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!