Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 407 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

eqs eso Oe ——-S—. > - * er “They are coming up the road, and will soon run upon those Spaniards,” said Isodor. ish we had left the live one in the middle of the road to be run over,” muttered Bueno. ** Well, we have a fair siar t, and we will have to beat them off if they do overtake us,” and Isodor sprung to the barrow to relieve one of the negroes, and urged them on at a still faster ace, 4 Loud voices in the distance reached their ears, and told them that the party had reached the ‘spot where lay the dead and the bound Spaniard. Then came a ringing alarm on a bugle, shouts and angry voices, and as the fugitives ran down into a vale they heard no more of the sounds be- hind them. Thus the retreat was kept up, the dead body of the Insurgent Don growing heavier and heavier to the tried fugitives. But, panting, str uggling, they kept on their way, and at last the walls of the ruined villa came in sight. ‘‘Five minutes more, boys, and we reach our boat,” cried Isodor, and the men str uggled on. But, as the waters of the bay caught their eyes, the sound of hoofs was heard, and into sight dashed a party of horseznen. *«'There are a dozen of them. ‘My rifle, Bueno, and you press on, get the body in the boat, and all ready for me to run, after I fire, and jump on hoard: ” and Isodor spoke with the utmost calmness. “The boys can do that, Senor Master, and two rifles are better than one,” and the faithful Bueno took from the bar row, where they had been carried, his own and his master’s rifles, while the crew pressed on down toward the beach. ‘‘ Now, Bueno, it will be sweet revenge to kill a Spaniard on my own grounds, in sight of my ruined home, and while defending the dead bod of my murdered father. ire!” and with the last word the two rifles flashed, the Spaniards not being much over a hundred yards distant, and coming at a gallop down toward the shore, for they had caught sight of the fugitives. Witt: the crack of the rifles a Spaniard drop- »ed from his saddle, and a horse went down with is rider, momentarily checking the advance of the tr oopers. ‘Run for your life, Bueno!” cried Isodor;and the two bounded away like deers. CHAPTER XIII, THE DOUBLE CHASE. THE well-aimed shots of Isodor Christobal and Bueno, had the effect of checking the advance of the Spanish troop. The fire had »een delivered from behind a fancy mound, upon which grew ornamental trees, and its Shelter enabled the youth and the negro to fly at full speed without being seen. Arriving at the shore, they found that the coffin was already in the boat, the men at their oars and all ready to row awa ‘‘Give them another shot, weno, ” cried Iso- dor, and as the Spaniards were again advancing they once more received a check. ey < were cavalry, so had only their revolvers, and fired them in response, the bullets falling short, however. Springing into the boat, while Bueno took the helm, Isodor reloaded the ‘rifles. The oarsmen dashed their blades into the water, and the large yaw] moved slowly off, for it was a cumbersome affair. The Spaniards now dashed down to the water’s edge and opened with their pistols, which fire Isodor returned with cool and steady aim. ‘They have a craft near, so ride with all to where the El Moro’ lies at anchor and eae her in chase.” Such was the loud command of the Spanish officer, and it reached the ears of the fugitives. fsodor knew that the little seaport two leagues up the coast, was @ favorite anchorage for Spanish cruisers, and he did not doubt but that his old enemy, the El Moro was then there, so he said quickly : ‘Pull hard, boys, for we must get away be- fore the fleet El Moro is after us, and it will not be two hours before she is.’ The black crew bent to their oars with terrible energy, and the large yaw! went rapidly along. It was a long row to the lagoon, where the vacht had been left; but it was reached at last, and the coffin was lifted aboard; a hole was knocked in the boat, to sink her, as they had a small skiff at the stern davits, and dared not take time to drag the yaw] upon the deck. The wind was not very strong, and it seemed The Boy Insurgent. i ee ee —_—— as though they made but little headway: but Isodor congratulated himself upon the fact that ee Spanish brig had no better breeze than he di At last theisland was left a league astern, and the crew of the yacht breathed more fr eely. While Bueno had the tiller, Isodor ordered the men to put the coffin containing his father’s body in the hold. A box had been prepared for it there, and it was soon tightly closed, the hatch let down, and then the youth told the men to get what. rest they could, and the tired fellows threw them- selves down to sleep upon the deck, Walking aft, Isodor offered to relieve Bueno at the tiller, but the faithful negro said he was not in the least a ired, and added: ‘* Better keep your glass up toward the port, Senor Master the El Moro must be coming by this time. ” ‘“Tf she is, we can do no more than we have, Bueno, as we have all sail set that will draw.” “The wind will come up heavier, senor, with the sunrise,” ‘T hope so, for, if we get out of the neighbor- hood of Cuba we can raise the American flag, as this is a United States pleasure craft, and even the Spaniards will not dare touch us ‘upon the high seas.’ Bueno shook his head dubiously. ‘You think that they will?” ‘* Tf we are dead, Senor Master, and this yacht is sunk, who can tell what has become of us?” “True, and Spaniards will do anything. Ha! I see the br ig!” and Isodor seized his rs and leveled it upon the object that had caught his eye. The white sail of a vessel was just discernible against the dark background of the island, and turning his glass upon it, he said: ‘It is a goleta rig, not the El Moro; but she is crowded with sail and is heading after us.” ‘Guess the El Moro was not in port, senor. ‘*So I think, and they have sent a cutter in chase, or cotten some craft to come.” “T ain’t so afraid if it is not the El Moro, as the sloop is pretty fast, senor.’ ‘*' Yes, and will hold her own pretty well in light weather : but we have a full league or more the start, and it will be a long chase, “fT hope.” Anxiously the two now watched the coming vessel, while the sloop held on her way at a four- knot rate, with all sail set As the eastern slcies gr ew gray with approach- ing dawn, the wind increased in strength, but coming from astern, the str anger got it ‘first and came bowling merrily along in chase. The sloop careened gracefully to the breeze, the waters rippled under her bow and left a feathery wake, so that the chase became more exciting, ‘Sail ho!” suddenly cried Isodor, who had been glaring about the sea in the’ uncertain for light. “THs a schooner, senor, and so trim she looks to be one of those pr etty American yachts,” said Bueno, as the light grew brighter, and en- ated them ‘to see the strange sail distinc tly. ‘*t wish we had discover ed her sooner, so that we could have run for her; but, as it i is, she is now. in a position that puts the Spaniard be- tween us. ‘*T will hoist the American flag though,” and Isodor ran up to the peak the stars and ‘stri ipes. It was now full daylight, and the black crew had arisen from their nap, and were gazing with interest upon the scene. Seeing dirt-marks upon the deck, they set. to work to clean up and put the sloop i in perfect trim, while the negro cook calmly pr epared breakfast, as his own appetite had told him that it would be most acceptable to all, The craft in chase was DOW seen to be a Cuban pleasure vessel, doubtless belonging tou some Ww enlthy planter. She was about sixty tons burden, graceful as a swan, carried a large spread of| canvas, and was running along at a pace that thr eatened to overhaul the sloop by noon. Turning his glass upon her the youth saw that her decks were crowded, and a closer in- spection proved to him that she was manned with Spanish sailors. ‘*‘ Bueno!” ‘* Senor Master?” “The crew of that craft were taken from some Spanish vessel-of-war, perhaps the El Moro, that could not come in pursuit of us.” “Ves, senor. ‘There are some thirty on board, as well as I am able to count them, and if I mistake not I recognize the tall form of Lieutenant De Garmo of the El Moro.” ‘‘Tt may be that the El Moro was in port, un- ey 9 dergoing repairs, Senor Master,so threw some of her crew on board the goleta.” ‘* That is doubtless the case, and De Garmo is as cruel a wretch as is in the Spanish Service 5 but see, the American is brightening up,’ ‘and Isodor pointed to the other vessel, whic ‘h was now spreading sail, as it had been cr uising slowly along under jib and mainsail only, it was certainly a yacht, from her build, for she was as clean-cut in rig and hull as a New York pilot-boat, and carried a large spread of Canvas, Some seventy tons in size, she was painted white, and a narrow red belt around her hull from cut-water to rudder port. ‘I see an officer upon her deck, evidently ey- ing us closely, so ll see what effect a signal of distress will ‘have, for the goleta will overhaul us, Bueno,” ‘Certain, master.” Seizing the halyards Isidor drew down the flag, reversed it, Union down, and ran itup toa half-mast. The effect was aJmost electrical upon the stranger, for ay to his peak went the stars and stripes, a small cannon pealed forth a reply the bows dp, around, and sail was crow ded on rapidly as the yacht came on in pursuit. A wild cheer of delight burst from Isidor’s lips, and was echoed by his crew, at the sight of this determination of the American to see what meant the American flag in distress on board the sloop. The gun from the American vessel seemed also to startle those on the goleta, for all eyes were turned upon her, and it was evident that they saw the sloop had some one to protect her. But the hate held swiftly upon her way, and the wind having increased to a steady seven- knot blow, the three vessels went along at a lively pace, forming a pretty picture, but an ex- citing one. he goleta gains on us rapidly, Bueno,” said Isidor. ‘* Yes, master, but the American gains more rapidly upon the § yaniard,” replied Bueno, See, the goleta has a small gun forward and is going to Spee fire upon us,” and, as Isidor eo a puff of smoke burst from the Lows of the Spaniard, and a shot came flying along toward the sloop. CHAPTER XIV. AN AMERICAN YACHTSMAN, THE chase, now resolved into a double chase, was growing more and more exciting to all on board the three pretty vessels flying over the blue waters of the Guif. The sloop was crowded with canvas, the wind was fresh and steady, and laying well over to her work, she was ‘driving along at a rapid pace. One mile astern came the Cuban goleta with her strange West Indian rig. She, too, carried all her sails, and was forg- ing through the water at a speed that caused her to gain steadily upon the sloop. A mile astern of the goleta came the Ameri- can yacht, with topsails, jib, main and foresails set, and she tavetad a bone in her teeth with a will, as she rushed on to have a hand in the race, chase, or whatever it might turn out to At the helm of the sloop was Bueno, calm and skillful, watching every chance to aid his ves- sel, W hile Isodor passed to and fro near by, his glass i in his hard, and the crew were forward, anxiously w atching the vessels astern. At the peak of the itive sloop the Ameri- can colors were flying half-mast, and Union down, a sure signal 0 distr ess, On the quar ‘ter-deck of the goleta were two officers, one in the uniform of a lieutenant in the Spanish navy, and a tall, broad-shouldered, stern-faced man. The other was an officer of Spanish marines, and the two were earnestly talking together. A midshipman was forward, clearing a small twelve-pounder brass gun for action ,Aand a crew of twenty seamen and a dozen marines com- prised the rest of the force on the goleta, which was a pleasure craft, as Isodor had surmised taken by the lieutenant and a complement of men from El Moro to go in chase of the sloop. Upon the deck of the American were about twenty souls, A huge negro, in neat white cap and apron, was preparing breakfast, w hile a couple of col- ored stewards were bustling in and out of the cabin with dishes and table linen. Forward a crew of a dozen men were leaning over the bulwarks, gozing at the two vessels ahead with deep interest, They wore white duck trowsers, white shirts oa books. com te Si 4 i"