A NAVAL ENGAGEMENT--NEW STYLE.
"Wot! fightin'?" said the sailor man to me
(He was wooden-legged and close on eighty-three).
"Why, bless 'ee, sir, who knows what fightin' are,
When iron pots is classed as men-of-war,
And kittles sail the sea without a spar?
Such wessels were not seen at Trafalgar."
"Old Nelson!" said the sailor man to me
(He was lying like a hatter, I could see).
"I was with him when the Frenchies' line we broke,
With our wooden ships and sailors' hearts of oak,
And the great three-decker's cannon's voice awoke,
Every minute as they thundered thro' the smoke."
"Oh, blow it!" said the sailor man to me
(His language, I admit, was rather free),
"Now you sends a black torpedo, and it seeks
To hit a wessel sideways--then she leaks,
And sinks while every sailor prays and shrieks,
Wot fightin'--why, it's murder! yah! the sneaks."
On leaving Cocom, Jack at once went to Don Miguel and informed him of
the Indian rising. Maraquando thought but little of the affair, as it
was unlikely unarmed savages would dare to attack a force of one
thousand soldiers. Besides, the journey to Janjalla was through a
civilised and cultivated country, and an Indian raid was improbable.
Nevertheless, at Jack's urgent request, he spoke to President Gomez
about the matter, and though his Excellency took the same view as did
Maraquando, yet he sent on messengers to overtake the reinforcements
and inform them of their possible danger.
The next day at three o'clock the vessels were to leave for Janjalla,
but when the hour came it was found that the torpederas were far from
ready. It is true _The Iturbide_ was in a state of efficiency, and
could have left Tlatonac at the appointed time, but the complicated
engines of _The Montezuma_ and _The Zuloaga_ were somewhat out of gear.
Though the engineers worked day and night to get everything in order,
yet it was not until three days had elapsed that the squadron was ready
to start. This delay made Rafael feel very uneasy lest the consorts of
_The Pizarro_ should return south before they could sink her by the
torpedoes. He reckoned out the matter with Jack.
"Dios, mi amigo! Three days have gone since _The Cortes_ and _The
Columbus_ passed Tlatonac with the transports to the north. It is three
hundred miles to Acauhtzin, and those boats steam at the rate of twelve
knots an hour----"
"True," interrupted Jack, significantly; "but the transports do not."
"That is so, Juan. Let us reckon accordingly. Steaming at the rate of
twelve knots, the war-ships would probably reach Acauhtzin in
twenty-five hours. Allowing for the slowness of the transports say
thirty hours. In twenty-four hours they will be able to take in troops,
provisions, horses and guns. That makes fifty-four hours. Steaming
south to Tlatonac thirty hours. Eighty-four hours. To Janjalla from
here it is a hundred miles--say twelve hours. In all ninety-six hours.
Divide by twenty-four, that is exactly four days."
"At that rate, the rebel ships cannot possibly reach Janjalla before
to-morrow midnight. When do we leave here?"
"About three o'clock," said Rafael, glancing at his watch. "The
torpederas can knock out eighteen knots, but the full speed of _The
Iturbide_ is fifteen. We will reckon at that, so by leaving here at
three can reach Janjalla long before midnight."
"Bueno! We shall have a clear twenty-four hours in which to sink _The
Pizarro_."
"Twelve," contradicted Rafael, captiously, "we must attack in the
darkness. The less risk the better."
"I don't see that it makes much difference," retorted Jack, grimly, "if
_The Pizarro_ can fight two torpedo boats and an armed cruiser she
is a mighty clever ship. I look upon _The Pizarro_ as lost."
"So do I, Juan," replied Rafael, with a sad expression flitting across
his face, "she was my ship, you know. I am sorry that it falls to my
lot to sink her."
"Perhaps she will surrender."
"Not while she is commanded by De Galvez. He was my first lieutenant,
and is as obstinate as the devil. Dios! There is noon. We have not much
time in which to make our adieux. Go up and see Dolores, mi amigo, but
return by two o'clock."
Jack gladly took advantage of the permission and had a long interview
with Dolores, who wept bitterly at the idea of parting with him again.
She was already low-spirited, through having comforted Eulalia, and now
that her own lover was going away broke down entirely.
"Promise me you will take the greatest care of yourself, querido."
"My dearest, I will ask Rafael to wrap me in cotton wool. But, indeed,
cara, you need not fear. I will be as safe on board _The Montezuma_ as
in Tlatonac."
"But you will be gone many days."
"A week at the most. If we succeed in sinking _The Pizarro_ we will
steam north to meet the other war-ships, and try our luck with them."
"I will pray for you, Juanito, and I will look after the beetles of Don
Pedro."
Jack burst out laughing at the incongruity of such coupling.
"Has Don Pedro asked you to look after that rubbish!"
"Yes, Juanito! I am to take the very greatest care. They are precious."
"In the doctor's eyes they are more precious than the opal. By the way,
where is Peter?"
"He has said farewell, and departed with my uncle. Would I could come
down to the boat, querido. But I dare not."
"I never knew such particular people as the Tlatonacians," muttered
Jack, somewhat vexed. "Well, angelito, we must say good-bye here."
"Will you take the opal for good fortune, Juan?"
"I? Take the opal? My dear Dolores, I would be frightened out of my
life at carrying such a treasure with me. No! No! You keep the opal
with yourself, and yourself in Tlatonac. Then will the good fortune of
the city be assured. But I will take this ring."
"Turquoise! rubies! pearls!" said Dolores, drawing it off her finger.
"It was my mother's, querido. Now it is yours."
"A thousand thousand thanks, alma de mi alma!" replied Jack, slipping
it on his little finger, "it will remind me ever of you. Rubies for
your lips, pearls for your teeth, and--and----"
"Ah! and what for turquoise?" said Dolores, seeing he was rather
nonplussed, "for my eyes?"
"No, those are black! Well, we will say turquoise for peace. The blue
ray of the opal means peace. And now, good-bye, my dearest--my own
one!"
"Adios, Juanito. My soul! My heart!"
Jack, not trusting himself to speak further, kissed her passionately,
and hastily left the house. Fortunately, he met no one, much to his
gratification, as he was too agitated to say a word. He went to his
house, and put all his necessaries together, then, in company with
Peter, went on board _The Montezuma_.
At three o'clock the forts saluted the squadron, and _The Iturbide_,
followed by the torpederas, stood out to sea. The crowd on the beach
watched the vessels until they were mere specks on the horizon, and
then retreated within the walls, with loudly expressed hopes that they
would return with the rebel ship in tow. The Tlatonacians expected much
more than they were ever likely to obtain.
The three vessels stood out about ten miles from the coast, and steamed
southward at no great speed, as Pedraza did not wish to fetch Janjalla
until darkness had set in. As two warships and the transports had gone
to Acauhtzin, it was probable that _The Pizarro_ would be the only
vessel left in the harbour, and vigilant watch would be kept on board,
lest the torpederas should come on her unawares. The rebel commander
knew perfectly well that the torpederas had arrived, and would soon be
in chase of his ships; but he did not expect that they would be able to
attack while the other war-ships were away. Still, it was probable _The
Pizarro_ would make good use of her search-lights, and Pedraza, wishing
to come to close quarters unexpectedly, had to exercise the greatest
care as they drew near the harbour.
Towards nine o'clock they were off the coast of Janjalla, and intense
excitement prevailed on board all three vessels. The plan of attack
had been settled at a general counsel on board _The Iturbide_ before
they left Tlatonac, and it was arranged as follows. _The Iturbide_
was to steam silently into the harbour of Janjalla, followed by
he torpederas, and come to close quarters with _The Pizarro_, if
possible. Should she be discovered by the search-light of the latter,
she was then to steam boldly ahead, and concentrate the attention of
the rebels on herself. _The Pizarro_, thus being busy with the
cruiser, would not notice the torpederas, which could then steal
silently within five hundred yards, and launch a Whitehead or so. The
result would be obvious.
The torpederas, with twin screws and powerful engines, manoeuvred with
wonderful rapidity, darting here and there in the darkness like black
sharks. Both were armed with Hotchkiss guns and four Whitehead
torpedo-tubes, while their strong search-lights protected them against
the unexpected approach of an enemy. Painted a dark colour to escape
notice, they could steal silently within striking distance of a
vessel, and sink her with one of their deadly explosives. The only
chance of safety for _The Pizarro_ lay in her sighting them at a
considerable distance, and keeping them at bay with her heavy guns;
but as she would be fully taken up with _The Iturbide_, this would be
difficult for her to do. Worst of all, she had no defence against the
rapid darting torpederas, as the nets had been left behind in
Tlatonac, when she deserted to the rebel Xuarez.
As to the cruiser, she was a handsome vessel, with a spar deck, and
filled with bow chasers and Gatling guns. She carried a crew of ninety
men including officers, and also two hundred soldiers, who had embarked
at Tlatonac to be landed, if possible, at Janjalla. Fifteen knots was
her usual speed; but, if necessary, she could stand to seventeen. This
was the fleet of the Junta, and now manoeuvred ten miles from the
town of Janjalla, waiting the signal to pounce down on the unsuspecting
_Pizarro_.
Fortunately the night was cloudy and dark. At intervals the moon,
emerging from behind heavy clouds, cast a pale light over the scene. It
was far down in the west, and would soon drop behind the low-lying
shore, so Pedraza, who wanted complete darkness for his project, waited
until her disappearance before he gave the signal to steam into the
harbour. All lights were extinguished on the vessel, so as to avoid
attracting the attention of the enemy, but, if necessary, the
search-lights could blaze forth in an instant. The torpederas were to
attack the warship, one on the port, the other on the starboard side.
It was now close upon midnight, and as the moon showed but half her orb
above the shore, all waited the signal in breathless silence.
"What is to be done if we sink _The Pizarro_?" asked Jack, as he stood
by Rafael, watching for the signal from _The Iturbide_.
"Quien sabe!" replied Maraquando, shrugging his shoulders, "I expect we
will wait in the harbour till daylight, and then see if we can land our
troops."
"There won't be much chance of that, my Comandante," said Duval, drily;
"between us and Janjalla two thousand rebel troops lie encamped. We
cannot break through that barrier."
"You forget, mi amigo, there are close on a thousand troops of the
Junta in the town. By this time the reinforcements must have reached
their destination, so that will make two thousand. If they attack the
rebels from Janjalla, and we land our two hundred men under cover of
_The Iturbide's_ guns, who knows but what we may not be able to crush
these scoundrels before their warships and transports arrive from
Acauhtzin."
"Bueno! Always presuming that the reinforcements have arrived safely. I
fear the Indians."
"Carambo! Surely a thousand well-armed soldiers are a match for a horde
of naked savages. The reinforcements are safe in Janjalla by now. I am
sure of it. Believe me, Don Juan, we shall exterminate the rebels."
"First we shall have to exterminate _The Pizarro_, and----"
"Hold!" interrupted Rafael joyfully, "the signal."
A rocket shot up from _The Iturbide_ and scattered its fires in the
dark air. The moon had entirely disappeared, and an intense gloom
prevailed over land and sea.
Hardly had the rocket's trail of fire disappeared when _The
Iturbide's_ screw began to spin and followed by the torpederas she
moved cautiously towards the harbour at half speed. At the end of an
hour all three vessels were within sight of the town. Through the
gloom sparkled the lights of Janjalla, and between them and the
incoming vessels lay the huge bulk of _The Pizarro_, the glare of her
search-lights shooting up into the dark like two gigantic swords of
pale flame.
_The Iturbide_ was leading by three hundred yards, and crept
cautiously forward so as to pounce on her prey unawares. Whether the
noise of her screw reached the ears of those on board _The Pizarro_,
or that they marked her coming through the darkness, it is impossible
to say, but just as she steamed within eight hundred yards, the
search-lights swept round like the spokes of a wheel and in a moment
their glare revealed her whereabouts. In the radiance she stood out
like a phantom ship, and seeing that he was discovered, Pedraza
cracking on all steam, swept past _The Pizarro_ in a wide circle.
A heavy fire was at once opened by the rebels and they doubtless
deemed that this foe was not alone, for keeping one light on the
cruiser, they swept the sea with the other in search of her possible
companions. Those on board _The Iturbide_ could hear the yell of
mingled rage and terror, as the light struck the low bulk of _The
Zuloaga_ darting through the water, evil looking and venomous. A
broadside was poured on the torpedera, now left unprotected by _The
Iturbide_ which was circling to the left in the inner part of the bay.
Owing to the dexterity of _The Zuloaga's_ manoeuvring, none of the
heavy guns could hit her. She skimmed the grey waves at full speed
like a swallow, and the search light of _The Pizarro_ was much put to
in following her. It was like a dancer in the theatre followed by the
lime light. One moment the torpedera would be swallowed up in the
gloom, the next moment the darting ray of the electric light would
stab through the darkness and pick her out. The other ray followed
_The Iturbide_, which kept steaming slowly backwards and forwards on
the port side, firing her Armstrongs whenever she got a fair chance.
_The Zuloaga_ sent off a bow torpedo, but it passed harmlessly under
the stern of _The Pizarro_ without doing any damage. Nevertheless, the
crew of the rebel ship seemed much alarmed, as well they might be,
seeing that a single torpedo striking them amidships would sink their
iron ship in a few minutes. Foolishly enough, it never occurred to De
Galevez to sweep the starboard with his lights, and he was quite
unaware that a second torpedo-vessel was stealing up in the darkness.
Indeed, what with following _The Iturbide_ and _The Zuloaga_ with his
search-lights, De Galevez had enough to do, and kept the torpedo boat
at bay with his heavy guns. Occasionally a shot from _The Iturbide_
would pass through the rigging of the rebel ship, but no damage was
done, and De Galevez's great desire was to keep at a distance the
wasp-like torpedo which circled round rapidly, everywhere trying to
plant its sting.
While this drama was taking place on the port side, _The Montezuma_,
on seeing _The Iturbide_ was discovered, moved up on the starboard at
a distance of four hundred yards. When abreast of _The Pizarro_ she
slowed down her engines and crept up within pistol range. Had it not
been for the incessant firing of the guns, those on board _The
Pizarro_ would surely have become aware of their danger. As it was,
they thought themselves safe while they kept _The Zuloaga_ at a
distance. A tremendous broadside was directed at that torpedera and at
_The Iturbide_. It was her last discharge, for the next moment she was
struck amidships by a torpedo from _The Montezuma_.
There was a cry of frenzied fear, and the search lights flashed round
to starboard only to see _The Montezuma_ slipping back into the gloom.
Three minutes afterwards _The Pizarro_ sank.
The vessels of the Junta at once flashed their electric rays on the
spot, and where a moment before had been a magnificent vessel, now saw
nothing but a wide expanse of cold black sea dotted with drowning men.
Boats were lowered by _The Iturbide_ and a few soldiers and sailors
were rescued, but so suddenly had _The Pizarro_ gone down that, with
the exception of half a dozen survivors, the whole crew, officers, and
soldiers, in all three hundred men, were drowned.
It would be impossible to describe the joy on board the loyalist ships
at this successful termination of the contest. Rafael and Jack went on
board _The Iturbide_ to receive the congratulations of Pedraza for
their success, and the officers of _The Zuloaga_ also hastened to
participate in the general joy. The large state-room of the cruiser
was one mass of excited men, drinking champagne, and wildly embracing
one another. This victory would surely damp the enthusiasm of the
rebels, and raise that of the loyalists to fever pitch. Don Hypolito
had now but two ships of war, and these could not surely stand before
the valour of _The Iturbide_, with her two torpedo-vessels. The
_vivas_ were deafening, and Rafael, as commander of the boat which had
sunk _The Pizarro_, was nearly stifled by the embraces of his brother
officers.
As soon as the excitement had somewhat subsided, all went on deck, and
_The Iturbide_ stood in to the shore with the idea of seeing how
matters stood in the rebel camp. Flying the Opal flag, lest the forts
should open fire on one of their own vessels, the cruiser turned her
lights on to the beach, and saw that it was lined with the rebel
forces, all under arms. The noise of the firing and the flashing of the
lights had attracted the attention of those on shore, and fearing that
an attack was contemplated by the enemy, those rebels encamped in front
of Janjalla were now on the alert. No one could understand the reason
of this sea-fight, as it seemed quite impossible that the torpederas
could have arrived from Tlatonac in so short a period. The general in
command of the troops of Xuarez did not know what to think, and had to
wait till dawn before he could make up his mind what course to pursue.
As the lights of _The Iturbide_ struck the distant town, a long
line of walls, surmounted by a crowd, leaped out of the darkness. The
search-lights from the forts were flashed on to the ships, and those in
Janjalla recognising the Opal flag, cheered vociferously. They saw
three boats, each flying the ensign of Tlatonac, and no _Pizarro_.
Then they guessed what had occurred, and were glad accordingly. The
rebel soldiers on the beach stamped and swore with rage as they saw
their loss, but being without boats could do nothing save parade under
arms till dawn, so as to be prepared against a possible attack by the
victorious loyalists.
"Bueno!" cried Captain Pedraza, who had his night glass up. "There is
one good thing, mis amigos, the Opal flag still flies over the town, so
as yet it holds out."
"What is next to be done, Comandante?" asked Jack, who was standing
near with Rafael.
"We must wait till dawn, Señor Americano, and then find out if the
reinforcements have arrived at Janjalla. Afterwards we will steam back
to Tlatonac, and if possible meet the _Cortes_ and _Columbus_ coming
back. In any event, we must go to Tlatonac to report this victory to
the Junta."
"Shall you land these two hundred troops?"
"Caranto! Why not?"
"Because the camp of the enemy lies between the town and ourselves. Two
hundred men cannot do much against two thousand."
"True, Señor. If it is impossible, we will not attempt it. But at dawn,
I will signal to General Gigedo to make a sally from the gates down to
the shore; our men will land, and effect a conjunction, and so with
small loss they ought to get into the town. Especially under cover of
our guns, and those of the forts."
"I don't see what use that will be, Pedraza," interrupted Rafael,
bluntly.
"Caro, Señor! His Excellency ordered this to be done, so it must be
done."
"Rather a useless task, I think," said Jack, dryly. "However, I am not
sorry, as I wish to get into the town myself. But you, Señor
Comandante, what will you do?"
"Wait till these troops are safe with Gigedo, and also ascertain if the
reinforcements have arrived. Then I shall sail north."
"You won't wait for the warships and transports?"
"Carajo! what use? We shall find those on our way to Tlatonac."
After this conversation, Rafael and Jack returned on board _The
Montezuma_, the former slightly gloomy in spite of the victory so
unexpectedly achieved.
"Caro, Juan!" he said, reflectively; "if we lose this war, it will be
through Don Francisco Gomez. He is a good politician, but a bad
general. What use is there to sacrifice two hundred men to-morrow?"
"It's rather like the Charge of the Light Brigade, certainly," replied
Jack, with a smile; "as foolhardy and as brave."
"What is that, mi amigo?"
Whereupon Jack related the glorious charge to Rafael, and thereby
stirred up the excitable Spaniard to fiery enthusiasm.
"Oh, what men are the English," he cried, stamping his foot. "It is a
story worthy of the Cid. But this to-morrow, my friend--it is rare! it
is brave! and, like your story, there is no good to be gained."
"Perhaps Gomez wants to frighten the rebels by showing them how
dauntless are his men."
"Dios! That is not wise. The sinking of _The Pizarro_ will frighten
them without risking two hundred lives. However, as it is ordered, it
must be done. But you, Don Juan! Will you go?"
"Assuredly, mi amigo. I wish to see the Señor Correspondent and
Felipe."
"But you will be killed."
"That is as it may be. But no, Rafael. I did not escape the perils of
Totatzine to fall in a skirmish before the walls of Janjalla. But see,
mi amigo, it is nearly dawn, let us snatch a few hours' sleep."
"Bueno!" replied Rafael, leading the way to his cabin; "but first we
must call our friends together, and toast our victory once more."
It was done accordingly.