Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 407 — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

—— 12 SSS aaa LLL In the hold of the sloop lay the body of Don Christobal, and Isodor left it to Juan to see that _a grave was dug by the side of the last resting- pe of his mother, while he rode over to the 10me of a worthy priest, and asked his services in burying his father, which were at once offered. The next day, borne by his devoted slaves, and followed by his two children, the young yachtsman and servants of the cottage, and pre- ceded by the priest, the body of Don Christ spall, the Insurgent chief, was taken to the little cemetery where lay his wife. Others saw the little cortege and wondered, but no word was said in explanation, by those who could tell the sad story, in all its strange and bitter happenings, and thus Don Christobal was consigned to the grave with no pomp, and only with the sacred service for the dead read by the worthy priest, who had also buried the Senora Christobal, and taken a strong Lildihe to the beautiful girl and her brave young brother, who were exiles from the land of their birth, After a visit of a week at. ‘‘ Cuba Cottage,” as Isodor had named the little place, Captain Crit- tenden determined to run over to New Orleans in the Red Belt, as he knew that the young Cu- ban had received important letters from the Junta, which called him there, and had returned the sloop to her owners. So the Red Belt set sail one afternoon, with Tsodor as the guest of Captain Crittenden, Ned Newton having hud to return to his home in Tennessee. The run to New Orleans was without adven- ture, and after a rapid cruise the Red Belt dropped anchor before the Crescent City, and within a cable’s length of a brig-of-war, which Isodor regarded very attentively for awhile and then said; “That vessel, Captain Crittenden, is the Spanish brig-of-war E] Moro.” ‘‘TIndeed! then we will.doubtless have a chance to meet some of her efficers, and the lieutenant I prevented from taking your sloop, 1 certainly would like to see again, and dis- cover what his commander thought of his failure to bring you back,” and Duke Critten- den regarded the handsome vessel with con- sural interest, and then, springing into a boat with Isodor, was rowed ashore, when they took a hack to the St. Charles Hotel, for they intended making their head-quarters there while they were in the city. Havas enjoyed dinner together, Isodor sought ‘the head-quarters of the Cuban Junta. He knew their quarters well, having been ‘there several times before. The mansion where the Cubans’ secret meet- ‘ings were held was a large, rambling old build- ing in the French part of the city. t occuyied, with the grounds, an entire ‘square, & high wall encircling the yard, and the mansion, a three-storied structure, standing in the center. There was a frontand a rear entrance, through iron gates under a brick arch, and at each was a porter kept, whose language indicated that yi were French. he old house looked almost like a fort, for it had turrets, was strongly built, had narrow windows and few doors. An iron grating was over each window, and the doors were massive and studded upon the outside with nails. The place belonged to an eccentric old French- man, it was said, who was wont to receive his friends at any time, and always treated them well. It was to this place that Isodor wended his way, and upon addressing the gate-keeper in French, he was answered in that language. ‘Ts this the home of Monsieur Le Don?” he asked. ‘Yes, monsieur,” responded the old gateman. ‘“T would see him.” ‘‘-Your business, please, monsieur?” ‘* Cuba libre,” answered Isodor in a low tone, in Spanish. ‘Ah, senor, you are welcome!” And had any one who believed the gate- keeper a Frenchman heard his Spanish, they ‘would have vowed that it was his native tongue. Opening the iron gate, which he kept locked, the man bade the youth enter, and directed him to a side door of the mansion, at the same time pulling a bell-cord in his little lodge. The quick ear of Isodor detected a distant ring, and he went as directed, the door opening as he reached it. “ Ouba libre,” said a man standing there. ‘‘ Byer faithful,” responded Isodor. ‘« Espanola,” the man said, - Oe rt eae rs . “et ge — f* The Boy Insurgent. ‘« Cubana,” was the youth’s reply. Seemingly satisfied, the man said: ‘‘ Whom would you see, senor?” ‘The Junta.” ‘Walk to yonder stairway on the right of the corridor, ascend one flight, and knock thrice on the door on your left.” Isodor obeyed his instructions, which were not new to him, having been there, as-I have said, upon several former occasions, and in an- swer to his knock, the door was opened by the general whom he had taken to Cuba in the Cloud, and had been wrecked with him on the island. ‘‘My dear Senor Christobal, Iam delighted to see you. ‘*Come in, for we have been expecting you, and let me make you acquainted with those gentlemen of the Junta whom you do not know,” and the general ushered the youth into an inner room where sat half a score of dark- faced, serious-looking men, all of whom arose as the general said: ‘¢Senors, this is my young friend, Senor Iso- dor Christobal, the son of our lamented com- rade, Don Christobal, and though a youth in years, you are well aware of his gallant deeds,” and as the Cubans one and all grasped his hands, the general continued: ‘“Why, my brave young captain, not half an hour ago we were reading in the Havana pa- ers, of your daring deed in taking your father’s ody away from Cuba, and how you were chas- ed to sea, but escaped.” ‘‘Do the papers say how I escaped, Senor General?” asked Isodor. ‘‘No, only that you were not taken, and es- caped with your father’s body, after having killed an officer and several men who pursued you. ‘‘ But they do say that the ban of. outlawry is upon you, and the sentence of death has been passed upon you as the Boy Insurgent.” ‘‘T am glad that they appreciate me so high- ly,” said Isodor, with a sneer. ‘‘ Well, Senor Isodor, I asked the Junta to write to you, to the address you gave me, that we might see if we could not enlist you in the expedition now forming.” ‘Lam at the service of my country, senors,” was the modest reply. ‘‘T know that; but what was your manner of escape from the Spaniards, as your remarks just now lead me to believe that you have some- thing of importance to tell?” ‘‘T have, in that my escape was through the courage of one whose services I beg to offer to you to-night, and no braver, nobler’ man ever drew sword in defense of any land,” and Isodor told of his gallant rescue by Captain Duke Crit- tenden, his words being received with applause and with great enthusiasm, when he added: ‘And now, senors, Captain Crittenden is with me in this city, and offers his sword, his yacht, and ten thousand dollars to the cause of Cuba!” ‘‘Bravo for the noble American!” arose the ery upon all sides, and after a short conversa- tion it was agreed that Isodor should bring Captain Crittenden to the council the following afternoon and present him to the Junta and to General Lopez, who was expected in the city the next morning. CHAPTER XVIII. FACE TO FACE. Upon his return to the hotel, Isodor entered the supper-room, not finding Captain Critten- den, as he had hoped to, and was quietly eating his repast, when he spied his friend at a distant table, along with a party of ladies and gentle- men. Captain Crittenden’s back was toward Isodor, so that he did not see the youth, who would not et him with his friends, as he did not know them. A moment after three Spanish officers entered in full uniform, and they were shown to the same table with Isodor, being, seated imme- diately opposite. | To his regret Isodor recognized Lieutenant De Garmo, of the El Moro, and his companions were also officers of the Spanish brig-of-war. Could he have retreated unseen, he would have done so, but he had not finished his supper, and he was too proud to depart, after he thought he was recognized, De Garmo had taken his seat before he saw who it was that faced him, and he started visi- bly, while he uttered something very like a Spanish oath. Isodor calmly went on with his supper, while the Spanish lieutenant turned to his companions Fie OETA ONE TERE i oo, and said something in a quick, low tone, which caused them to at once regard the youth. “Boy, we meet again,” said De Garmo fiercely. “T regret to say that we do, Senor Lieu- tenant,” was the calm response. ‘‘T came very nearly being caused trouble, through my magnanimity in allowing you to go free,” hissed the Spaniard. ‘‘Say rather through your fear, for you know not the meaning of the word magnanimous,” was the cutting reply. ‘‘Ha! you cast insults in my face,” and the Spaniard grew white with rage. ‘‘T did not open the conversation, senor.”’ ‘*T will make a cjaim upon the United States Government for you, boy.” Isodor laughed lightly, and the Spaniard said again: ‘Were you a man I could force you to face me at sword’s length, for your word, and the wrong you have done Spain.” ‘‘Dare you ask me to do so, Senor Spaniard, you will find me at your service.” ‘* Bah! you are but a boy.” ri yet hold the belief that I can do a man’s work,” was the taunting rejoinder. ‘‘Senores, should I allow a boy to insult me?” and De Garmo turned to his companions, both of whom looked unutterable things at Isodor, while one responded: ‘He is a Cuban, and has done that for which you should punish him, lieutenant; as Spain cannot reach him.” a Neptune, you are right, Cardena, and I will. Then he turned to the youth and said: ‘* Boy, I consider that you desire to taunt me into challenging you.” ‘* No, Senor De Garmo, I would have remain- ed quiet, but for your attack upon me, and I seek no affair with you here in a strange land; but the time may come when we meet face to face upon equal ground, and then I will not be the one to cry fcr mercy toa pr oe ‘‘ Worse and worse! but as 1 do not wish to challenge a boy, I'll force him to challenge me,” and with this Lieutenant De Garmo raised a elass of wine, which a waiter had just poured out for him, and attempted to throw it into Iso- dor’s face, But, quick as a flash the boy struck up his hand, and the contents went over the uniform of the Spaniard. ‘‘ Pll take the insult if so you wish it, senor, without being forced to it,” said Isodor quickly, and he was rising from the table, when a clear voice rung out: ‘‘Ha, Isodor, you did that well, while you, Senor Spaniard, are a coward to force a boy into a quarrel with you, that you may assassi- nate him. ‘* Take that, sir!” It was Duke Crittenden who spoke, and, as he uttered the words he struck the Spaniard light- ly in the face with his glove. He had risen, with bis friends, from the table, and they were leaving the supper-room when his eyes fell upon Isodor and the company he was in. Also the words of the youth and the Spaniard reached his ears, and bowing an apology to his friends, he had stepped quickly to the side of the Spanish officer with the above result. The friends of Crittenden, a couple of wait- ers, the Spaniards and Isodor were all that were in the supper-room, and the bold act of the dashing young officer fairly dazed the lookers- on ‘Ha! itis you, Sir American?” cried De Gar- mo, springing to his feet. — . ‘‘Tt is I, senor, Duke Crittenden by name, and wholly at your service,” was the cool re- joinder. ‘‘ Senores, this is the man who protected this Boy Insurgent, when I overhauled him, as you know, upon the high seas, and now he again befriends him,” and De Garmo turned with this explanation to his friends, who had also arisen. ‘Permit me to offer the explanations,” and Crittenden turned to his party, ‘that you may understand my seeming rudeness. “This young gentleman is the Senor Isodor Christobal, of whom I told you to-night, and unable to capture and garrote him as a Boy In- surgent, this coward Spaniard seeks to entrap him into a quarrel, that, as I verily believe, he might arrest him, carry him on board his vessel ser in port, and take him to Cuba to murder im. ‘Do you dare accuse a Spanish officer of such underhand work?” cried one of the officers who accompanied De Garmo. ‘‘My dear senor, Il am open to all engage- « a « te» : ww EF Py * y - reste oe* ce , | —— 7 - Pp | | Li y