Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 407 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

ew nt re oe a te oe ree oe eee ——-- and then search the island to see if some poor devil has eee that they may catch*him and ‘‘Or garrote him, Isodor; but I believe you are right, for she is running up into the wind as though to lay to,” answered Leon De Soto! ‘‘ Ay, and there goes her anchor, so we are not yet to be left alone; but we must not be driven away from the island in this rough sea, as we could hardly make the the mainland loaded as our boats are, so we will have to land and fortify ourselves against an attack.” ‘‘T know a good place, Senor Master, and it is on the other side, where the brig cannot come near enough to harm us with her guns, and we will be able to keep the small boats off, or an at- tacking party on foot,” said Bueno. ‘‘' The very thing, and there we will go, carry- ing our boats with us, to use, should we have to leave by night, when the sea runs down so that we dare make the attempt.” ‘‘ And we can make a good fight, Isodor, thanks to your foresight in arming us all with two rifles each, and revolvers in plenty, while as we are provisioned for a week, we can stand it; but how about the water?” ‘We have plenty for two days.” ‘‘ And there’s a spring where we will camp, Senor Master,” added Bueno. ‘‘Good! then let the Spaniards come, and if we do not make them regret invading American territory to capture Cubans, I am mistaken,” Isodor said. ‘* We dare not appeal to the United States, as there is not an pater pe among us, and it would be said Spain was but following up her rebellious subjects; and I do not think with the land as a background, that the Spaniards have sighted us.” ‘‘ No, they have not seen us, Senor Leon, or they would have fired upon us,” and as Isodor “a < the skiff went ashore upon a bit of sandy ac The other boats quickly followed, and Isodor explaining what was to be done, the men set to work to raise the boats upon their shoulders and carry them to the camping-place. Bueno still acted as guide and led the way up through the center of the island to the shore to- ward the mainland. Here, upon a rather high and precipitous , was a clump of trees, and hidden com- pletely by their foliage a small cabin, which seemed to have been deserted for years, ‘That was my home, Senor Master, you re- member,” said Bueno, gazing upon the little cabin as upon an old friend. “Yes, Bueno, and it is the very spot we wish. ‘‘ Now, senor, we can go to work and throw us upa little breastwork ere, of which the logs of this cabin can be a foundation, and our boats must be guarded well with earth, to escape the bullets, should we be attacked,” said Isodor, “You think it is necessary, Senor Isodor?” asked the general. ‘‘T hope not, Senor General; but you saw that the brig came to an anchor, and she doubtless means to remain to let her commander see if this island is inhabited, in the morning, and it is best to prepare.” ‘*True, and you have proven such a com- mander on the sea, Senor Isodor, that I readily yield to your opinion on shore, so get to work men, and we'll build a little fort,” and the genera threw aside his coat and set the example man- fully. Thus several hours passed away, and then all sunk down to rest to await the coming of the morrow to see what it would bring forth for them. The hours of the night passed away, all sleep- ing soundly except Isodor, and to his eyes slum- ber would not come. There were scenes he had witnessed, and which the reader wili soon know, during the past few days which had made him suffer with all the in- tensity of his nature, and register a vow in Heaven that he meant should be fulfilled to the letter some day. To and fro he paced outside of the little ove of timber, where slept his commander, is heart full of bitter memories. Thus the hours of the night dragged along, until at last the glimmer of dawn came in the east. Soon after the skies grew rosy, and Isodor saw that the sea had run down, the wind had sunk to a balmy breeze, and he knew that the Spaniards were going to have placid water to enable them to land upon the island. Landward, from the little fort, was an open field, across which their foes would have to come, exposed to a hot fire. ~ ee ett, iat ae yt ne The Boy Insurgent. If they came by boat, they would also be ex- osed to a fire while approaching the shore, anding, and trying to scale the high bank to carry the fort by storm, and the brig could not get into a position. to harm them with her heavy s, so that Isodor congratulated himself upon heir strong position. ‘* Tf the sea holds calm to-night, we can depart for the mainland, for I do not think that the Spaniards will imagine that we have boats with us, stores or arms, and will think we were ship- wrecked and saved ourselves by swimming ashore. ‘* How they will be deceived, and, if they do not think we have boats, and Sopeagneny do not keep a close watch upon us, we will surprise them, that is certain, when darkness comes again.” So saying, Isodor went to a position from whence he could see the brig. She lay quietly at anchor; but upon her decks there was considerable stir, and, while he looked he saw two boats lowered into the water. ‘‘They have had an early breakfast, and in- tend to make a landing, that is certain. ‘¢ Now to arouse my comrades,” and Isodor re- turned to the little fort, and found his com- panions still sleeping, for they were utterly tired out, The sun was now up, and he called to them to awake, ‘‘Comrades, the Spaniards are coming to breakfast with us, so arise and give them the welcome such distinguished guests deserve,” he called out, and in an instant every Man was upon his feet ready for the fray. CHAPTER V. THE ATTACK. AFTER a hasty breakfast the Cubans set to work to look after their arms, while Bueno and Isodor started off to spy out the movements of the Spaniards. Arriving at an embankment that gave them an opportunity of overlooking the sea and shore, Isodor and Bueno beheld the Spanish brig lying at anchor as near in-shore as she dared come. In her rigging were two lookouts with glasses, watching the island closely, and leaving the ves- sel was a boat containing some twenty men. On the way to the island, feeling its way with the greatest caution, was another boat contain- ing four oarsmen, a helmsman, a lookout in the bows, and an officer standing up in the : tern. a They are in the right channel, Sencr i-as- ter,” said Bueno. ‘‘ Well, let them come, for I shall not regret it,” responded the youth. It was a long and tedious hunt to find the way to the island among the sunken reefs; but as last the boat oar upon the sandy beach, just where the Cubans had landed, and soon after the other one followed. Here the Spaniards were seen to be examining the tracks in the sand, and Isodor remarked: ‘‘They will find no marks of a boat having landed, as we took ours out of the water on our shoulders, so they will not think we have any.” “They'll get fooled, senor,” returned Bueno. Then he added: ‘‘ Here they come!” The Spaniards now began to disperse about the island, one squad gong along the beach in one direction, a second in another, and a third penetrating at once to the interior, There were in all thirty men, as Bueno count- ed them and so stated. ‘‘ And we are thirty-three, Bueno; but it is time for us to be off,” and the two hastened back to the little fort, which, by daylight looked uite formidable. The cabin had been put into use as a breast- work, and dirt thrown over it, for Isodor had taken the precaution to put several spades, shov- els and axes in the boats, and they had come in most handy. ’ The boats had been set into the ditches, out of which the dirt had been thrown and thus pro-~ tected from bullets. The thicket was not more than a fifth of an acre in size, with half a hundred large trees scattered through it, and underbrush about the edges, which completely concealed the interior, spring of crystal water was there, and the spot was certainly a stronghold in itself. The general and Isodor placed the men in three squads, one under the Cuban leader, an- other under the youth, and the third having as its captain Leon De Soto, the staff officers be- ing set apart to carry orders from one to the other Isodor had with him his negro crew and half a dozen Cubans, and all were armed with two en ————————————— el ———————, rifles, so that a second volley cculc be quickly fired. It was not very long bcfore a Spanish eficer came into view, coming over a rise in the center of the island. He was yet a long distance off, but Isodor grimly smiled as he said: , ‘‘That man is my game, and shall be Number One on my Vendetta list.” The Spaniard stood looking at the little copse of woods for an instant, and then called to his followers who came running toward him. Then all stood watching for an instant, and after looking to their arms began to advance to- ward the timber. Quickly then did Isodor walk out of the thicket into full view, and gave a loud hail. Instantly half a dozen guns were thrown for- ward and fired at random, but, though the dirt was knocked up about his feet, the youth was unhurt and throwing the rifle to his shoulder he drew trigger. With the report the Spanish officer cropped to the earth, and his comrades turned and fled to the shelter of the hill. ‘‘That is Number One, Bueno, coolly said Isodor, as he returned to his place in the thicket, while cheers greeted him from the other two bands of Cubans. The Spanish officer still lay where he had fall- en, and his followers were heard calling for help, while there was one man seen upon a ,high point signaling to the brig. A heavy gun was then fired from the brig, and answering shouts came from the two shore par- ties. Again going out on a reconnoissance with Bueno, Isodor saw two other boats leaving the side of the brig, both crowded with men, and upon the beach where the others had landed were congregated the Spaniards in full force, all having been drawn back to the spot by the shoot- ing and the signals. resently half a dozen men ascended the hill and made a dash for the fallen officer. ‘*-You killed him, Senor Master,” said Bueno, rs he saw them bear him off, none of the Cubans ring. ‘Yes, Bueno, I shot to kill,” was the quiet re- sponse. Having secured the body of the officer more signaling was done, and the gig left the El oro with a dozen men in it. They have not left half a score men on board, Bueno, Ido not believe? 4 No, senor, they mean to take us if they can, ‘* Yes, if they can; but come, we must return to the fort,” and leaving their point of observa- tion the youth and negro coolly started across the opening to rejoin their comrades, The Spaniards caught sight of them, and at once ran upon the hill and opened fire, But they were too far off for their bullets to reach them, and neither of the two quickened their pace. After regaining the thicket Isodor went to the general and Leon De Soto, and told them just what he had seen. ‘* How many in all?” asked the general. ‘*Bueno counted thirty in the first party, twenty-nine in the second, and the gig is now coming ashore with thirteen more.” ‘* Seventy-two in all,” said De Soto, ‘‘ One less, Senor Leon, which I have charged: to my revenge account,” quietly said Isodor. ‘‘ Ah, yes, that was a crack shot you made, Senor Isodor,” said the general, and without reply the youth returned to his little squad. Half an hour of suspense followed, and then suddenly, from five different directions came as many squads of Spaniards, charging with cheers toward the timber. At the same time along the beach appeared. another ani Each squad had about twelve men in it, and they came at a rapid run. ‘Hire !” shouted Isodor, and his men obeyed, and a moment after the command of Leon De Soto followed suit, while the general’s party opened in quick succession. _ ‘‘Now take your other rifles and let that second party have it!” cried Isodor, and his tactics were closely followed by DeSoto and the general, The Spaniards were taken wholly by surprise at meeting such a fearful rebuff, where they had expected to find hardly more than a dozen men, for they did not think half of those on board the yacht could have escaped the fearful wreck, for the Cloud’s debris lay in hundreds of pieces along the shore. In a panic they fled from the fire of the Cu- bans, leaving another officer and half a score of micbooks (E(0) ee \ aa. | \