend. With steady and powerful
strokes, and without the least sign of haste, they swam through the
water, their eyes fixed upon the opposite shore of the harbor, and on
the shipping as it flashed into sight. Soon a big object rose up black
before them in the darkness, and Hal's hand came in contact with the
stone pier. A few strokes farther on he touched the side of a vessel,
and, stretching high above his head, was able to grasp the gunwale. A
thrill of pleasure at once ran through his frame as he realized that
this must be the launch in which they hoped to escape from the harbor.
To slide along to the rudder was the work of only a few seconds, when
his fingers touched the blades of a screw. He at once obtained a firm
grip of the side, and hoisted himself slowly and gently to the deck,
where he was joined by Gerald directly afterwards.
"We want a breather. I'm puffed," the latter whispered.
"Yes, but we cannot take it here," was the answer. "Let us get into the
stoke-hole. Here it is. Come down gently."
There was a tiny iron ladder leading into a small engine-room and
stoke-hole combined, and both at once slid down this, and sat upon the
floor.
"Now we can talk," said Hal in a whisper. "But first of all let us
settle the question whether anyone is aboard. Sit where you are, Gerald.
You're a bit blown, and want rest. I'm as fresh as a daisy, and will
just go along to the cabin to see if anyone is there."
He went to the end of the boiler, and, discovering a piece of oily
waste, carefully lifted the furnace door. A dull glow immediately
escaped, lighting the stoke-hole dimly, and showing at once that it
contained only themselves.
"Fires banked to last till morning," said Hal in satisfied tones, which
he reduced to little more than a whisper. "That shows that no one
intends to look at them during the night. Let me see. Yes, the boiler is
full, and the pressure gauge shows just a few pounds of steam. No good
to us, though; but we'll soon raise it to bursting-point. Now I'm off."
He stirred the fire, and silently closed the door. Then he ascended the
tiny ladder, and crawled along the deck till he came to the cabin, which
was roofed with a skylight. Feeling in the darkness for the opening, he
soon discovered a catch, and pulling the door open, descended without
hesitation, but using the utmost caution all the while. It was even
darker down below than on deck, and he therefore stood still, for, if he
had moved forward, he might well have stumbled blindly across someone
sleeping there. But his doubts were quickly set at rest, for the
searchlight again came to the rescue, falling upon the launch, and
sending a flood of brilliant rays through the skylight.
"Good! It's empty," murmured Hal; "and as it runs right forward into the
bows, and right aft to the engine-room, it is clear that we have the
boat to ourselves. All the better, say I, for every time we have to
silence some fellow we add to our risks; besides, I don't like to be
hammering everyone who comes in our way. But now for steam, and a
glorious run to the sea. Ah, we'll feed the fires till the plates are
red-hot and the funnel melts. Then, when she's trembling with the
pressure of the steam in her boiler, we'll set her for the harbor
mouth."
He almost clapped his hands in the exuberance of his spirits, for even
the least sanguine would have had to admit that now, indeed, success was
near at hand. But there was plenty of work to be done, and he returned
to the stoke-hole to complete it.
"We've got to make a move soon," he said. "It must be some while after
midnight, and daylight will be with us about three o'clock. We'll lift
the furnace door again so as to get a good look round. I shall want
plenty of fuel close at hand, but it will not do to move more than can
possibly be helped till we are out of the harbor; for, on a quiet and
still night, sounds, however faint, can be heard a very great distance."
"And when we are out, what then?" asked Gerald.
"Just this, old boy. You'll have to be skipper, and get to the wheel.
There is one good point about it, I notice. They've placed it so close
to the entrance above that it will be possible to stand on one of the
lower rungs of the ladder, and steer without showing much more than your
head. No doubt this launch is usually run by one man, who works her
engines and wheel alone. That's why they are placed in such handy
positions. If we are not discovered, all will be as simple as eating a
dinner; but, if we are, then it will be a trifle exciting, and you will
have to look out for the bullets. My job is the engine and the furnace.
I've played the game before, and know something about it. Now, lend a
hand, and go easy, whatever you do. We don't want all those dogs on our
track again, if we can avoid it."
Lifting pieces of coal in his hands, Hal cast them one by one into the
flames, for to have employed a shovel would have been to run the risk of
discovery. It was slower work, but safer by far, and after all, with two
hard at it, was soon ended. Now and again Hal went to the ladder, and,
standing on one of the lower rungs, put his head up through the opening,
and looked at the funnel.
"She'll do," he said at last, in tones of satisfaction. "The fuel is
dry, and at present the smoke is scarcely noticeable. Wait till we get
away, and put the steam-blast on. Then there'll be flames spouting into
the sky, and a regular firework display."
"Yes, and a few shells flying after us," said Gerald, with something
remarkably like an excited chuckle. "That's about what it will be, for I
cannot see how we can hope to slip out without discovery. If the funnel
does not give us away, the searchlight certainly will. But we'll dodge
that if we've any luck. Anyway, we will get out of this, whatever
happens."
"That's so; we will, old boy, and I fancy it's high time now to be
setting about it. I've never before walked off with property belonging
to somebody else, but this time it's a case of our lives, and, besides,
all's fair, you know."
"Yes, in love and war, Hal. Hillo! I can hear a shindy somewhere. What's
it all about?"
Hal darted to the ladder, and, thrusting his head through the opening
above, hung there listening.
"There are men coming along the quay," he said. "What can they want?
This is the only boat moored over in this direction."
They looked into each other's faces in the dim light given by the fire,
and each noticed that the other had turned deathly pale.
"They must be coming here," gasped Gerald.
"Then we must disappoint them," answered Hal. "Quick! throw off the
for'ard mooring, Gerald. No, not that way; you will get at it sooner by
hopping ashore. Then do the same aft, and jump on board. Quick! hop, I
say; for we have very little time to lose."
He turned at once to the furnace, and commenced to shovel coal into it
at a rapid pace, keeping his eye all the time fixed on the pressure
gauge.
"One hundred and fifteen pounds," he said. "Good! That will help us
finely. Now we'll get the bearings warmed."
He turned the steam cock slightly, and sent a cloud of hot vapor rushing
into the cylinders.
"Below there! she's loose. I've cast off the moorings," whispered Gerald
at this moment, thrusting his head down into the stoke-hole.
"Then give her a good push off, and go to the wheel," answered Hal.
Gently, and without a sound, save the low drone of the fire, and the
roar of flames rushing through the funnel, the launch left the quay,
and, propelled by a thrust of Gerald's foot, glided some yards into the
harbor. She was away only just in time, for, a minute or two later, some
twenty soldiers marched up, and voices were heard.
"Halt, men, and see that you keep in your places," someone was heard to
exclaim, in far from pleasant tones. "Now, señor, what is it? These
beggarly Americans seem to have disturbed the whole town. First, my
comrade is so upset by a blow in the face that I have to take his duty;
and then you must needs turn me out at this uncomfortable hour to follow
some wild-goose chase. Why could you not use your own ruffians?"
"Grumbling will not mend matters," was the suave answer, in a voice
which Hal and his comrade recognized as José d'Arousta's. "These two
Americans escaped from a fool of a jailer, and are still about. We have
reason to believe that they are in the harbor, for their boots were
found not an hour ago, beneath the Morro Castle. I received orders to
call you and your men, and to instruct you to come here, so that you
might get on board the launch. Caramba, but it is dark! It is like the
bottom of a pit. Where can the boat be?"
"Alongside, you said, señor," the other answered sourly. "Where is it,
then?"
Footsteps were heard on the paving as José d'Arousta and some of the
soldiers hunted along the quay. Meanwhile the launch lay off at a
distance of a few yards, her passengers crouching in the stoke-hole, and
hoping to remain undiscovered.
"Look, Señor Capitan, there is the boat!" one of the men suddenly cried,
"I can see flames and smoke coming from the funnel."
"What? The furnaces in full blast!" José shouted. "The fires were banked
for the night, and no one was aboard her."
"Perhaps the engineer in charge has got here before us," the officer
remarked. "Why not hail him?"
"Hi! Aboard there! Put in alongside the quay," José promptly sang out.
The only answer was a shower of sparks from the funnel, and the splash
and noise of churning water, for Gerald had been listening to all that
passed, and had rapidly interpreted to Hal.
"Sing out that you are coming," said the latter, "and then steer her for
the harbor mouth. I'll give her steam."
He turned to the throttle and opened it wide, at the same time allowing
the steam-blast to come into action.
"She's moving now," he cried. "Keep her well away, Gerald, and dodge the
searchlight, whatever you do."
[Illustration: HAL AND HIS COMPANION ESCAPE FROM SANTIAGO.]
"Hi there! Where are you going? Where are you steering to?" a voice
cried from the quay; and then, as the launch sped on into the harbor
basin, José d'Arousta was heard calling to the soldiers to open fire.
"Ah, treachery!" he shouted. "Something is wrong; for see, she is
running away. I have it; those rascally spies are aboard. Let your men
open fire at once, señor."
A single rifle cracked immediately, no doubt fired in order to give the
alarm, and almost instantly the searchlight went through the same
strange antics as before. Finally it settled on the harbor, and,
sweeping slowly across it, lit full upon the launch. In a minute there
was a roll of musketry, and a shower of bullets hurtled about her, some
piercing her woodwork as if it had been merely paper, but none,
fortunately, hitting Hal or Gerald, or any part of the machinery. A
minute later they had run into the shadow cast by a long line of
shipping, behind which the light failed to reach them. Hal at once
thrust his head up through the opening, and then cut off steam.
"They'll expect us to pop out at the other end," he said quietly, "but
we'll disappoint them by going about and cutting back by way of the
quay. Ready? Then shove the wheel over. There's enough row going on all
round to drown any we may make."
And this was the case, for the gyrations of the searchlight and the
rattle of musketry had effectually awakened the shipping world. The
crews of vessels lying in the harbor came tumbling up on deck, while
many of the ships rang their bells, as though a general attack by the
enemy in force were imminent. A few who had news of the runaways put
off in their boats, and pulled into the open water, their hands shouting
loudly for information as to the whereabouts of the escaping prisoners.
"Just keep these ships in line with the searchlight," said Hal, a few
moments later, thrusting his head up again. "That will give us a dark
patch in which to run, and will carry us almost as far as the exit.
That's it. Steady so. I'm going to pile the coal till she's fit to
burst."
He dived below again, and, seizing the shovel which had already proved
so useful, threw the fuel into the open door of the furnace. By now the
dial showed a greater head of steam, but he was not yet satisfied, and
kept at the work, even going to the length of tossing an open can of oil
into the flames.
As for Gerald, with eyes shifting from right to left, and returning ever
and anon to the searchlight, he gripped the wheel and steered the launch
in a dead line ahead. Once, a boat suddenly sprang out of the dense
darkness directly in front, and he caught sight of the water flashing
faintly at the tips of the oars. But he would not alter his course, and
went rushing on, only missing the other craft by a foot or two, and
leaving it behind in a trice, rocking so violently that it was a wonder
that it did not fill and sink at once.
"Where are they? What is all this bother about?" someone cried.
Gerald did not trouble to answer. He kept grimly on till a flash of the
broad beam overhead showed him that he was approaching the edge of the
harbor. Then, hesitating how to act, he looked down at Hal as if to ask
his advice, and saw him stripped to the waist, and standing in the glare
of the furnace, into which he was throwing coal as if life itself
depended on his exertions--as, indeed, it did.
Round spun the wheel, and the launch swayed to the left, rolling heavily
as she did so.
"This is my job," murmured Gerald, unconsciously repeating the words Hal
had used when giving him the post of steersman. "I'll see the show
through. Now for the channel that leads to the sea."
"Will the searchlight fall upon it just as we enter? Yes--no--perhaps it
will not. Ah! it must. It is all up with us!"
The thoughts flashed through his mind, one moment high hope surging
through his heart, and the next some movement of the electric beam
shattering all thoughts of escape. The light fluttered onto the thin
band of water leading out between the steep cliffs to the sea, to safety
and friends, and then whisked back to the harbor, flying across every
foot of its surface that it was possible to reach, and searching every
nook and corner.
Round spun the wheel again.
"In the channel, and now bang straight ahead," murmured Gerald. "If the
Dons who man the castle batteries do not spot us we shall be lucky. But
how can they fail, when flames like that are pouring from the funnel?
They're bound to let fly at us."
He cast an upward glance at the smoke-stack, and longed to be able to
smother the flaring streak which poured from it into the night, lighting
up the surroundings like a torch. Luck, however, seemed to have followed
the runaways, for if anyone noticed them, he made no sign, not thinking
that this tiny vessel, rushing so boldly out to sea, could contain any
but friends. Perhaps, even, he may have thought it was the officer who
had been told off to conduct the search; though then it was strange that
he should feed his fires till the funnel was on the point of melting,
while the escape steam whistled through the valve with a deafening
noise.
Fortunate indeed was it for the fugitives that another part attracted
the attention of the Spaniards. From Morro Castle, and from all the
defenses, the eyes of the garrison were fixed upon the searchlight.
Breathless with excitement, and too occupied to utter as much as a
sound, they followed the revolving beam, till at last it fell full upon
a launch steaming across the harbor. No doubt it contained José
d'Arousta and his men; but the watchers were ignorant of that, and set
up a shout of exultation that awoke the echoes. They rushed to their
guns and rifles, and would have opened fire had not the workers of the
light known more than they, and flashed it elsewhere in search of the
escaping prisoners. And all the while Hal and Gerald were speeding, with
their most eager efforts, along the narrow track that led to the sea.
"Another half-mile and we shall be away," screamed the latter, looking
down at his friend. But the escaping steam smothered his voice, and only
the click and scrape of the busy shovel answered him.
Bang! A huge column of water blew up into the night some hundred paces
behind, sending a heavy swell rolling along, which caught the launch and
caused it to bob sharply.
"A mine!" shouted Hal, who had heard the roar. "I should say that it is
about their last. Keep her over to one side, for those infernal machines
are usually laid in the center, so as to catch the large ships. A miss
is as good as a mile, old boy!"
"We're out now," shouted Gerald, taking a hasty look round, and noticing
that the reflection of the flames upon the wet rock on either side had
just vanished. "Now where away?"
"Bang straight for the deep blue sea, old chap, and the farther out the
better. If we could put a hundred miles between us and the Dons within
the next few minutes I should feel all the happier."
To steer directly out was, indeed, the best course they could follow,
and neither of the lads relaxed his energies till the tiny launch had
plowed a way ten miles out to sea. All was in their favor, for the
night, though intensely dark, was beautifully calm, and the surface of
the water undisturbed by even a ripple. An hour later, when they had
obtained a good offing, Hal left the door of the furnace wide open, and
stopped the engines.
"I'm peckish again," he said, climbing to the deck, and wiping the
perspiration from his forehead with a piece of oily waste. "Skip along,
old man, and see whether you can manage to find some grub and something
to drink."
Gerald at once left the wheel, and going to the forward part of the
launch, descended into the cabin. He had little difficulty in discerning
his surroundings, for by this time the sky had lightened considerably,
and dawn was close at hand. But he was unsuccessful, and returned with a
very long face.
"Not a crust to be seen," he said dismally. "I say, Hal, what shall we
do if there is no food aboard, for we shall starve if we do not fall in
with a ship pretty soon?"
"Then that is just exactly what we must do," cried Hal cheerfully, "and
we'll have to be precious careful that she is not a Spaniard. Yes, it's
rough having nothing to eat, but we must not grumble. Just think of what
we have escaped. We have left prison and that fellow José d'Arousta
behind, and are safe for the present. I'd rather starve for a week than
take my place before a file of soldiers at this hour of the morning."
He shuddered when he thought of what a narrow escape they had had, and
what fate would have been theirs, had they still occupied their cell in
the Morro Castle.
Then away flew his thoughts to the hacienda. Why? Did they dwell for the
space of more than a moment upon Mr. Brindle and any of the hands he
knew? No, certainly not! Hal would have flushed very red had you
suddenly asked him the question; for, in truth, he was thinking of
someone else--of Dora, picturing her as he had seen her many a morning,
standing at the top of the steps leading from the veranda, a vision of
loveliness in white, with a welcoming smile that showed two rows of
dainty pearls, and a glance from a pair of dancing blue eyes that always
made him feel happy. That was how he had seen her every morning as he
rode in from his work, and those were the happy thoughts which
invariably filled his mind during the morning meal.
But the scene suddenly changed, José d'Arousta and the rascally Pedro
appearing in his mind's eye in place of his employer's daughter, and
they were again threatening the hacienda. At the thought, Hal sprang to
his feet, his hands clenched, and a look of excitement spreading over
his handsome face.
"Yes," he cried, "it is good indeed to live; for I have work to do. I
have escaped from the island, but I must return again at the very first
opportunity."
"Why should you? It would be madness!" exclaimed his comrade.
"Why, Gerald? Think of the hacienda, and of José d'Arousta's threat.
That is my reason, for real danger threatens your father and Dora."
"Phew! I hadn't thought of that," Gerald answered, and then suddenly
lapsed into silence, while a queer and sly little smile stole over his
face.
"Oh, it's like that, is it?" he murmured a moment later. "But, I say,
what about falling in with a ship? What do you propose?"
"As there is no food on board, and we are both famishing, I vote we turn
the steam on again, and get as far away from the island as we possibly
can. The chances are that it is blockaded by the American fleet, and, as
Santiago is a most important harbor, some of the vessels are bound to be
down this way. Naturally they would steam up and down within sight of
the coast, running in closer at night. We must keep a bright look-out
for them, and must hope for their appearance soon. I fancy that we are
safe from the Spanish torpedo boats, for they would scarcely dare to run
out so far."
"What's that over there, then?" asked Gerald, suddenly pointing to the
west.
A big black cloud was floating on the horizon, and Hal looked at it long
and earnestly.
"I believe it's the smoke of a fleet," he said at length. "If it is, I
am for chancing the Spaniards, and running down towards that cloud."
Gerald hastily agreed, whereupon Hal dived below again, and having seen
to the lubricating of his engine, opened the throttle-valve. Every
minute as they ran to the west the cloud became more certainly one of
smoke, and within an hour they had made out that six large battleships
were bearing down upon them at an easy pace. Then a breeze got up and
blew the smoke away, the masts and funnels of the on-coming fleet
becoming at once visible, sharply silhouetted against the clear morning
sky.
"They're wagging their signals," said Hal, poking his head up above the
deck, and taking a long look. "No doubt they have spotted us, and will
send at once to find out who we are."
He had scarcely finished speaking, when a long, low hull shot out from
behind one of the bigger ships, and came steaming at a great pace
towards them.
"A torpedo boat," said Hal. "We'll lie to, and wait for her."
Turning off the steam, he mounted to the deck, and sat down by Gerald's
side. A quarter of an hour later the torpedo boat was close at hand,
and, surging up beside the launch, rounded to, and circled completely
about her, setting the tiny vessel dancing to the swell.
"Hooray! She's flying the Stars and Stripes," shouted Gerald, flinging
his cap into the air. "We're safe at last, old boy, and there is a good
square meal in sight."
"Aboard there! Who are you?" came the hail across the water. "Where on
earth do you come from? and what port are you bound for?"
"We're from Santiago. We left there this morning," Hal shouted back,
making a funnel of his hands.
The boat, with its murderous-looking quick-firers, ranged up alongside,
and a sailor flung a rope to them.
"Hang on there, and make her fast," shouted an officer standing on a
diminutive bridge. "We'll tow you home. You're a prize to the navy of
the United States of America."
"Prize indeed!" Hal exclaimed. Then he laughed loudly. "We'll let it
rest like that till we get alongside the flagship," he said to Gerald.
"Then I fancy there will be some fun, and we shall score off our friend
aboard the torpedo boat."
By this time the fleet of warships was only a mile distant, and it took
very little time for the powerful destroyer to reach them with the
launch in tow. Then, once more, the semaphore wagged confusingly.
"Cast off that rope, and smartly with it," shouted the officer who had
hailed Hal before. "Now then, we'll take every one of you aboard to see
the admiral. Prize party, make ready to hop on to her, and just knock
the fight out of any that are playin' games."
He backed his vessel alongside again, and the launch was rapidly lashed
in position, a few fenders being placed between to protect the brittle
plates of the torpedo craft.
"Now, who are you anyway?" asked the officer brusquely, boarding the
launch with a party of sailors. "One of you looks so black that he might
pass for a nigger; and the other,--why,--what's this? It's a boy, a
perfect child, and astoundingly like the lads who are to be found right
over in the States. Say, who, in the name of all that's curious, are
you, youngster?"
"Not your prisoner, at any rate," answered Gerald, with a laugh. "We're
Americans. At least, I am; and my friend is a Britisher."
"Britisher! American! That is hard to believe. And what is all this
about?" He looked at the decks of the launch, and then at the empty
engine-room. "Two lads of our own blood aboard a Spanish craft, and not
another soul with them! It is particularly queer!"
"It is, we admit," Hal answered, with a smile; "but you must understand
that we had no choice, for we were captured in the town of Santiago in
suspicious circumstances, and were thus placed in a cell in Morro
Castle, with the cheerful prospect of being shot as spies early this
morning. We bolted, and as this launch was lying idle beside one of the
wharfs, we just borrowed her, and steamed out to sea. So I fancy that
she really belongs to us."
"Borrowed her! I should fancy that was a piece of amizin' cheek," the
officer laughed. "And you young fellows got through without so much as a
shell whistling loudly in your ears?"
"Not quite. By the merest chance we escaped a mine, which was exploded
behind us; and I fancy you will find a few bullet-holes if you care to
look round," Hal answered coolly. "But there's one thing very wrong.
We're awfully hungry. Have you anything like a meal aboard?"
The officer clapped him on the back. "Come along out of this tub at
once," he said. "It's Spanish, and isn't fit for gentlemen. Grub?
George, sir! but I've something below in my cabin that will fairly make
your mouths water. Leave her there, bo'sun, and signal over to the
skipper that all's well, and that the prisoners are busy putting their
teeth into the best food we've got, for they are simply famishing."