CHAPTER XV
WITH THE AMERICAN FLEET
It was a long swim that Hal and Gerald had started upon, butcircumstances were in their favor, and they made light of it. The summerwas scarcely at an end, and the water, therefore, was beautifully warm,so that there was no reason to fear an attack of cramp; and the fartherthey moved from the shore, the more they were helped on their course bya current which, sweeping in from the sea through the long, narrow,neck-like opening, struck a projecting bluff below the Morro Castle, andwas deflected to the center of the harbor, carrying the swimmers withit. Halfway across, Hal's hand struck gently against a large iron buoy,to which life-lines were attached, and which was anchored in mid stream.He at once turned to Gerald, laying one hand on his shoulder to attracthis attention, while with the other he obtained a firm grasp of one ofthe ropes.
"We'll rest and get our wind here," he said. "Come round to this side,old boy. It is the farthest from the searchlight, and we shall be hiddenin the shadow. Next time it has safely passed us, we'll make tracksstraight for the launch, and do our best to get on board before thelight revolves in our direction again."
It was a wise course to pursue, for the beam cast by the electriclantern had long ago won the race, and was already sweeping the streetsof Santiago, _en route_ for the Morro Castle and the harbor again. Soonit reached the buoy, appearing to hover over it, just as it had donefive minutes before in the case of the upturned boat. But it only didso in the imagination of the fugitives, for, in reality, it swept onwithout a pause, and went trailing its silent, inquisitive way acrossthe lonely water.
"Now is the time," whispered Hal. "When we reach the launch swim to theafter-end, and crawl on board. The cabin is right up in the bows, for Itook particular note of that when watching from the cell."
Gerald nodded, for floating with one's mouth just clear of the water isnot conducive to much conversation. Then he let go his hold of thelife-line, and closed up to his friend. With steady and powerfulstrokes, and without the least sign of haste, they swam through thewater, their eyes fixed upon the opposite shore of the harbor, and onthe shipping as it flashed into sight. Soon a big object rose up blackbefore them in the darkness, and Hal's hand came in contact with thestone pier. A few strokes farther on he touched the side of a vessel,and, stretching high above his head, was able to grasp the gunwale. Athrill of pleasure at once ran through his frame as he realized thatthis must be the launch in which they hoped to escape from the harbor.To slide along to the rudder was the work of only a few seconds, whenhis fingers touched the blades of a screw. He at once obtained a firmgrip of the side, and hoisted himself slowly and gently to the deck,where he was joined by Gerald directly afterwards.
"We want a breather. I'm puffed," the latter whispered.
"Yes, but we cannot take it here," was the answer. "Let us get into thestoke-hole. Here it is. Come down gently."
There was a tiny iron ladder leading into a small engine-room andstoke-hole combined, and both at once slid down this, and sat upon thefloor.
"Now we can talk," said Hal in a whisper. "But first of all let ussettle the question whether anyone is aboard. Sit where you are, Gerald.You're a bit blown, and want rest. I'm as fresh as a daisy, and willjust go along to the cabin to see if anyone is there."
He went to the end of the boiler, and, discovering a piece of oilywaste, carefully lifted the furnace door. A dull glow immediatelyescaped, lighting the stoke-hole dimly, and showing at once that itcontained only themselves.
"Fires banked to last till morning," said Hal in satisfied tones, whichhe reduced to little more than a whisper. "That shows that no oneintends to look at them during the night. Let me see. Yes, the boiler isfull, and the pressure gauge shows just a few pounds of steam. No goodto us, though; but we'll soon raise it to bursting-point. Now I'm off."
He stirred the fire, and silently closed the door. Then he ascended thetiny ladder, and crawled along the deck till he came to the cabin, whichwas roofed with a skylight. Feeling in the darkness for the opening, hesoon discovered a catch, and pulling the door open, descended withouthesitation, but using the utmost caution all the while. It was evendarker down below than on deck, and he therefore stood still, for, if hehad moved forward, he might well have stumbled blindly across someonesleeping there. But his doubts were quickly set at rest, for thesearchlight again came to the rescue, falling upon the launch, andsending a flood of brilliant rays through the skylight.
"Good! It's empty," murmured Hal; "and as it runs right forward into thebows, and right aft to the engine-room, it is clear that we have theboat to ourselves. All the better, say I, for every time we have tosilence some fellow we add to our risks; besides, I don't like to behammering everyone who comes in our way. But now for steam, and aglorious run to the sea. Ah, we'll feed the fires till the plates arered-hot and the funnel melts. Then, when she's trembling with thepressure of the steam in her boiler, we'll set her for the harbormouth."
He almost clapped his hands in the exuberance of his spirits, for eventhe least sanguine would have had to admit that now, indeed, success wasnear at hand. But there was plenty of work to be done, and he returnedto the stoke-hole to complete it.
"We've got to make a move soon," he said. "It must be some while aftermidnight, and daylight will be with us about three o'clock. We'll liftthe furnace door again so as to get a good look round. I shall wantplenty of fuel close at hand, but it will not do to move more than canpossibly be helped till we are out of the harbor; for, on a quiet andstill night, sounds, however faint, can be heard a very great distance."
"And when we are out, what then?" asked Gerald.
"Just this, old boy. You'll have to be skipper, and get to the wheel.There is one good point about it, I notice. They've placed it so closeto the entrance above that it will be possible to stand on one of thelower rungs of the ladder, and steer without showing much more than yourhead. No doubt this launch is usually run by one man, who works herengines and wheel alone. That's why they are placed in such handypositions. If we are not discovered, all will be as simple as eating adinner; but, if we are, then it will be a trifle exciting, and you willhave to look out for the bullets. My job is the engine and the furnace.I've played the game before, and know something about it. Now, lend ahand, and go easy, whatever you do. We don't want all those dogs on ourtrack again, if we can avoid it."
Lifting pieces of coal in his hands, Hal cast them one by one into theflames, for to have employed a shovel would have been to run the risk ofdiscovery. It was slower work, but safer by far, and after all, with twohard at it, was soon ended. Now and again Hal went to the ladder, and,standing on one of the lower rungs, put his head up through the opening,and looked at the funnel.
"She'll do," he said at last, in tones of satisfaction. "The fuel isdry, and at present the smoke is scarcely noticeable. Wait till we getaway, and put the steam-blast on. Then there'll be flames spouting intothe sky, and a regular firework display."
"Yes, and a few shells flying after us," said Gerald, with somethingremarkably like an excited chuckle. "That's about what it will be, for Icannot see how we can hope to slip out without discovery. If the funneldoes not give us away, the searchlight certainly will. But we'll dodgethat if we've any luck. Anyway, we will get out of this, whateverhappens."
"That's so; we will, old boy, and I fancy it's high time now to besetting about it. I've never before walked off with property belongingto somebody else, but this time it's a case of our lives, and, besides,all's fair, you know."
"Yes, in love and war, Hal. Hillo! I can hear a shindy somewhere. What'sit all about?"
Hal darted to the ladder, and, thrusting his head through the openingabove, hung there listening.
"There are men coming along the quay," he said. "What can they want?This is the only boat moored over in this direction."
They looked into each other's faces in the dim light given by the fire,and each noticed that the other had turned deathly pale.
"They must be coming he
re," gasped Gerald.
"Then we must disappoint them," answered Hal. "Quick! throw off thefor'ard mooring, Gerald. No, not that way; you will get at it sooner byhopping ashore. Then do the same aft, and jump on board. Quick! hop, Isay; for we have very little time to lose."
He turned at once to the furnace, and commenced to shovel coal into itat a rapid pace, keeping his eye all the time fixed on the pressuregauge.
"One hundred and fifteen pounds," he said. "Good! That will help usfinely. Now we'll get the bearings warmed."
He turned the steam cock slightly, and sent a cloud of hot vapor rushinginto the cylinders.
"Below there! she's loose. I've cast off the moorings," whispered Geraldat this moment, thrusting his head down into the stoke-hole.
"Then give her a good push off, and go to the wheel," answered Hal.
Gently, and without a sound, save the low drone of the fire, and theroar of flames rushing through the funnel, the launch left the quay,and, propelled by a thrust of Gerald's foot, glided some yards into theharbor. She was away only just in time, for, a minute or two later, sometwenty soldiers marched up, and voices were heard.
"Halt, men, and see that you keep in your places," someone was heard toexclaim, in far from pleasant tones. "Now, senor, what is it? Thesebeggarly Americans seem to have disturbed the whole town. First, mycomrade is so upset by a blow in the face that I have to take his duty;and then you must needs turn me out at this uncomfortable hour to followsome wild-goose chase. Why could you not use your own ruffians?"
"Grumbling will not mend matters," was the suave answer, in a voicewhich Hal and his comrade recognized as Jose d'Arousta's. "These twoAmericans escaped from a fool of a jailer, and are still about. We havereason to believe that they are in the harbor, for their boots werefound not an hour ago, beneath the Morro Castle. I received orders tocall you and your men, and to instruct you to come here, so that youmight get on board the launch. Caramba, but it is dark! It is like thebottom of a pit. Where can the boat be?"
"Alongside, you said, senor," the other answered sourly. "Where is it,then?"
Footsteps were heard on the paving as Jose d'Arousta and some of thesoldiers hunted along the quay. Meanwhile the launch lay off at adistance of a few yards, her passengers crouching in the stoke-hole, andhoping to remain undiscovered.
"Look, Senor Capitan, there is the boat!" one of the men suddenly cried,"I can see flames and smoke coming from the funnel."
"What? The furnaces in full blast!" Jose shouted. "The fires were bankedfor the night, and no one was aboard her."
"Perhaps the engineer in charge has got here before us," the officerremarked. "Why not hail him?"
"Hi! Aboard there! Put in alongside the quay," Jose promptly sang out.
The only answer was a shower of sparks from the funnel, and the splashand noise of churning water, for Gerald had been listening to all thatpassed, and had rapidly interpreted to Hal.
"Sing out that you are coming," said the latter, "and then steer her forthe harbor mouth. I'll give her steam."
He turned to the throttle and opened it wide, at the same time allowingthe steam-blast to come into action.
"She's moving now," he cried. "Keep her well away, Gerald, and dodge thesearchlight, whatever you do."
HAL AND HIS COMPANION ESCAPE FROM SANTIAGO.]
"Hi there! Where are you going? Where are you steering to?" a voicecried from the quay; and then, as the launch sped on into the harborbasin, Jose d'Arousta was heard calling to the soldiers to open fire.
"Ah, treachery!" he shouted. "Something is wrong; for see, she isrunning away. I have it; those rascally spies are aboard. Let your menopen fire at once, senor."
A single rifle cracked immediately, no doubt fired in order to give thealarm, and almost instantly the searchlight went through the samestrange antics as before. Finally it settled on the harbor, and,sweeping slowly across it, lit full upon the launch. In a minute therewas a roll of musketry, and a shower of bullets hurtled about her, somepiercing her woodwork as if it had been merely paper, but none,fortunately, hitting Hal or Gerald, or any part of the machinery. Aminute later they had run into the shadow cast by a long line ofshipping, behind which the light failed to reach them. Hal at oncethrust his head up through the opening, and then cut off steam.
"They'll expect us to pop out at the other end," he said quietly, "butwe'll disappoint them by going about and cutting back by way of thequay. Ready? Then shove the wheel over. There's enough row going on allround to drown any we may make."
And this was the case, for the gyrations of the searchlight and therattle of musketry had effectually awakened the shipping world. Thecrews of vessels lying in the harbor came tumbling up on deck, whilemany of the ships rang their bells, as though a general attack by theenemy in force were imminent. A few who had news of the runaways putoff in their boats, and pulled into the open water, their hands shoutingloudly for information as to the whereabouts of the escaping prisoners.
"Just keep these ships in line with the searchlight," said Hal, a fewmoments later, thrusting his head up again. "That will give us a darkpatch in which to run, and will carry us almost as far as the exit.That's it. Steady so. I'm going to pile the coal till she's fit toburst."
He dived below again, and, seizing the shovel which had already provedso useful, threw the fuel into the open door of the furnace. By now thedial showed a greater head of steam, but he was not yet satisfied, andkept at the work, even going to the length of tossing an open can of oilinto the flames.
As for Gerald, with eyes shifting from right to left, and returning everand anon to the searchlight, he gripped the wheel and steered the launchin a dead line ahead. Once, a boat suddenly sprang out of the densedarkness directly in front, and he caught sight of the water flashingfaintly at the tips of the oars. But he would not alter his course, andwent rushing on, only missing the other craft by a foot or two, andleaving it behind in a trice, rocking so violently that it was a wonderthat it did not fill and sink at once.
"Where are they? What is all this bother about?" someone cried.
Gerald did not trouble to answer. He kept grimly on till a flash of thebroad beam overhead showed him that he was approaching the edge of theharbor. Then, hesitating how to act, he looked down at Hal as if to askhis advice, and saw him stripped to the waist, and standing in the glareof the furnace, into which he was throwing coal as if life itselfdepended on his exertions--as, indeed, it did.
Round spun the wheel, and the launch swayed to the left, rolling heavilyas she did so.
"This is my job," murmured Gerald, unconsciously repeating the words Halhad used when giving him the post of steersman. "I'll see the showthrough. Now for the channel that leads to the sea."
"Will the searchlight fall upon it just as we enter? Yes--no--perhaps itwill not. Ah! it must. It is all up with us!"
The thoughts flashed through his mind, one moment high hope surgingthrough his heart, and the next some movement of the electric beamshattering all thoughts of escape. The light fluttered onto the thinband of water leading out between the steep cliffs to the sea, to safetyand friends, and then whisked back to the harbor, flying across everyfoot of its surface that it was possible to reach, and searching everynook and corner.
Round spun the wheel again.
"In the channel, and now bang straight ahead," murmured Gerald. "If theDons who man the castle batteries do not spot us we shall be lucky. Buthow can they fail, when flames like that are pouring from the funnel?They're bound to let fly at us."
He cast an upward glance at the smoke-stack, and longed to be able tosmother the flaring streak which poured from it into the night, lightingup the surroundings like a torch. Luck, however, seemed to have followedthe runaways, for if anyone noticed them, he made no sign, not thinkingthat this tiny vessel, rushing so boldly out to sea, could contain anybut friends. Perhaps, even, he may have thought it was the officer whohad been told off to conduct the search; though then it was strange thathe should feed his fir
es till the funnel was on the point of melting,while the escape steam whistled through the valve with a deafeningnoise.
Fortunate indeed was it for the fugitives that another part attractedthe attention of the Spaniards. From Morro Castle, and from all thedefenses, the eyes of the garrison were fixed upon the searchlight.Breathless with excitement, and too occupied to utter as much as asound, they followed the revolving beam, till at last it fell full upona launch steaming across the harbor. No doubt it contained Josed'Arousta and his men; but the watchers were ignorant of that, and setup a shout of exultation that awoke the echoes. They rushed to theirguns and rifles, and would have opened fire had not the workers of thelight known more than they, and flashed it elsewhere in search of theescaping prisoners. And all the while Hal and Gerald were speeding, withtheir most eager efforts, along the narrow track that led to the sea.
"Another half-mile and we shall be away," screamed the latter, lookingdown at his friend. But the escaping steam smothered his voice, and onlythe click and scrape of the busy shovel answered him.
Bang! A huge column of water blew up into the night some hundred pacesbehind, sending a heavy swell rolling along, which caught the launch andcaused it to bob sharply.
"A mine!" shouted Hal, who had heard the roar. "I should say that it isabout their last. Keep her over to one side, for those infernal machinesare usually laid in the center, so as to catch the large ships. A missis as good as a mile, old boy!"
"We're out now," shouted Gerald, taking a hasty look round, and noticingthat the reflection of the flames upon the wet rock on either side hadjust vanished. "Now where away?"
"Bang straight for the deep blue sea, old chap, and the farther out thebetter. If we could put a hundred miles between us and the Dons withinthe next few minutes I should feel all the happier."
To steer directly out was, indeed, the best course they could follow,and neither of the lads relaxed his energies till the tiny launch hadplowed a way ten miles out to sea. All was in their favor, for thenight, though intensely dark, was beautifully calm, and the surface ofthe water undisturbed by even a ripple. An hour later, when they hadobtained a good offing, Hal left the door of the furnace wide open, andstopped the engines.
"I'm peckish again," he said, climbing to the deck, and wiping theperspiration from his forehead with a piece of oily waste. "Skip along,old man, and see whether you can manage to find some grub and somethingto drink."
Gerald at once left the wheel, and going to the forward part of thelaunch, descended into the cabin. He had little difficulty in discerninghis surroundings, for by this time the sky had lightened considerably,and dawn was close at hand. But he was unsuccessful, and returned with avery long face.
"Not a crust to be seen," he said dismally. "I say, Hal, what shall wedo if there is no food aboard, for we shall starve if we do not fall inwith a ship pretty soon?"
"Then that is just exactly what we must do," cried Hal cheerfully, "andwe'll have to be precious careful that she is not a Spaniard. Yes, it'srough having nothing to eat, but we must not grumble. Just think of whatwe have escaped. We have left prison and that fellow Jose d'Aroustabehind, and are safe for the present. I'd rather starve for a week thantake my place before a file of soldiers at this hour of the morning."
He shuddered when he thought of what a narrow escape they had had, andwhat fate would have been theirs, had they still occupied their cell inthe Morro Castle.
Then away flew his thoughts to the hacienda. Why? Did they dwell for thespace of more than a moment upon Mr. Brindle and any of the hands heknew? No, certainly not! Hal would have flushed very red had yousuddenly asked him the question; for, in truth, he was thinking ofsomeone else--of Dora, picturing her as he had seen her many a morning,standing at the top of the steps leading from the veranda, a vision ofloveliness in white, with a welcoming smile that showed two rows ofdainty pearls, and a glance from a pair of dancing blue eyes that alwaysmade him feel happy. That was how he had seen her every morning as herode in from his work, and those were the happy thoughts whichinvariably filled his mind during the morning meal.
But the scene suddenly changed, Jose d'Arousta and the rascally Pedroappearing in his mind's eye in place of his employer's daughter, andthey were again threatening the hacienda. At the thought, Hal sprang tohis feet, his hands clenched, and a look of excitement spreading overhis handsome face.
"Yes," he cried, "it is good indeed to live; for I have work to do. Ihave escaped from the island, but I must return again at the very firstopportunity."
"Why should you? It would be madness!" exclaimed his comrade.
"Why, Gerald? Think of the hacienda, and of Jose d'Arousta's threat.That is my reason, for real danger threatens your father and Dora."
"Phew! I hadn't thought of that," Gerald answered, and then suddenlylapsed into silence, while a queer and sly little smile stole over hisface.
"Oh, it's like that, is it?" he murmured a moment later. "But, I say,what about falling in with a ship? What do you propose?"
"As there is no food on board, and we are both famishing, I vote we turnthe steam on again, and get as far away from the island as we possiblycan. The chances are that it is blockaded by the American fleet, and, asSantiago is a most important harbor, some of the vessels are bound to bedown this way. Naturally they would steam up and down within sight ofthe coast, running in closer at night. We must keep a bright look-outfor them, and must hope for their appearance soon. I fancy that we aresafe from the Spanish torpedo boats, for they would scarcely dare to runout so far."
"What's that over there, then?" asked Gerald, suddenly pointing to thewest.
A big black cloud was floating on the horizon, and Hal looked at it longand earnestly.
"I believe it's the smoke of a fleet," he said at length. "If it is, Iam for chancing the Spaniards, and running down towards that cloud."
Gerald hastily agreed, whereupon Hal dived below again, and having seento the lubricating of his engine, opened the throttle-valve. Everyminute as they ran to the west the cloud became more certainly one ofsmoke, and within an hour they had made out that six large battleshipswere bearing down upon them at an easy pace. Then a breeze got up andblew the smoke away, the masts and funnels of the on-coming fleetbecoming at once visible, sharply silhouetted against the clear morningsky.
"They're wagging their signals," said Hal, poking his head up above thedeck, and taking a long look. "No doubt they have spotted us, and willsend at once to find out who we are."
He had scarcely finished speaking, when a long, low hull shot out frombehind one of the bigger ships, and came steaming at a great pacetowards them.
"A torpedo boat," said Hal. "We'll lie to, and wait for her."
Turning off the steam, he mounted to the deck, and sat down by Gerald'sside. A quarter of an hour later the torpedo boat was close at hand,and, surging up beside the launch, rounded to, and circled completelyabout her, setting the tiny vessel dancing to the swell.
"Hooray! She's flying the Stars and Stripes," shouted Gerald, flinginghis cap into the air. "We're safe at last, old boy, and there is a goodsquare meal in sight."
"Aboard there! Who are you?" came the hail across the water. "Where onearth do you come from? and what port are you bound for?"
"We're from Santiago. We left there this morning," Hal shouted back,making a funnel of his hands.
The boat, with its murderous-looking quick-firers, ranged up alongside,and a sailor flung a rope to them.
"Hang on there, and make her fast," shouted an officer standing on adiminutive bridge. "We'll tow you home. You're a prize to the navy ofthe United States of America."
"Prize indeed!" Hal exclaimed. Then he laughed loudly. "We'll let itrest like that till we get alongside the flagship," he said to Gerald."Then I fancy there will be some fun, and we shall score off our friendaboard the torpedo boat."
By this time the fleet of warships was only a mile distant, and it tookvery little time for the powerful destroyer to reach them with thelaunch i
n tow. Then, once more, the semaphore wagged confusingly.
"Cast off that rope, and smartly with it," shouted the officer who hadhailed Hal before. "Now then, we'll take every one of you aboard to seethe admiral. Prize party, make ready to hop on to her, and just knockthe fight out of any that are playin' games."
He backed his vessel alongside again, and the launch was rapidly lashedin position, a few fenders being placed between to protect the brittleplates of the torpedo craft.
"Now, who are you anyway?" asked the officer brusquely, boarding thelaunch with a party of sailors. "One of you looks so black that he mightpass for a nigger; and the other,--why,--what's this? It's a boy, aperfect child, and astoundingly like the lads who are to be found rightover in the States. Say, who, in the name of all that's curious, areyou, youngster?"
"Not your prisoner, at any rate," answered Gerald, with a laugh. "We'reAmericans. At least, I am; and my friend is a Britisher."
"Britisher! American! That is hard to believe. And what is all thisabout?" He looked at the decks of the launch, and then at the emptyengine-room. "Two lads of our own blood aboard a Spanish craft, and notanother soul with them! It is particularly queer!"
"It is, we admit," Hal answered, with a smile; "but you must understandthat we had no choice, for we were captured in the town of Santiago insuspicious circumstances, and were thus placed in a cell in MorroCastle, with the cheerful prospect of being shot as spies early thismorning. We bolted, and as this launch was lying idle beside one of thewharfs, we just borrowed her, and steamed out to sea. So I fancy thatshe really belongs to us."
"Borrowed her! I should fancy that was a piece of amizin' cheek," theofficer laughed. "And you young fellows got through without so much as ashell whistling loudly in your ears?"
"Not quite. By the merest chance we escaped a mine, which was explodedbehind us; and I fancy you will find a few bullet-holes if you care tolook round," Hal answered coolly. "But there's one thing very wrong.We're awfully hungry. Have you anything like a meal aboard?"
The officer clapped him on the back. "Come along out of this tub atonce," he said. "It's Spanish, and isn't fit for gentlemen. Grub?George, sir! but I've something below in my cabin that will fairly makeyour mouths water. Leave her there, bo'sun, and signal over to theskipper that all's well, and that the prisoners are busy putting theirteeth into the best food we've got, for they are simply famishing."