Part 18 (2/2)
”That we shall,” Hal answered heartily. ”Now, Gerald, up you get.”
The mules were led forward at this moment, and the two sprang into their saddles, Hal gaining his seat with an easy vault which was by no means as simple to execute as it appeared. But he was a strong and active young fellow, and made little of such a feat. A minute later he had secured his stirrups, and had the reins in his hand.
”Good-by, and good luck to you!” cried Mr. Brindle, appearing with a letter in his hand. ”Here is the note for the overseer, Hal; I ask him to send me ten extra hands. If need be he will advance you more money, though I believe I have given you sufficient to cover all expenses. One thing more. Remember that while in Cuba you are in the enemy's country, and that the less you come into contact with Spaniards the better. Now, adieu, and let us hope for a speedy return.”
”Good-by, and take care of yourselves,” cried Dora earnestly, coming forward to shake them by the hand. ”Hal, I give Gerald into your care.
Bring him and yourself back safely, and I will thank you.”
”I will, never fear,” answered Hal. Then he lifted his reins, and taking his hat from his head, turned from the hacienda. ”Come along, Gerald,”
he cried, and next second was cantering across the clearing.
A minute later both were swallowed up in the forest, leaving Mr. Brindle and Dora standing on the balcony, arm in arm, looking longingly after them.
”I do hope that they will come to no harm,” said Dora, as if to herself.
”Harm! And so do I. But why should they?” answered her father rea.s.suringly. ”One of them has a head on his shoulders and a heart beneath his jacket which will take him through anything. There, come in, Dora, and let us have some breakfast. Afterwards we will go round the plantation, for during the overseer's unavoidable absence you will have to act in his stead.”
Hal and his companion with hearts as light and happy as the morning, and filled to overflowing with high spirits, cantered along, side by side, in the direction of Santiago. Nothing disturbed their feeling of security, and they chatted gayly, going once more over the exciting events of the previous day. At length they emerged from the forest, and Santiago lay exposed to full view, some five miles away.
”One gets a splendid look-out from this level,” remarked Hal. ”The town is laid out like a map beneath us; and just look at the s.h.i.+pping! That harbor with its narrow entrance, is like a bottle, and the fleets of Spain might lie in there and never be seen, and never fear attack from hostile s.h.i.+ps. Hallo! what are those outside?”
He shaded his eyes, and looked at two dots floating on the water just off the harbor mouth. A moment later they showed up clearly, even at that distance, and it was easy to distinguish that they were two long, low torpedo boats, which were steaming parallel to the sh.o.r.e, with a trail of blue smoke blowing out behind them.
”Spanish sleuthhounds,” said Hal. ”Gerald, we shall have some trouble in getting away, for those boats are patrolling the harbor mouth, and, no doubt, have strict orders to stop any craft attempting to enter or leave. But we'll manage it somehow.”
”Why not get aboard some merchant vessel?” asked Gerald.
”At any other time, that might do,” Hal replied thoughtfully; ”but now I fancy that all s.h.i.+ps will be compelled to lay up in the harbor. Besides, the American fleet will be blockading Cuba, and to attempt to leave just now would be to run the danger of capture. Still, I've no doubt that some neutral vessels are down there, and they will be allowed to sail, for there is a clause in international law that makes it possible. We must look out for one, and I propose that we ride a little closer, and leave our mules where they can be cared for. As soon as it gets dark we will make for the town, and enter boldly. We shall be like hundreds of others, for all the people hereabouts are dressed in these plantation clothes. I'll keep my tongue quiet, while you can do all the questioning. What do you say to that, old boy?”
”That it will be the best way out of the difficulty, and, as we have still some hours to wait before the sun goes down, I vote for some grub.
I'm as hungry as a hunter and as empty as a drum. An early start on a light breakfast makes one simply ravenous.”
”Just the thing! I'm like you, and awfully peckish,” answered Hal cheerily. ”Here, what's this? The very spot for a camp and a short siesta. There is no fear of interruption, and a sleep during the heat of the day will do us good. We had precious little yesterday, and, for all we know, may have none at all to-night. Whoa! Stand, boy. There, now you can see for yourself. I dare say you are as ready for a feed and a rest as I am.”
They dismounted, and removing the bits from the mouths of their mules, and loosening the girths, allowed the animals to graze. Then they sat down upon a fallen tree, and discussed the contents of the packets which the thoughtful Dora had provided. At six o'clock it was time to start, and, saddling up, they went forward at a smart canter.
”Do you see that hut over there?” said Gerald, pointing to a tumble-down erection of palm leaves and stakes which suddenly came into view some hundreds of yards in front of them. ”That will be the very place to leave our mules, for a trusty native, whom I have known for years will willingly look after them till we return, even though weeks may pa.s.s.”
Shaking their reins, they galloped up to the tiny hut, and called loudly for the owner.
”We are going into the town,” said Gerald in Spanish, when the native appeared. ”We shall be absent a week or more, and we want you to look after the mules. Can you do it for us? We will pay you well.”
The man, who was old and crippled, and dressed in rags, willingly a.s.sented.
”For a week or more!” he cried, in a squeaky voice, shaking his head the while. ”My advice to you, my masters, is to leave the town alone; for if you are rash enough to go there, it will be a month at least before you return--perhaps, even, I may never see you again. But I doubt whether you will be able to enter, for all the gates are closed, and the approaches guarded.”
”But there are other ways in, are there not?” asked Gerald.
”Yes; you might be able to slip in by the side streets,” the native agreed hesitatingly; ”but take the advice of one old enough to give it, and leave the place alone altogether.”
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