University of Virginia Library

3. CHAPTER III.

The goleta after having anchored by the
grapnel to the brig's hauser, remained stationary,
being about one third of a mile distant
from the frigate. The person who had
stationed himself upon the bows to direct her

course through the closely anchored vessels,
after going aft took the spy-glass from the
hand of the young man who held it, and
springing upon the companion way, levelled
the instrument at the vessel of war, between
which and himself lay three vessels at anchor?
viz., the brig at whose hauser he was swinging;
the Kennebec sloop Polly Ann; and a large
square rigged brig, before alluded to by Dalton.

`She is quiet,' said the youth delivering up
the glass.

`Yes. But we must be cautious. Rashness
on our part would be fatal to our plan!'

`We shall succeed! We must succeed,
brother!' answered the other with extraordinary
carnestness.

`It is a bold act; it is attended with risk's;
but we shall be successful.'

`God grant it!' was the fervent response.

This conversation was carried on in Spanish.
The taller who held the glass then resumed
his observation of the frigate while the
other walked up and down the deck with a
slow, sad, thoughtful step. At every turn his
walk would bring him full into the moonlight
that fell upon the glistening decks, and then
as he would recede he would fall beneath the
dark shadow of the lofty bulwark encircling
the stern.

As the moon fell upon his countenance,
which was scarcely protected by a silken
scarlet bonnet, it shewed that it was a youthful
one and that its expression was pensive,
yet determined; as if grief and a bold purpose
were both together upon his heart. He was
not more than twenty if so old, with a profile
of singular elegance and finish; dark curls,
black as the raven's wing, escaped from his
bonnet and fell about his checks which were
pale—paler from the contrast with the chon
locks that shaded it. His mouth was finely
shaped and spirited in expression; and his dark
black eyes were melancholy yet full of fire.
His person was elegant; his gait easy, and his
step firm and manly. He wore a gold embroidered
jacket richly lined with fur, closely
fitting his shape, and blue trowsers slashed
above the knee and ornamented with hanging
silver buttons, that jingled at every step. His
waist was girdled by a belt of stamped leather
and he wore slouched boots of the same material;
a costume picturesque and singularly
becoming; but more befitting a young Mexican
cavalier in the pasco, than the occupant
of the quarter deck of a goleta. A very small
gold inlaid pistol stuck in his belt, seemed
worn more for ornament then as a means of
defence. His warm olive complexion, though
now pale from some secret anxiety, and the
pure Castillian in which he had spoken, betrayed
him a child of the terra caliente—the
land of ever blooming flowers and suns that
shine in an endless round of summer.

His companion after surveying the frigate,
with his spyglass resting in the small port opened
in the bulwarks, turned and addressed him.

`I think we can move now without suspicion.
The three vessels laying in range
will favor our approach till we haul nigh
enough!'

`Let us move at once then,' answered the
other with an eager gesture of impatience.
We must do what we are to do to night or all
will be in vain. Heaven smiles upon us in
sending us before favoring winds and bringing
us into port in advance of the frigate.
This strengthens my hope for the future?'

`I believe we shall be successful! We must
have been seen by Diego, for we were full
three hours in sight of the frigate in the calm
that followed the dense fog under which we
first made the land. It is well for us that the
frigate, if she noticed us particularly, did not
fall in with us outside in the fair sea. She
would then have brought us to, for the appearance
in these Northern waters of a latteen
ship is not an every day occurrence. In the
harbor we are safe from her curiosity.'

`How shall we advance upon the frigate,
Basilio?'

`By a warp-line. Are the two men ready
with the line, Tito?' he called to a stout dark
man who was standing near the helm.

`Estan listos, senor,' answered the man
touching his cap.

`Then send them out with it to the hawser
of that lumber sloop that lies astern of the
frigate!'

`Si, senor!'

`They will soon reach it, though it is a long
swim with a line to carry. But two better
swimmers never dove for pearls, than the men
I send to fasten us to the sloop's cable!'

The men let themselves down over the
bows by the martingale, one of them with a
small line passed once around his body and
the end held in his teeth. They both struck
out together, and as the line grew in length

one of them fell back to support it, so as to
relieve his fellow from the increasing weight.
The foremost one succeeded in reaching the
cable and securing it with a double turn round
it; and then throwing himself upon his back
floated down towards the goleta, which, at
the same moment, began to move. The line
was so small, yet strong enough with a steady
pull to draw the vessel forward, that it was
unseen on board of the frigate by Dalton and
the lieutenant. Having reached a position
within half cable's length of the frigate and
in a direction about two points off her starboard
quarter, or that side which was farthest
from the town, the goleta, as has been seen,
ceased her progress. For two hours she lay
perfectly quiet. The first watch was ended
on board the frigate, and the first half hour
in the middle watch passed, and yet she lay
as if not a human being was on board Roswell
had not drawn the attention of the lieutenant
of this watch to her, and she was onl
noticed by him as being the polacre ship
which had beat them running into port. Of
her subsequent mysterious movements he was
wholly ignorant.

After she had became stationary, the young
man in the scarlet gorra and slouched boots
seeing that they were regarded from the deck
of the frigate, laid his hand impressively upon
the arm of him, whom he had addressed as
Basilio.

`Do you not observe that officer in the rigging
looking down upon us with a spy glass!
This close scrutiny augurs unfavorably for
our plan!'

`It is the duty of the officer of the watch
on board of a man-of-war to note every thing
that transpires in the vicinity of his ship. If
yonder lumber sloop should let down her
boat she would be as closely scrutinized as
our movement! To avoid increasing any suspicion,
we will lay perfectly quiet till after
midnight when a new set of men will have
the deck, and then we shall be able to carry
out our plan without further suspicion. To
stir now, would be to bring every action under
the vigilant eye of the officer who has
seen us in motion!'

`It is two hours nearly to midnight! we
need every moment for flight and action!'
answered the younger with energy.

`There will be time after twelve o'clock.
Be sure that our every motion is closely watch
ed now. If we remain quiet, we shall cease
to attract attention.

`I will be patient brother!'

`Be so. Rashness may defeat all our
plans. Throw yourself upon that Indian mat
and, with my cloak over you, sleep for you
have been a long watcher! I will awake
you in good time!'

As he spoke he kindly laid his hand upon
the well turned shoulder of the youth, who,
without replying, slowly sunk down upon the
mat, and was soon asleep.

Basilio stood gazing upon him a moment
with singular interest, and then calling to a
slave who was lying below in the door-way of
the cabin, he lighted a cigar and began to
walk the deck, but so near the bulwarks as to
prevent being seen from the frigate. His
men were lying down on the forecastle. He
was the only man moving, and seemingly the
only one awake on board.

`Let them repose. They will do better
service by and by,' he said as his eye fell on
his prostrate crew. `The wind is favourable,
but the moon is full bright for secret action.
There are heavy clouds in the west that look
as if they might rise by midnight and give us
more obscurity for our purpose. Diego must
have been successful thus far or we should
have seen him swimming down to us. Fortune
and Anita's star have favoured our voyage
in a remarkable manner. Let the same
bright star shine upon what we have to do,
and thy happiness will be secure?'

This was uttered with deep feeling and energy.
He then, as if lost in meditation, began
slowly to pace up and down the deck. In
height this person was a head taller than the
young cavalier who was sleeping at his feet.
His air was commanding, united with the
bold, graceful, nonchalance of the seaman.
His countenance was strikingly handsome,
with hazel eyes full of passion and intelligence.
His brow was noble, and as he carried
his broad Panama sombrero in his hand,
his features were unshaded save by flowing
masses of dark brown hair. The style of his
features was Castilian, and they had that refined
aristocratic outline which belongs to
the purest blood of Spain. His upper lip was
darkened by a mustache which did not wholly
conceal the expression and beautiful shape
of his fine mouth. His costume was simple;
consisting only of a blue striped gingham ca

saca, and nankeen trowsers, secured at the
waist by a blue silken sash, through the folds
of which glittered, as he moved, a broad band
of shining steel inlaid in thread like gold with
Arabesque figures.

Slowly and thoughtfully he paced the deck
of his beautiful vessel with the moonlight
broadly shining down through the rigging
making a tracery of clearly defined shadows
across his path; the youth upon his Indian
mat, just under the shadow of the mizzen mast
slept soundly, though at intervals a bright
blush would mantle his pale check, and his
lips would move in the indistinct articulation
of some name: the men forward also slept,
and silence and repose reigned over the decks
of the vessel whose late movements had seemed
so mysterious to the two young officers
who in the first watch had been watching her
from the deck of the frigate.

Besides Roswell and Dalton there were
two other individuals on board the vessel of
war, whose interest in the manœuvres and
presence of the goleta was far deeper than
theirs. In the general rejoicing which brought
smiles and cheerfulness to every face on board
the razee at the prospect of soon meeting
friends, there was one young man whose brow
wore no smile, whose countenance was clouded
and sad. The green islands of the harbor,
the familiar shores and the pleasant scenes
that gladdened all hearts, as the frigate sailed
up the harbor, only deepened the gloom upon
his brow!

He was not one among the group of officers,
who had been idly watching the town as they
approached it; nor was he to be seen in the
watch with Dalton and Roswell. Alone in
one of the state rooms appropriated to officers
of the frigate, upon the lower gun deck, nearly
adjoining the ward-room, chained by the wrist
to the bolt of a gun-carriage, he was brooding
over his gloomy condition. No one visited
him. No one was nigh him to sympathise
with him or help him bear up under his condition.
A prisoner chained and closely guarded,
he held no communication with any one
save the soldier who stood sentry by the low
door which opened into his place of confinement.
It contained a berth and one gun with
space enough for him to walk a few paces up
and down at the length of his chain.

The port was open, and he sat looking from
it out upon the shining water as the frigate
was sailing up the harbor, His thoughts were
dark and melancholy as became his destiny.
He saw as his companions on the deck had
done, the green islands, the castle and the
familiar shores of the Bay—for he was returning
to his native land—but they presented
to his mind no pleasant thoughts. He turned
away from them and in the darkness and solitude
of his prison paced to and fro, while
deep sighs escaped him.

What crime had he committed thus to be
condemned to chains and imprisonment, while
the free winds blew and the free waves flowed
—for his blue nautical costume showed that
he was `a child of the winds and of the
waves!' What crime had deprived of liberty
one still youthful and whose countenance was
noble and generous even in its despondency?
When every heart was throbbing with the
thoughts of home and of liberty on shore,
why did his beat under the chains of bondage.

The frigate came to an anchor, and the
prisoner ceased his short promenade and setting
upon the side of the gun looked out of
the port. His air was listless and hopeless.—
He gazed into the water as if he coveted its
deep embrace; as if, but for his chains he
would have plunged at once to death and freedom!

Suddenly a dark object swung before his
eyes, intercepting his view through the port,
which to his surprise he saw was a man's foot.
Another foot followed, and then lightly descended
the whole figure, and a man stood
crouching in the port within a yard of him.—
He started back, when he heard his name pronounced
in a low tone. The voice was familiar.
He looked again closer, for the apartment
was lighted only by the reflection of the
moonlight from the water—and instantly
sprung forward.

`Diego! my good—my brave Diego! Is it
you I behold indeed, or is this a vision?'

`It is me, Master Walter,' answered the
man in broken English. I have not left you.
I have been on board of the frigate!'

`Not since she left Havana? But we must
speak low and cautiously.'

`I know it. I shall hold here by the rope
ready to swing out of the port if any one
comes in. I have been on board all the time,
and heard of you every day. I did not dare
to speak about you, because nobody on board

suspects that I know you; but I have been
making my discoveries and spying about you
till I know exactly how the ground lays. I
could have got to see you before to-night, for
I have had my line ready four or five days
ago, but I didn't want to give you any hopes
till I was sure!

`Sure! Hopes? What am I to understand,
Diego?' asked the prisoner who had
listened with profound surprise, and apparently
bewildered to comprehend him.

`Sure of assisting you; giving you hopes
of escaping.'

`Of this there is no prospect. You see I
am heavily chained and that a sentinel always
stands at my door.'

`That I know. But chains and sentinels
cannot keep those whom love would make
tree.'

`How mean you, Diego? You talk mysteriously.
Your presence here confounds
me. Relate all!'

`In a few words. I shipped on board of the
frigate as soon as I found you were arrested
and taken on board. I was resolved not to
let you go without a friend. I hoped something
might turn up by which Diego could
prove to you that he is not ungrateful. You
saved my life, Don Waltero. I was ready to
risk mine, if need were, to save yours!'

`Faithful and good friend! But I fear you
have come this long passage in vain. You
alone can do little, Diego. You see they regard
me as no common prisoner. They do
not mean I shall escape.'

`But I mean you shall, senor.'

`You speak positively. What hope can
you give me? Seeing you, seems like half regaining
my liberty? And so, unknown to me
my truest friend has been on board all this
dreary passage.'

`I would have visited you sooner to cheer
you up, Don Waltero, but I thought it best to
keep periectly quiet till something was sure.'

`Then from your coming to see me you
would imply that you have something sure?'
said the young man eagerly, his fine (though
very pale) countenance lighting up with animation
and hope.

Diego smiled; and then pointing warningly
to the door outside of which the sentinel
was posted he said,

`poco a paco, senor? If you speak so loud
even the noise of the young gentlemen in the
ward-room will hardly drown your voice. I
have something certain. I have come to see
you to let you know there is a plan on foot to
aid your escape, and that you have friends at
hand you little suspect!'

The prisoner warmly embraced the hand of
the faithful Spaniard and said,

`Bless you and them with you! Liberty—
life! Oh, Diego these are sweet sounds to my
ear! But above all the hope of escaping a
felon's death in my native land! Do you bid
me hope? Remember that we are now in port.
To-morrow I shall exchange the frigate for the
cell of a prison on shore. Can you bid me
hope to escape! If it is to be achieved it must
be done by night and this night! No, Diego.
This is too sudden! too short a time for me
to believe I can gain my liberty in it! to escape
from death in! Freedom between this and
dawn! No, Diego you mock me!'

`If senor were able to look from the deck
and see what I have seen to night he would
hope!

`What have you seen?'

Before Diego could reply the door of the
room opened and the sentinel thrust in his
head with a lantern held in his hand. The
active Spaniard had heard the first touch upon
the door and swung himself from the port before
he was discovered.

`Sure, and I thought I heard a vice here,
yer honor,' said the marine, looking round as
he elevated his lantern.

`You often hear my voice, Mooney. Is it
new to you?' demanded the young man
haughtily.

The lantern now rendered apparent what
the indistinct light did not permit to be visible
before that the prisoner wore the uniform ofa
lieutenant with the buttons cut off! He had
long flowing light brown or auburn hair, a
clear, fearless blue eye, a finely expressive
mouth, and a look at once calm and determined.
He was about two and twenty tall and
manly, with an air more martial than seaman
like, yet he also looked, as he was, every inch
the sailor. No one could look upon him without
a feeling of prepossession in his favor.
Yet he was chained there like a felon! What
extraordinary circumstances could have
brought one whom nature and education had
formed to interest the most indifferent, to such
a position? The reader will soon be informed
in due detail.

The sentinel after looking carefully around
the room, under the gun and even peeping
into the muzzle, went slowly out again mut
tering,

`I would have sworn I hearn two vices in
here!'

`You hear as you see, David, when you are
drunk,' said the prisoner not a little gratified
at Diego's escape.

`How is that, Mr. Nevil?'

`Double.'

The marine scrowled, and then said,

`You may have your talk free now, sir, and
wilcome, for its few watches more I'm thinkin
yer honor'll be after kapein'. Its a pity
sich a young gintleman should be stretching
hemp wid his neck instead o' wid his hands
in pullin' ropes which yer honor's more used
to. Its a bad law as makes a capstan o' a
Christian's neck. Sorra me! its a pity any
how, for yer honor's sake!'

`You seem to have made up your mind to
hang me, Mooney,' he said with a smile.

`Not me is it, but the Captain and the gintlemen.
Its iviry sowl o' thim as says ye'll
be hanged without judge or jury.'

The young man laughed, as he replied turning
on his heel,

`It is to hang me with judge and jury, David,
that I am brought home in the frigate.'

`Will any how, yer honor takes it easy,'
said the marine as he shouldered his musket
and closed the door. Hardly had the door
shut begore Diego reappeared in the port and
swinging himself in lighted upon the gun.