Chapter XIV

JUAN AND LIEUT. TYLER--WHAT YOUNG GLORY DID.

Lieutenant Tyler knew what was happening.

He had been roused from sleep a few minutes before Juan made his appearance, and he was busily getting into such parts of his uniform as he had discarded before lying down.

"You are a bold man!" he said to Juan, "to present yourself to me on such a mission."

"I claim no credit for audacity, senor. The merit of the plot lies with my friend, Manuel."

"Well, what have you to say?"

"Very few words. The ship is in our power."

"Your treacherous comrade has obtained possession of the magazine, you mean?"

"It is the same thing. I will tell you my terms."

"Terms!"

"Yes, terms!" assured Juan, haughtily. "Every dog has his day, as I believe an English proverb says. It was yours yesterday. It is ours now. You must release the Spanish prisoners."

"Never!"

"And hand back the ship," Juan went on, without noticing the interruption, "to Captain Moret."

"And if I decline?"

"I make the same answer as I made just now. We shall blow up the ship. If we can't obtain our cruiser again, at least we can prevent it from being of any use to you, and we will sacrifice our lives gladly for such a purpose."

"This is insanity."

"Call it what you please, senor. I call it patriotism."

The responsibility now thrown on Lieutenant Tyler was great, and he had but a short time in which to decide, for Manuel told him he was to hasten matters.

Up and down the room strode the lieutenant.

"Surrender the ship!" he muttered. "An eternal disgrace if I do, and death for all if I don't. What am I to do? This is terrible, terrible!"

"You answer, senor. Be quick!"

"I am in your power. You have broken your words, given as officers and gentlemen----"

"All is fair in war."

"And," continued the lieutenant, "by foul treachery you have gained an advantage. I cannot doom all my men to death. Senor, I must----"

"Refuse your terms!" cried a familiar voice, as the door was thrust open, and without a particle of respect Young Glory rushed in.

"One word and I'll kill you!" shouted the boy, as he held a pistol at Juan.

Lieutenant Tyler and Juan were both amazed.

"May I speak?" asked the latter, insolently.

"Yes, so long as you make no noise."

"My young friend, I have made a great error. I really believed that Lieutenant Tyler commanded this ship. I must ask pardon for the mistake into which I have fallen--I must indeed."

"Sir, I hope you don't suppose me guilty of any disrespect," asked Young Glory of the lieutenant.

"No, no, but I am surprised."

"I must excuse myself, sir. I heard what had taken place before on my way here. I saw this man enter, and I have listened to all that has been said."

"Eavesdropping is a habit of yours!" sneered Juan.

"For which your friend thought to punish me, but found out his mistake. I threw him over to the fishes," said Young Glory, coolly.

"Wretch! I will avenge him," cried Juan.

"Quiet! quiet," said Young Glory, calmly, pointing very significantly to his six-shooter, "you seem to forget that you are in great danger."

"I am in none," answered Juan, instantly. "Lieutenant Tyler, this farce must end. My comrades will be impatient for my return. You were about to give an answer when this fellow thrust himself in."

"Yes, yes," said the lieutenant, sadly. "There is no escape, Young Glory. This man--traitor as he is--has the right to exact terms from me."

"No."

"How? you say no, Young Glory?"

"I do, and I will show you why, sir. Leave him to me. I will deal with him. Do you give me power, sir? You may trust me."

"Do what you like, Young Glory."

"Saved! saved!" cried the boy.

Instantly he sprang on Juan. The latter thought he was about to be killed.

"You have no right to slay me. I came here under a safe conduct. This is infamous!"

"Senor, you will not be hurt. Now, to business. Strip that uniform off you quickly!"

"You insult me."

"Off with it, or I will tear it from your back!"

Young Glory seized the officer's tunic, and tore open the front of it.

"It must be, sir," he said to Lieutenant Tyler, who watched these extraordinary proceedings in silence. "Stand guard over him, sir. Compel him instantly to do what I have said, for we have no time to lose."

As the Spaniard was stripped of his naval uniform, instantly Young Glory put it on.

"I shall take back your answer," he said to Mr. Tyler.

"You!"

"Yes, sir. Why not?"

"You will be killed, or they will know there has been treachery, and that will ruin us!"

"They will not know me, sir. They will take me for this Spaniard. We are of the same height, and in the semi-darkness, near the magazine, I shall pass through."

"But you are sure to be discovered when you reach Manuel, this officer's friend."

"Certain," said Juan.

"That may be, but by that time my work will be done. I shall have no fear of Manuel."

"Beggar!" cried Juan; "we shall see!"

"Oh, no, you don't!" exclaimed Young Glory, as Juan was slipping out of the cabin. "Here you stay until the work is through."

"I will guard him."

"No, sir, you must come with me."

"With you, Young Glory? Why is that?"

"Because it will seem as if you have given way. When you hear what I say you will know the reason, and agree with me, sir."

"But this is all treacherous."

"Traitors must be fought with their own weapons, sir," answered Young Glory, sternly, as he and Lieutenant Tyler left the cabin.

Juan laughed mockingly as the door closed on him.

"He thinks you will fail, Young Glory," said Mr. Tyler, "and I think the same."

"Let us wait."

The news that Juan was returning speedily circulated. All heads were turned in his direction. Mr. Tyler was some yards behind, having kept at a distance, to better assist Young Glory in carrying out his plans.

"Well?" was the question. "Did you bluff the lieutenant?"

"I don't know about bluffing," was Young Glory's answer, delivered in haughty tones. "All I know is that he accepted the terms I offered. He could do nothing else."

"Faith, an' it's meself that's sorry."

"You wanted to be blown up?" asked Young Glory, quickly.

"It's betther than givin' up the ship, senor," answered Dan Daly.

"Good!" muttered Young Glory. "I shall succeed now, for even Dan Daly doesn't recognize me."

"He gives way!"

"Yes, yes," answered Young Glory, in Spanish.

"Come and tell me all about it."

"I am coming, Manuel."

"But the captain of this ship, where is he? He must hand it over to us instantly. Let the sailors give up their arms!"

"I will talk to you of all these details, Manuel."

"But where is the captain?" cried Manuel, impatiently.

"Here! He will come forward as soon as you and I have fixed things up."

"Lieutenant Tyler!" shouted Manuel.

"Yes, senor, I am here!"

"Good!"

At this moment Young Glory joined him.

"Confess," said Manuel, in triumphant tones, "that it was a great plan of mine!"

Young Glory was silent.

"What! Too jealous to speak! Be honest and admit that I'm a genius!"

"A scoundrel!" cried Young Glory, hotly. "A villainous traitor!"

"Ah! What's this?"

"You're getting your deserts, you wretch!" shouted Young Glory, seizing him instantly, and grappling with him.

"Help! Help!" cried the Spaniard.

Lieutenant Tyler heard the noise, and he had a suspicion what it meant. He rushed to the front through the men.

"Forward, lads," he shouted, waving his sword in the air, "or Young Glory will be killed, and the ship will be blown up!"

"Back! Back!" cried some of the Spanish officers, as the men were advancing. "You are sealing your own doom!"

Bang! Bang!

Shots were interchanged now, and undeterred by what they had heard the sailors pressed forward.

Meanwhile, Young Glory and Manuel were engaged in a deadly struggle. Each man had been trying, without success, to draw a pistol from his belt, and as they could not do so they reeled from one side to another, locked in each other's arms.

"You cannot avert your doom!" hissed Young Glory. "Listen! the sailors are rushing to the rescue."

"I can take you with me."

Quick as lightning Manuel thrust forth his hand towards the burning fuse which Young Glory had not previously noticed.

"Ha, ha!" laughed Manuel, fiendishly, as his fingers grasped it. "We all go together."

There was a great heap of powder lying in the far corner of the magazine, a striking testimony to the carelessness of the Spanish officers.

Without a moment's hesitation Manuel hurled the still lighted fuse towards this powder.

A cold chill ran through Young Glory at this murderous act.

By a supreme effort he tore himself loose, and with one blow of his fist he struck Manuel to the ground.

Then past him he sprang towards the fuse, and with a great leap he landed with both feet on the fuse.

"Saved!" he cried, perceiving that the fuse had fallen a few inches from the powder.

"Not yet!" shouted Manuel.

The Spaniard was on his feet again, and was coming at Young Glory. He had a dagger in his hand, and on his face was the look of a wild animal.

Young Glory was unarmed now, and it seemed as if he was a doomed man.

"There is time to kill him, or to fire the ship yet!" muttered Manuel as he dashed forward.

The fuse was extinct, so there was no danger from that. Young Glory stood ready to spring aside when Manuel made his attack, for it was his only chance.

"This time you shall die!" hissed Manuel, glaring at his enemy.

Young Glory saw the weapon flash in the air, and as it descended he jumped out of the way. It was only safety for a moment though, for Manuel, agile as a cat, turned on him and with the speed of lightning thrust again.

There was a rush of feet.

"Young Glory! Young Glory!"

"Here!"

Bang!

Dan Daly, pistol in hand, had reached the magazine just in time to save Young Glory. He saw the Spaniard in the act of stabbing the brave young sailor, and instantly he raised his six-shooter and fired.

Manuel was struck by the bullet between the shoulders. He staggered wildly, threw up his hands, dropping his stilletto as he did so, and then sank on the floor of the magazine.

When they went to him they found he was dead.