Chapter XIII

FORTUNE FAVORS YOUNG GLORY--CAPTURE OF THE MAGAZINE.

Young Glory felt that he was powerless.

He knew that the threat of the Spaniard was not an empty one, and that he would not hesitate to plunge his dagger into the young sailor's breast in case the slightest resistance was attempted, or the least sound was uttered.

The man must have been keeping watch whilst his two comrades talked, so as to secure them from interruption.

"You threaten me," said Young Glory, quietly, hoping to conciliate the Spaniard.

"Take care," answered the latter, pressing the dagger a little closer; "I warned you not to speak."

"And I do not disobey you so far as making a noise is concerned. I only ask the meaning of this."

"You know."

"Perhaps. I also know that you are a prisoner on this ship, and that it is dangerous for you to kill me."

"Not so dangerous as to let you go. You have heard every word that passed between my friends, and have their secret and their lives in your hands. I need say no more to justify myself."

The Spaniard tapped lightly on the boat, and instantly Juan and Manuel rose. They walked round to the other side.

"You here!" they cried, seeing their brother officer.

"Yes, and caramba! but it would have gone hard with your plot, but for me. You seemed to forget that you are not the only people on this ship. Look!"

He pointed to Young Glory as he spoke.

They were astounded.

"Then he's heard what we said?"

"Every word, Juan."

"It means ruin."

"No, fortunately no harm is done. I hold this sailor in my power. He cannot escape me. You must carry out your plot instantly."

"All is ready. We will do so."

They knew there was no time to be lost, and leaving Young Glory to the care of their friend, they turned away to carry into execution their diabolical scheme.

The Spanish officer who had Young Glory in his power, did not wish to be noticed by any of the crew in a suspicious attitude. So he sat down underneath the boat by the side of Young Glory.

"Don't move," he said, showing the sailor his glittering steel blade. "It will be fatal to you if you do."

Young Glory's position was a maddening one. He was in possession of a secret, and was unable to disclose it in the proper quarter. But he never lost sight of the fact that it might yet be possible for him to get away from the Spaniard, and his brain was busily at work upon the project.

It is doubtful if he would have succeeded if fortune had not favored him.

Two sailors, coming along, were thrown nearly off their feet as the vessel lurched, and in saving themselves they fell with outstretched hands against the boat.

The cutter toppled over on the Spaniard. Young Glory quicker than he in moving, had rolled to one side.

In a moment the Spaniard had recovered himself, and furiously threw himself at Young Glory. But the latter was prepared now. He caught the Spaniard by the arm, wrested the dagger from him, and then with a tremendous effort he hurled the man backwards, throwing him off the deck into the sea.

"Help! Help!" screamed the poor wretch.

But it was too late. The cruiser was sailing at a fast pace, the sea was running high, and the night was dark. Long before a boat could have reached him he would have sunk.

Young Glory had no time to lose.

He was rushing away when the two sailors barred his path, and one of them handled him somewhat roughly.

"Shiver me! you lubber, but you don't pass," he said.

"That's right, Bill, we don't allow murders on this ship."

"Stand aside!" cried Young Glory, hotly, "or it will be the worse for you. I must see Mr. Tyler instantly on a matter of life and death."

"Young Glory!" the two sailors cried.

"Yes, and now you know me, perhaps you will let me pass. If you have a complaint to make against me do so, and I shall know how to defend myself. You know where to find me when wanted, for I'm not likely to leave the ship."

The men let him go, and he tore along towards the cabin which Lieutenant Tyler was using.

Meanwhile, let us see what was happening below.

Manuel and Juan had not lost a moment.

They had hurried below, and passing rapidly around, had given the word to all their friends that the time had come to act.

Half a dozen Spaniards who had been assisting in the work of the ship collected together, so as to prevent any one getting near the magazine to render help. The officers took charge of the more dangerous end of the scheme.

It was necessary that they should do so. For they were the only prisoners who were allowed perfect freedom. The fact of their walking about would not alarm the sentries, and so strolling carelessly along in small groups, not less than six Spanish naval officers were within reach of the sentries who were guarding the magazine.

Manuel gave the signal.

It was a faint whistle, but quite audible to ears that had waited anxiously for the sound.

Each man knew what to do, for all the details were prearranged.

Juan sprang at the nearest sentry. Manuel dashed past him and flew at the throat of the second sentry.

Juan and another officer seized the first sentry without the least difficulty. The man was taken completely by surprise, and not being able to resist, he was instantly disarmed.

The second sentry gave more trouble.

He had had some time in which to resist the Spanish officers.

Swiftly he raised his rifle to his shoulder to shoot down his foes, but agile as a panther, Manuel sprang under the rifle, striking it up as he rose.

Bang!

The weapon exploded, but the shot did no harm.

Instantly three Spaniards threw themselves on the sentry, tearing his rifle from his hands, and taking his cutlass from his side.

"Hold him fast!" shouted Manuel, as he made for the magazine. "That shot will arouse the entire ship, and there is no time to be lost!"

"If they attack?"

"Shoot them down. Keep them in check for two minutes. That is all I ask!"

It was no time to waste in talking. If this desperate plot was to succeed, it must be carried out instantly. Already Manuel was at the magazine.

He took a key from his pocket.

"They've not changed the locks, so this must fit. Ah!" he said, as he inserted the key. "I thought so. Victory! Victory! We've played a bold game and won!"

Like lightning Manuel darted into the magazine, and without allowing a second to elapse he took a carefully prepared fuse from his pocket, lit it without delay, and placed it on a shelf, which was destitute of explosives.

"Now let them come!" he said, with a look of triumph on his swarthy face. "They must agree to my terms, or we'll die together."

There was a great rush outside.

The sailors had rushed from all parts, and some of the American officers had also been drawn to the spot.

"Treachery! Treachery!" cried the sailors.

"Shoot them down!" shouted an officer.

Instantly a dozen six-shooters were raised. A crisis had arrived. Then Juan stepped forward.

"One moment, gentlemen," said he, speaking very politely, and in soft tones. "You do not seem to understand the position of affairs."

"We know you are traitors."

Juan smiled.

"It is not worth arguing such a point. Let us get to business. You propose to kill us?"

"Unless you surrender at once."

"Senor, you don't understand how matters stand. We are not in your power; it is you who are in ours."

"What!"

A loud cry of derision burst forth.

"You do not believe me yet. I speak the truth. You may fire and kill me, but directly you do, there will be an end of you, your sailors and the ship."

"Absurd!"

"Not so, senor. My comrade is even now in the forward magazine. You know what a quantity of powder and gun-cotton is stored there. Very well, if you fire one shot he will blow up the ship."

This startling assertion caused intense surprise. Some were inclined to attach importance to it, and to accept it as true, but the great majority entirely refused to believe the Spaniard's statement.

"Faith, Don Juan, or whativer ye call yourself," cried Dan Daly, "it's to the marines ye must tell that yarn."

"And they wouldn't swallow it, Dan," retorted a marine, who was standing by.

"It is a fairy story you have given us," said an American officer.

"There's an easy way to determine it, senor."

"How?"

"Let one of your men step forward and see."

"Who would trust himself?"

"I give you my word," said Juan, hotly, "as an officer and a gentleman, that he will not be hurt, but he must come without arms."

"Shure, it's meself's the boy to do it!" cried Dan, handing his six-shooter and cutlass to a comrade as he spoke.

"You go at your own risk, Dan," said the officer; "nobody asks you to do so."

"Arrah, it's not a finger they'll lift against me! It's Young Glory would fix them for it if they did!"

Dan's faith in Young Glory was unbounded. He little knew how desperate his young friend's own position was at the moment he was speaking.

A buzz of admiration went round as the brave Irishman left his comrades, for there was no denying that it was a courageous act.

However, Dan walked boldly past the Spanish officer and the two disarmed sentries until he came to the magazine.

To find the door open astounded him, for he certainly had not believed one word that had been said.

"Now, do you believe, fellow?" asked Manuel.

"Seein's belavin', Yer Honor."

"Very well; go and tell your friends so."

Dan reached forward towards the fuse which was still burning.

"Lay a hand on that, and I kill you," said the Spaniard, savagely.

"Shure, an' it was only my pipe I was afther lightin'."

"Get out of this," answered Manuel, hotly. "I am in no humor for trifling."

"Well, boys, it's as true as gospel."

"You saw it, Dan?"

"Faith, yes, he's in the magazine, wid a great fuse lighted, an' shure it's mighty little between us and eternity."

Juan spoke again.

"I must see your captain," he said.

"For what?"

"To propose certain terms to him."

"He will refuse."

"Let him. At least, you have no right to do so for him. Recollect that my friend, Manuel, has you all in his power still."

"Senor, no one will harm you; you are free to pass to Lieutenant Tyler's room. I believe you know where it is."

"Yes."

Through the close ranks of the American seamen Juan threaded his way, smiling pleasantly at the scowling faces and threatening looks he saw on all sides of him.

"I can afford to smile," he said to himself, "for I hold all the tricks in my hand!"