Part 15 (1/2)

Jose Castro danced about like a maniac on the sh.o.r.e.

”You shall all be shot!” he cried. ”The general will have you killed as traitors.”

But the men rowed on, despite Jose's threats.

Dan Daly had started up when he heard the noise.

”Faith, an' I know the gentleman,” he said, ”though it's his name that's not in my mind now.”

”It's Jose Castro.”

”What?”

”True, Dan. There's no killing him.”

”Shure, an' there's no tellin'.”

The Irishman took up one of the rifles that lay at the bottom of the boat. It was loaded. He put it to his shoulder and fired.

Bang!

Then he took another and fired.

But by this time Jose had vanished. He had no desire to become a target for Dan Daly's rifle practice.

Meanwhile, the boats were rapidly nearing the sh.o.r.e behind, and fortunately the waves had fallen, or it would have gone hard with everybody.

Young Glory was keenly searching the water for the cruiser. He thought it possible that seeing the torch burning, he might show a light. This, of course was doubtful, for war s.h.i.+ps in an enemy's waters, never display a light of any kind at night.

Boom!

”The cruiser!” shouted Young Glory, joyfully.

”Arrah! but it's sinkin' us she'll be.”

”No, no, Dan. It's a shot across our bows. I'll wave the light again.”

”An' faith it's little good that'll do.”

”But it will. It shows we are not an enemy, for enemies don't give notice of their coming.”

Young Glory continued to wave the torch, and the boats proceeded slowly.

”I see it!”

”What! Young Glory?”

”The cruiser. Look, Dan, you can just make it out in the darkness.”

”Shure, an' ye're right.”