University of Virginia Library

6. CHAPTER VI.

The distant sail which Jose and his mistress
had been watching from the top of the
`Traitor's Tower,' had now got abreast of the
narrow entrance to the Bay, and was about
four miles from them. She was distinctly
made out to be a polacca of two masts, and
much smaller and a heavier sailer than the
goleta.

`Although it is not El Cinto, senora,' said
Jose, when it was plain that it was a stranger,
`yet as it is making for the passage into the
Bay, perhaps she bears some message from
Don Basilio to you.'

`She can only be a messenger of evil tidings,
if she bear not my brother,' said the
maiden sorrowfully.

`She is running direct for the Needle rock,
as if she knew the channel. Now if she hauls
her wind and puts her helm hard down and
runs sharp eastward after she passes the Penas
she has some one to pilot who has been in
here before. See, my lady! She keeps the
channel like an arrow. Now watch her! She
has doubled the Needle, and look! See how
she turns towards us her broadside and
stretches easterly. They are friends! They
are friends! Now she keeps away and stands
in again to clear the Tiger Rock! There is
no mistaking her, Donna Anita! There are
friends on board if the vessel is unknown to
us.'

`All this only increases my anxicty and
fears' That any of my brother's companions
should return in another vessel tells me that
danger has befallen him and his. See, she
displays a flag.'

She caught up the glass and looked earnestly.
The stranger had now got within the
chain of rocks that stretch from one headland
nearly to the other across the Bay, and was
almost two miles off, standing in under a
flowing sheet.

`What do you make out of the colours, senora?'
asked the old man eagerly.

`It is the Spanish ensign, with Basilio's
penant flying above it. It is lowered again!
Hoist the answering signal, Jose. It is my
brother. He is safe!'

In a few minutes a blue and scarlet answering
flag was fluttering upon the flag-staff
above the tower. With a countenance rediant
with joy Donna Anita cried to the old
man,

`Come, Jose, let us fly to the beach and
there meet them. I would embrace him the
earliest moment.'

`I fear Don Basilio has had some difficulty,
returning in another and inferior craft,' said
Jose looking grave.

`We shall soon hear. Let us hasten to the
shore. By the time we reach the end of the
path by the water, she will have come to an
anchor.'

With a rapid step they descended from the
tower, into the court or patio; and thence by
a gate, opening on the side of the Bay, she
struck into the forest, closely followed by old
Jose, whose less agile limbs could with difficulty
keep pace with her swift progress. The
way led first through a thick wood, then
wound along a precipice for a hundred yards,
then descending into a dark ravine, through
which it followed the banks of the bayon in
which the goleta had been secreted; and after
a little while it thence emerged beneath a terrace
of gigantic rocks, upon the open beach,
upon a level with the blue waters of the bay.

On reaching the beach Donna Anita saw
the vessel only half a mile distant standing in
towards the deep water at the mouth of the
bayon. She had not brought the spy-glass
and vainly strained her eyes to catch a glimpse
of her brother upon the polacca's deck!

Like a huge-winged bird stooping to her
nest the vessel as she came near folded her
canvass, swept gracefully round and dropt
her anchor within a hundred fathoms of the
shore where they stood. Donna Anita could
see nothing of her brother.

`Where is he? Do you see him, good
Jose?'

`No, by my faith, senora, I see him not.
I behold Don Isidoro, and many more familiar
faces. But I discover not Don Basilie. Peradventure
he is in the cabin.'

`I fear the worst. Their countenances are
sad! I dare not ask! See, they are letting
down a boat! Isidoro and others jump into

it! My brother is not of the number. He is
slain! He is lost to me forever!

`Nay, take comfort, Donna Anita! The boat
is pulling rapidly towards us. We shall soon
know!'

`I know all already! My heart tells me I
have no brother. Speak, Isidoro!' she cried
rushing into the water as the boat grounded
within a few feet of the beach. `Where is
Don Basilio? Where is my brother? Why
do I not see him with you? And this strange
vessel that you return in! Oh! for the love
of heaven torture me not by those sad looks!
Speak. Tell me he is dead, and pierce my
own bosom.'

`Don Basilio, lady is not dead. He lives,
but is a captive.'

`Do you say truly that he is not dead but is
a captive? Do you dare come back and tell
the sister of Don Basilio this? Captive and
you have left him. Base coward! Were I a
man senor Isidoro, you should not live to tell
the tale of your master's captivity twice!'

`Lady, I am here by his command! Every
effort that could be made by man was made to
rescue him, but in vain. If you will give me
leave I will relate to you the circumstances,
as he desired me to do!' and Isidoro stepping
on shore walked with her as she paced impetuously
up and down the hard white beach.

`Then he sent you to me! Where does he
lie imprisoned?'

`In the Moro Castle, I grieve to say.'

`And by whom was this done?'

`By the Governor-General.'

`I feared this. I suspected much of this.
I knew Basilio meditated avenging our father's
bloody death. I had prayed him to let
vengeance remain in God's hands. But he
never answered me openly but looked dark
and menacing. I have feared this. So he
made an attempt upon the Governor's life!'

`No, senora, not upon his life but upon his
liberty. He has long been forming a scheme
to get him into his power.'

`A conspiracy. Then will he perish!' she
cried clasping her hands in agony. But go
on! Let me hear all. For I would know
how to act—what steps to take, for Basilio
shall not lie in chains while I am free.'

`The circumstances are briefly these, senora;
for he desired me to make you fully acquainted
with them. He left here twelve
days ago for the double purpose of bringing
home as his bride the daughter of Don Pa
tricia Garcia and with whom he had become
deeply enamored in his first visit to Havana,
and as prisoner his Excelleucy the Governor-General.'

`Do I hear you, Don Isidoro?'

`You hear rightly. He had communicated
his plan to surprise the Governor to Donna
Elena his betrothed who professed herself a
warm patriot.'

`And was she not?'

`Hear the issue, senora. She entered into
his scheme, and promised to aid it by giving
a party to the Governor-General; and while
he was there to open a secret gate in her
father's garden, admitting Don Basilio and his
associates. A carriage was to be in waiting
to convey both herself and the Governor to
the sea-shore, where a boat would take them
on board the goleta, which I was to keep lying
too off the land within three miles of the city.
This plan would have been feasible and would
have been successful, if the treachery to which
Don Basilio is now the victim, had not stepped
in.'

`Treachery! By whom?'

`You shall shortly learn, senora. Don Basilio
came hither in accordance with the plan
between himself and Donna Elena, to man the
goleta and proceed to Havana. Twelve days
ago he parted from you for this purpose.

`Only as he told me to bring back a beautiful
bride. I knew nothing of all this deep
conspiracy, nor his intentions against the
governor! Now who was this traitor?'

`It was none other than Dona Alena, the
very lady he had expected to make his wife,
and whom he had made a co-partner in his
conspiracy!'

`Is it possible this woman betrayed him?'

`You shall hear, Senora. We came in
sight of Havanna just at sunset, and then
shortened sail standing off, so that we might
run under the land in the dark. It was the
night on which Dona Alena was to give the
ball to the Governor-general. Every thing
was favorable. As soon as it was dark enough
to run into the land, Don Basilio disembarked
in a solitary place near the ruins of the old
San Mateo, not three miles from the city. He
found in waiting, a carriage which, Pablo,
one of our men, who had been left behind for
the purpose, had driven to the beach to receive
him. With six men brave and true, two

of them mounted behind and two before, and
the other two in the carriage with him, all
well armed, he started for the city, which he
entered by the Pasco. In a few words, he
entered by the private gate, the gardens of the
Casa, leaving the coach without and privately
met Dona Alena, who was expecting him.

`All is ready,' she said to him after a few
moments conversation, with unusual animation.
`The Governor General is here. In
five minutes he shall be in your power. I
will go for him to walk in the garden, and I
will lead him round by the gate so that you
can seize him without giving alarm to the
guests within!'

She left him. He felt the moment of his
triumph and vengeance had come. He hastened
to the gate, from which he had been
gone about half an hour, to place his party so
as to seize his prisoner if he offered any resistance.
He found the carriage and men there,
scarcely visible in the darkness. Though he
could hardly see them, he gave them his orders
how to proceed, and then leaving the
gate hardly open he stood within it, the men
silently drawn up by its side. After waiting
impatiently a quarter of an hour, he saw two
figures approaching. They passed a lamp
suspended from a tree, and he recognized the
Governor General and Dona Elena. They
came near when a third person who seemed
to have leaped over the wall, he appeared so
suddenly, stood before them. Raising his cap
he said,

`All is safe, your Excellency! Proceed
without danger!'

Don Basilio heard these words, though spoken
in an under tone, but they understood
them not. The man disappeared as abruptly
as he had made his appearance, and the two
advanced seemingly in absorbing conversation
towards the gate. At the moment that
they seemed to be passing it in their walk.
Don Basilio stepped out and presenting his
sword at the breast of the Governor, commanded
him to surrender himself as his prisoner.
`It is in vain for your Excellency to
resist, as I am supported by eight men!'

`Treachery, ah!' cried the Governor, half
drawing his sword. He then sheathed it,
adding, `If you say truly, and from those
dark figures you seem to speak truth, then am
I your prisoner! But to whom do I surrender
myself?'

`That you shall know Senor, in good time.
Pass through this gate. My carriage awaits
you!'

`Whither do you conduct me?'

`That you shall know also, soon. May it
please your excellency to enter!'

`And the lady!'

`She will accompany you. To her I am
indebted for this happy fortune!'

`Ah, Dona Elena! Is it thee! am I betrayed
by you! the daughter of one of my counsellors!'

The lady made no reply; and assisted by
Don Basilio followed the Governor General into
the carriage.

`Now my men to your stations,' cried Don
Basilio. `The two who were with me in
the coach, must ride back as postilions!' The
carriage started, and the horses flew rapidly.
They had rode about eight minutes when Don
Basilio looked out of the window, being struck
by the strange appearance of the house.

`Are we retiring the same way we came?'
he called to the box.

There was no reply. The next instant
while he was yet looking out of the window
of the carriage and about to give an order to
take the Pasco road, he was astonished to see
the carriage turn short from the street and
roll thundering beneath an arch, both sides of
which were lined with mounted dragoons.
As the coach passed under the mansion gateway
he saw an iron port-cullis fall behind it
while the vehicle stopped suddenly. Lights
were carried about in hurrying hands, voices
of command were heard and glancing round,
Don Basileo saw himself in the interior of a
miliiary fortress!

`What means this?' he cried confounded
and bewildered, shouting to his men upon the
box. To his surprise he saw by the torches
that they were not his own men, but soldiers
dressed in the costume worn by his own party.
He looked behind the carriage and soldiers
were there! The postilions were soldiers
also. He could discover no face that he knew.
He at once suspected that he had become the
victim of treachery, and was himself a prisoner
to his prisoner!

The door of the carriage was opened by an
officer in a gorgeous uniform, when Don Basilio
drawing his sword, cried,

`Am I betrayed? Dona Alena how is this?'

`That I am the traitor, Don Basilio,' she

said firmly. Iloved you till I knew you were
a traitor and the son of a conspirator. Then
I ceased to love, you then became my enemy.
I have encouraged your confidence and entered
into this conspiracy for the purpose of
defeating it. I am too good a friend to my
country to wed one who conspires against it,
or plot with him in a conspiracy to overthrow
it. I trust now, Don Basilio that you will do
my patriotism justice, though it is not such
patriotism as your own!'

`The arch traitress!' cried Dona Alena
with a glowing cheek.' `My poor, noble brother!
Well?'

His Excellency then said,

`To this brave and loyal maiden, sir, do I
owe my liberty, and perhaps my life. She
has communicated to me all the steps of your
conspiracy. I gave myself to her plan to get
you and your vessel into my hands. It has,
you see, been succcessful. Armed boats have
been sent to capture your schooner which
was seen in the offing from the Moro long before
night set in. You were taken by a stratagem;
for Dona Elena knowing all your plans
had provided a second carriage precisely like
the first with men attired like yours to lie in
wait a short distance from the gate. After
you had entered a messenger as from you was
sent to tell your party that a mistake had
been made and that the carriage must drive
round the gardens to a postern on the farther
side. They obeyed, and on reaching the postern
the carriage was surrounded by a detachment
of soldiers, and every one of your party
taken into custody. In the meanwhile the
other carriage with its party had taken the
place of yours at the gate. Of this I was informed
before I reached by one of my messengers!'

`I see—I see how I have been ensnared!'
cried Don Basilio bitterly. He was too proud
of spirit to reply to, or reproach the traitress.
For a moment he looked as if he would have
sprung from the carriage and cut his way
through the dragoons; but a moments reflection
showed him that this would be fatal
to him. He therefore quietly surrendered his
arms to the officer who had opened the carriage
door and delivered himself up as a prisoner!'

`Poor Basilio! My unfortunate brother!
My life will be the forfeit of thy crime,' cried
his sister ringing her hands in despair.

`Nay, lady, we hope to rescue him,' said
Isidoro boldly. `Never! You said the Moro
held him prisoner. Whoever enters there,
sees no more the sun's light!' Yet you have
seen him and discoursed with him, Isidoro!
or else you had not learned all this you have
related to me, for my brother only could have
told you.'

`I have seen him, Senora!'

`Where and how?'

`I was left in charge of the goleta after he
disembarked. I stood off and on waiting for
the return of the carriage. At the end of two
hours, as agreed upon I sent a boat for him.
I took the command of her leaving the schooner
half a mile from land. On landing I saw
a carriage about fifty yards from the water
and approached it. I was instantly seized
and bound and thrown into it by half a dozen
soldiers. It was all done in an instant! My
men at the boat had not time to understand
what had happened and come to my rescue
before the carriage was driven off at full speed.
I learned from an officer within the carriage
that Don Basilio had been betrayed and was
then in prison. In half an hour I was thrown
into the same prison with him. Here he told
me all that had occurred. He was calm and
firm. He was only grieved that one whom
he loved should have proved a serpent in his
bosom! Yet he spoke no word of bitterness
against her. He lamented the result of his
conspiracy and spoke with confidence of being
yet able to succeed if he could effect his escape.
I remained with him only till morning
when he was removed as I was told, to the
Moro Castle. His last words were for me,
if I escaped to see you, or send you word; to
bid you not despair and send to his agent in
Havana all the money you could command.
If the governor sent troops to occupy the
Quinta, to resist them with all the force you
can command!'

`Noble Basilio. I will be worthy of you
and regard your slightest wish! Oh, that you
had made me a confidant in your plans and I
might have saved you from this treachery.
As it is I will not rest till you are free! I will
to Havana at once! But, you came not in
Basilio's vessel! You lost yours! How happened
this! And how have you escaped?'

`Our vessel was taken by treachery. Before
my men, finding me a prisoner, could
decide what step to take, a party of soldiers

were upon them. They escaped in their boat
leaving several of their assailants dead on the
sands. Before the boat reached the goleta
those in ber saw these barges pulling towards
her also. They were also seen from her
deck. But suspecting no treachery there was
no suspicion raised until the goleta's boat
come along side, when the men at once gave
the alarm. The barges come up at a rapid
rate, with at least twenty soldiers in each,
armed with muskets and carbines.

Carlos, whom I left in charge, saw at once
that there was no escaping this superior force,
as there was a dead calm. The only way was
to desert the goleta and leave her to the enemy.
With great presence of mind he ordered
the boat round to the side opposite to that on
which the barges were advancing, and also
lowered the quarter-boat into the water upon
the same side. He then commanded all the
men to jump into them armed and as the barges
came up on one side pull away on the
other!'

`Could he not have fought them!'

`Not so near the walls of the Moro. It was
calm, and if he had beaten off these boats he
would have been overpowered by others.
Carlos did well, though the vessel was lost to
us. He had no time to scuttle her. He was
the last to leave her decks and as he did so,
he applied a torch to the rigging. The barges
came on and the soldiers boarded her,
no doubt, surprised at finding her deserted.
There being no wind to spread the flames,
they were soon extinguished. In the meanwhile
the boats containing our men pulled
seaward as rapidly as they could force the
boats through the water. After getting a
league beyond the goleta, which the captors
had began to tow towards the harbor, Carlos,
after consulting with his men resolved to capture
the first vessel that they should fall in
with. They kept on about three leagues from
the land until after sun-rise, when not seeing
any thing they resolved to stand in towards
the port as most likely to meet one. About
nine o'clock in the morning they descried a
polacca schooner coming out and standing
westward along the shore. But I must now
tell you of my escape!

After Don Basilio had been removed from
me, the governor sent for me to question me
about the conspiracy, and to learn its extent.
Under the pretence that I had something of
importance to communicate I requested to be
left alone with him. After searching my person
for arms he consented to my request. I
immediately locked the door and sprung past
him through a window which opened upon a
balcony. I placed my hand upon this and
leaped to the ground. I found myself in a
garden. Behind me I heard the alarm. I
flew with the speed of a greyhound along the
walks. I reached a high wall. The bell of
the palace tour was ringing as I climbed its
sides, and an alarm gun was fired from the
battlements as I sprung into the street
on the opposite side. A man drew a
knife to dispute my way. I snatched it from
him, and thus armed cleared my way. I
reached the harbor. I cast myself into the
water among the fleet of fishermen's boats and
diving beneath them rose between two some
distance from the shore. I heard shouts of
pursuit. I dove again and rose near a vessel.
I dove again and come up under the bows of
a polacca-schooner which was under weigh.
Her gib fortunately overhung her bows so low
that by pulling it a little it concealed me completely
while it afforded me support. I remained
thus until the polacca was well out of
the harbor when I made my appearance over
the bows. I pretended to have been upset in
a boat outside and they let me remain, promising
to land me at some convenient spot. I
had not been fifteen minutes on board when I
discovered, for I was scarching for them, two
boats filled with men at a great distance off.
I knew they must be our men; for the governor
told me that they had escaped in the dark
and were probably landed somewhere; and as
he had despatched soldiers to scour the coast
he hoped to entrap them. But I knew that
Carlos was too wise to land. At my suggestion
the Captain stood for the boats, as I told
him they were doubtless in distress. As we
come near them, and he saw they were armed
and pulling for him, the captain became alarmed
and would have put about. But drawing
my knife I with a blow cut the tiller rope and
severed the halyards of the main-sail. The
polacca come up into the wind and lay perfectly
unmanageable. The captain and his
crew of five men assailed me, but I defended
myself and kept them at bay until the boats
come along side and the polacca fell into their
possession. The surprise of Carlos and the
men at seeing me on board I need not describe

to you. That lady is the polacca!' he said as
he ended his narrative, pointing to the vessel
as she lay at anchor off the beach.