Chapter XII: The Spanish Plot--Young Glory's Danger

During the night the two ships parted company.

The wind blew fiercely, and the gun-boat being of light draft went in towards the land, the cruiser with its deeper draft preferring to weather the storm in the open sea.

In the morning nothing could be seen of the gun-boat, but this was no reason for delay. Apparently the Spanish cruiser was well able to take care of itself, and as the destination of the ships had been determined upon, they might go there, either in company or separately, it mattered not which.

They were bound for Key West.

The prisoners for the most part were kept below. They numbered over four hundred, and it was not safe to allow such a number of men, even though unarmed, to wander at large through the ship.

The officers were free to do what they pleased.

They passed the time on deck mostly, keeping strictly to themselves, and wearing savage and sullen faces as they paced to and fro.

"Faith, it's a handsome lot they are," muttered Dan. "It's myself'll be glad when we've landed you. I'd rather sail in a cattle ship."

"No accounting for tastes, Dan," laughed Young Glory.

"It's an eye we must kape on the dons," said Dan.

"An eye?"

"Faith, two. It's the slippery spalpeens they are."

"But they won't try to slip away."

"Arrah, it's worse they'll do!"

"What?"

"Shure, it's many they are to us. If we're not afther watchin' them closely, they'll try an' take the ship!"

Young Glory laughed.

"Fists against rifles don't count for much. We're armed and they're not. Don't forget that."

"I don't, but it's yourself knows they're as full of treachery as a sausage is of meat."

"I have no fear of them, and I'm quite sure, Mr. Tyler feels the same. Of course he's taking every precaution, but unless those four hundred men below can get out of their quarters, what harm can the officers and the few men who are at large do?"

Dan scratched his head.

"It's a warnin' I've given ye! Don't be afther blamin' me if it happens!"

"That's like Dan," said Young Glory, looking after him. "Prove to him he's wrong, and he won't admit it. He only gets sulky. Well, this time he's clearly out of it, and I'll make him say so when we reach Key West."

It was drawing towards evening now. Young Glory, having nothing better to do, stood and looked over the rail at the setting sun, until it had sunk below the horizon, and all was dark.

Then he threw himself down near a boat which was on the deck, and the lapping noise of the waves, coupled with the want of rest he was suffering from, sent him to sleep.

He had not the faintest idea how long he had been dozing, when he suddenly woke with a start, as men will when aroused from a deep sleep.

But he never uttered a cry, and at once he fell back intending to go to sleep again. It was against the rules to do so, but in his tired state he never thought of this.

In a minute he would have been asleep but for the fact that he heard some men talking, and out of mere curiosity he listened to what was being said.

"Some of the Spanish officers," he muttered. He knew this, for the language they were using was Spanish.

The young sailor was able to hear every word, and before the talk had proceeded far, he was taking in every word, feeling as wide awake as ever he had been in his life.

"Juan," said one man, "I've interested you already by what I've said."

"I confess it, Manuel."

"And you would like to hear more?"

"Of course."

"I can't understand, Juan, how it is you are ignorant of what is going on. They know you're to be trusted."

"I should hope so," was the indignant answer. "Perhaps it is because I have kept myself away from the others. I have felt heart broken over our defeat."

"All the more reason why you should do what you can to repair it."

"There is no repairing it."

"Who knows?"

"I do."

"You speak confidently, Juan."

"Because, Manuel, I know where our ships are. We shall meet none as we sail through the Caribbean Sea. No, no, Manuel, dismiss such thoughts. Reconcile yourself to spending the next few months as prisoners of war in America."

"A prospect I by no means fall in with. Help may be nearer than you think, Juan."

"Help?"

"Yes."

"Not unless it descends from the skies, and the age of miracles is past."

"The help is aboard this ship," said Manuel impressively.

"What folly," was Juan's reply. "Have we not lost enough brave men already? I thought of that, but dismissed it from my mind at once. Unarmed men, however numerous they are, can do nothing against men armed to the teeth."

"Exactly my answer to Dan," muttered Young Glory. "This Spaniard is a sensible man."

"But the plan I have in view won't cost the loss of a single man."

"Then it will fail."

"No, it can't. Its success is certain. Don't look so surprised, Juan. Have I a reputation for good sense or not? I'm telling you no fairy tale."

"From anybody but yourself, Manuel, if such a story came I should laugh in their faces."

"You won't laugh at me."

"Perhaps."

"Not when you've heard me through."

"Proceed, proceed."

"I weary you. Well, to the point as you say. You know when we handed up our swords we surrendered the ship, don't you?"

"Why ask foolish questions or recall what pains me?"

"But did we hand over everything?"

"Surely."

"There you're wrong."

"I'm a very patient man, as you know, Manuel, but a little more of this talk and I shall be getting up and leaving you."

"I'm leading up to my story. No, Juan, we did not hand over everything. Shall I tell you what was kept back?"

"If you please."

"The key of the forward magazine!"

"Ha!"

Juan was excited now. That was clear by the exclamation he had uttered.

So was another listener, Young Glory. He kept as still as death, not wishing to lose one syllable that was said, and waiting eagerly for the talk to proceed.

"Yes," continued Manuel, after what seemed a long silence, "we kept back the key of the forward magazine, and those fools are ignorant of it."

"But the keys were handed over?"

"There are duplicates."

"Go on! Go on!" exclaimed Juan, hastily. He was as excited now as he had been indifferent before.

"Now, Juan, to get into that magazine is quite an easy matter."

"There are sentries!"

"Who can be overpowered."

"By whom?"

"You, I, if necessary. We walk about the ship as we please, so do a few of our sailors, who are kept at work. What's to prevent us from seizing the sentries posted near the magazine, and stabbing them to death?"

"You might leave the stabbing out."

"Certainly, if it's not necessary."

"Having got rid of the sentries, Manuel, what follows?"

"We enter the magazine."

"I suppose so; I'm still wandering in the dark."

"But surely you understand what will happen."

"I haven't the faintest idea."

"We shall be in a position, Juan, to blow up the ship."

"Folly! Folly!"

"You speak hastily," cried Manuel, angrily.

"I speak sensibly; what good will it do to you or me if the ship is blown up? Four hundred of our nation, you and I included, will visit the next world, taking, say, one hundred Americans with us. A heavy price to pay for such a poor result, and I'm bound to tell you, Manuel, that I've not had enough of this world yet."

Manuel laughed softly.

"Old fellow, there won't be any blowing up."

"Why?"

"Because these Americans will have too much sense; they won't drive us to it."

"What can he mean?" muttered Young Glory. "This is getting interesting."

Juan was quite as much perplexed, and told his friend so.

"I tell you," answers Manuel, sharply, "that there will not be any blowing up. These Americans value their lives. This is the programme. Once in the magazine, of course, it will be known to the American officer commanding this ship."

"There's not much doubt of that."

"None, because he will be notified that we hold the magazine."

"That's a kind attention on your part, Manuel."

"Ha! Ha! You think so? Well, this is what happens. Lieutenant Tyler, that's the fellow's name, I believe. You or I go to him, and say: 'Lieutenant Tyler, the forward magazine of this ship is in the hands of the Spaniards. What do you propose to do about it?'"

"He will be so scared he won't know what to say."

"Exactly. Then we proceed. We offer terms. 'We give you five minutes to decide, Lieutenant Tyler. Release the Spanish sailors you have made prisoners. Surrender the Cristobal Colon back to Captain Moret or you die!'"

"You threaten to blow up the magazine?"

"Yes."

"Manuel, it is very daring."

"What do you think of its success?"

"Once get into the magazine, you can't fail."

"I knew you would say so. The Americans love life even more than we do, and placed in such a dilemma, there can't be any doubt what their choice will be."

"None!"

Young Glory was fairly amazed at the boldness of the scheme, which was of an entirely different nature to anything he had suspected. He determined to hear the end of the story, for it was clear that the two Spaniards had not yet finished.

"And when do you propose to put this scheme into operation, Manuel?"

"To-night!"

"So soon?"

"What use in waiting?"

"None, if all is ready."

"It is. The men all know their appointed posts. The instant I give the word the sentries will be seized, and the rest will follow."

"And once more the ship will be ours."

"Yes, yes."

"For that I would do much. The plot will succeed, Manuel. I can see victory in the air."

"And I can't," muttered Young Glory, turning half round towards the two men. "On the contrary, gentlemen, I see nothing but failure. Go on talking till I've seen Mr. Tyler. Then I think the laugh will be all on our side. Ha, ha!"

"Silence!"

Young Glory stared aghast. A man, a Spanish naval officer was bending over him, holding a stilletto close against his breast.

"I shall not hesitate to kill if you utter a sound," said the Spaniard, "for the happiness of four hundred men depends on your silence!"