CHAPTER VII
ALL BUT KILLED
Undoubtedly an attempt had been made to deprive Hal of his charge. HadHal waited another minute before discovering the absence of hispossession, the thieves would certainly have escaped with the valuables.
"Yes, they are rogues," said Mr. Brindle that evening, returning to thesubject as he and Hal sat down to dinner, "and the more I think about itthe more certain I feel that I am right. After dinner we will endeavorto ascertain who they are."
Accordingly, half an hour later, they rose from their seats, just as thetrain drew up at a platform, and walked from end to end of the longstring of cars, failing, however, to see the two adventurers.
"They've gone; and, after all, it was to be expected," exclaimed Mr.Brindle. "I suppose they slipped off a few minutes after boarding thetrain. There can have been no difficulty, as we crawled out of thestation. Well, we shall not be troubled again; but let it be a lesson toyou, Hal. Nowadays, one ought to be most careful when dealing withstrangers."
Sauntering back, they took their seats once more, and looked at thepeople on the platform. At length the bell clanged, and to the familiarcry of "All aboard!" the cars were once more set in motion.
"Hallo! Those fellows were here all the time," said Hal, glancing at twofigures on the platform. "Look, Mr. Brindle! There are the men who triedto steal the bag!"
"Ah, is that so, Hal?" exclaimed Mr. Brindle. "Precious scoundrels theylook too, and the one with the beard strikes me again as being a man Ihave met before. Well, we need not trouble, for the train is off, andthey are left behind. Now, lad, we'll have a good sleep, and to-morrow,when we leave our berths for breakfast, we shall be within an hour ofSable Bay."
Ten minutes later our hero was lying between the sheets, lookingsleepily at the shaded electric light above him.
Meanwhile, what had become of the two men who had attempted to depriveHal of the bag?
No sooner had the car passed in which Mr. Brindle and his young engineerwere seated, than the swarthy-looking foreigners leaped on to the stepof the following one, and hastily passing through the smoking-saloon,entered a small cupboard set apart for the porter.
"That was well managed, Senor Capitan," the darker of the two at onceexclaimed, seating himself. "Ha, ha, did you not see them look at us? Itis clear that they suspected our game, and no doubt their inspection ofthe cars was to discover us and have us ejected. We have played ourcards well. While they fancy that we are miles behind them, we are inreality but a few yards away. No doubt this negro will entertain us tillthe time for action arrives, and then we will have the gold you say thebag contains, even though that stalwart young Englishman objects."
He spoke in Spanish, gesticulating and gabbling the words, andintroducing a tone of marked disdain when alluding to the porter. Therewas little doubt that he was a half-caste, and owed some part of hisexistence to the negro race to which he had alluded with such contempt.
"When do we make the attempt, Senor Capitan?" he asked. "See, it ishalf-past eight now, and the majority of passengers are thinking ofgoing to bed. Shall you try at midnight, or will you think it best towait till the early hours of to-morrow?"
The man addressed did not answer for the moment, but, removing the beardfrom his chin, slowly rolled a cigarette. He was a small, active-lookingman, of undoubted Spanish blood. At first sight he would have beencalled a handsome fellow, but a glance at his eyes and mouth alteredthat impression. There was something not altogether pleasing about him.
"You are overhasty, and forget yourself, Pedro," he said at length. "Onewould have thought that it was all of your planning. Remember that itwas I who decided how we would act; and do not forget that inundertaking to abstract this bag, I am risking far more than you."
"For which you will, no doubt, extract a proportionately large share ofthe booty," grumbled the one who had been called Pedro.
"Perhaps. And why not? Am I not the leader? and are you not the servant?But do not let us argue so, or we might quarrel, and that would be badfor one of us. Listen to me, and see that you do not interrupt. ThisEnglish brat, who just awoke in time to upset the plan which I haddevised so carefully, is still in charge of the precious bag for whichwe have traveled so far, and from which we hope to recoup ourselves. Weknow that he is about to retire for the night, for the porter has toldus so. Very good. What of the others? They are weary, and will turn inearly, so as to awake fresh and rested to-morrow. Our accomplice here,the negro whom you scowl at so heavily, will tell us when all in thatcar have retired. That will be our time. Any noise we may make will beunnoticed, owing to the fact that it is so early; while if this youngfool of an Englishman shouts--well, perhaps the rattle of the train willdrown everything!"
"Perhaps," Pedro growled. "And what if the sounds are heard?" he asked."Supposing the Senor Englishman cries loudly for help?"
"Ah! then he must look to himself. We will deal gently with him tillthen; but if he refuses to be silent----In any case, you have therevolver and some inches of steel? Now we understand each other," saidthe Spaniard. "We will wait till all is clear, when we will enter theSenor Englishman's compartment and bind him. That done, this porter willsignal for the cars to stop and will raise an alarm. Of course he willnot know precisely what has happened, nor, if questions are asked willhe have an idea of the appearance of the two mountebanks who have daredto commit robbery on the cars. Our friend, the Senor Brindle, will notdream of us; for did he not see us descend from the cars some milesback? By the time the passengers have collected their senses we shall bea mile behind, hidden in the forest, and it will be evil luck indeed ifthe bag which we covet is not with us. Then back to 'the ever-faithfulisland,' Cuba, the island of freedom, where a Spaniard who is poor maylive in contentment, certain of being able to return to his nativecountry with provision for the remainder of his life, and all pluckedfrom the islanders. Yes, Pedro, we will return home and, later on, wewill repeat the process of bleeding the Senor Brindle."
"Buenos, Senor Capitan! You are a veritable wonder!" Pedro criedexcitedly, waving his cigarette in the air, and patting his comrade onthe knee. "And now to pass the time. It is dull sitting here doingnothing but smoke and listen to the rattle of the train. Here, boy,bring glasses and a bottle."
Thus addressed, the porter produced a decanter of liquor and twotumblers, and for an hour or more the two conspirators refreshedthemselves, and carried on an eager conversation in low tones, in thevoluble, gesticulating manner common to their countrymen. At length theporter, who had departed and left them to themselves, returned to informthem that all was clear.
"Now for the money, Pedro!" the Spaniard exclaimed. "Wait, though; letus pay this good fellow for his services."
Taking a purse from his pocket, he placed four dollars in the porter'shand, and led the way into the smoking saloon. Two minutes later theywere standing at the end of the car in which Hal was sleeping. Theypaused for a moment as if in fear, then they opened the door, and creptalong the passage till they were outside the compartment he occupied.
"No, not there, Senor Capitan. The English boy has gone into the otherbunk," Pedro whispered, pointing to the next compartment, in which Mr.Brindle lay. "See, I am sure of it, for here is his coat, hangingoutside the door."
"Are you quite sure, Pedro?" the Spaniard asked doubtfully. "The portersaid we should find him in the fifth from the forward end of the car,and this is certainly the one."
"That is as you say," was the reply. "But here are the young man'sboots. It is clear the negro is mistaken."
For more than a minute the two crouched silently in the corridor,doubtful as to the compartment in which Hal slept, and in which lay thebag they hoped to capture. It was, indeed, a puzzle, and it was longbefore they could come to any solution. To enter the wrong compartmentmeant ruin to all their hopes. But more than that might come of it, forMr. Brindle was a powerful man, and to be caught in his clutches wouldbe no joke. It was not a pleasant thing to think about, and it troubledthe Spaniard. H
e ground his teeth, and, muttering an oath, whispered inPedro's ear:
"Keep the revolver," he said, "and give me the knife. Whatever happens,we must contrive to get away."
Convinced by the boots which Hal had placed too far to the right whenleaving them in the corridor for the porter to attend to, they crept ona pace, and grasped the handle of the compartment in which Mr. Brindlewas sleeping.
"Quick, the key!" whispered the Spaniard, trying the door, and findingit locked.
There was a grating sound and a faint click as the key was introduced,and the bolt thrown back. But slight though the noise was it reachedHal's ears, even amidst the rattle of the wheels, and startled him fromhis sleep. Ignorant as to what had disturbed him, he lay on his back,his eyes wide open. Another minute, and he would have turned over tosink into sleep once more, when something bumped heavily against thewoodwork which separated his compartment from Mr. Brindle's.
"Don't move, or it will be the worse for you, Senor Englishman!" heheard a hoarse voice exclaim in threatening tones.
It took a few seconds for Hal to comprehend what was happening. "Don'tmove, or it will be the worse for you!" That meant that someone was indifficulties next door.
"By Jove, those rascals are making another attempt!" he exclaimed; andat once sprang from his bunk.
Flinging the door open, he rushed into the next compartment, to seekneeling on the floor, in the full glare of the electric light, whichhad been switched on by the Spaniard, Pedro, revolver in hand, themuzzle of which was pressed into Mr. Brindle's ear, while the other handwas placed over his mouth.
Hal had just time to notice that the other scoundrel was busilysearching for the bag beneath the bunk, when both men turned and rushedat him, Pedro pressing the trigger of his revolver. There was a blindingflash, followed by a loud report, and Hal felt something strike him onthe left shoulder with stunning force. Next second the Spaniard's face,with the long, coal-black beard, suddenly appeared before him in thesmoke, and he struck at it with all his might, sending the ruffianstaggering back; but he recovered himself in a moment, and rushedtowards the doorway, throwing Hal to the floor as he passed.
"How is that now, lad? How do you feel, old boy? Better? That's it;you're smiling. That's the way. Pull yourself together, and drink thisoff."
It was Mr. Brindle who was speaking, and, scarcely understanding whatwas said, but feeling dazed and queer, and much inclined to close hiseyes and sleep, Hal swallowed the contents of the tumbler which wasplaced to his lips. But suddenly Mr. Brindle's well-known voice broughthim to his senses.
"By Jove, what a fright you gave me!" he said. "How do you feel, Hal?Come, pull yourself together and look at me."
"Eh, what? I'm all right! What's happening? Here, let me sit up!"exclaimed Hal, suddenly suiting the action to the word, and lookingabout him with wide-open eyes. "Why, what's this? I was asleep, andthen----Those thieves! What is it, Mr. Brindle? I dreamed that they hadmade another attempt, and that I happened to hear them. It looked asthough all was up with you, and I remember feeling in a terrible way.After that, everything seemed to stop, and I fell into a gloriousdream."
"That is just about what has happened, my lad, and very fortunate it wasfor me that you awoke when you did; though for you, poor lad, it hasmeant trouble. Those Spanish scoundrels did make a second attempt, but,in their endeavor to get possession of the bag, they pitched upon thewrong compartment. I can tell you that it was a ticklish moment for me.As I lay there, not daring to move, I saw you come in. The only wonderto me is that the gentleman called Pedro did not have his revenge atonce by shooting me. At any rate, he managed to put a bullet into yourshoulder, and then he escaped from the car. The other rascal, whom youtackled so gamely, and who will have a splendid black eye for his pains,also got clear away, leaving some of his property behind him. Here itis."
He held up a mass of black hair, which had formerly covered the chin ofthe Spaniard.
"Now, Hal, you have the whole story," he continued. "You were woundedand fainted from loss of blood. A fellow passenger, who happens to be adoctor, has already examined and dressed the shoulder, and reports mostfavorably. A week will see you up and about, so he says, for the bulletwas of very small caliber."
"What? A week in bed, Mr. Brindle!" exclaimed Hal, aghast. "Why, I amfit to get up now. See here, I feel quite myself again."
He struggled to his feet, but next moment he was glad to sit down again,and was forced, though much against his inclination, to confess that hewas shaken. However, with his old dogged determination, he resolved notto give way, and not to submit to being put ignominiously to bed.
"I am a bit groggy," he admitted. "My legs don't seem quite to belongto me; but it's only a temporary matter. Thank you, I will have anothersip."
The tumbler was raised to his lips, and he drank deeply, for the loss ofblood had induced a violent thirst.
"There you see for yourself how fit you are," said Mr. Brindle. "Andnow, as the thieves have escaped, and your wound has been seen to, youwill lie down and sleep till morning."
There was no gainsaying this direct order, for Mr. Brindle waited to seethat Hal lay full length on the bunk. Then he left the section, andentered his own. As for Hal, though badly shaken, he suffered littlepain. The injured shoulder felt numbed, but nothing more. After lyingawake for half an hour, thinking over the little adventure through whichhe had passed, he, too, dozed off, and finally sank into a deep sleep,from which he was awakened by the opening of his door.
"Breakfast in half an hour," said Mr. Brindle, putting his head into thecompartment. "How goes it with you this morning, old boy?"
"I feel quite myself," said Hal briskly, sitting up in his bunk. Then,to demonstrate the truth of his words, he stood up. "Yes," he continued,"I feel ever so much stronger than I did last night. I suppose theexcitement and the shock had unnerved me, but now I am perfectlysteady."
"That's good, Hal, and I am glad to see you making an effort. After all,there is no reason why a bullet wound in the shoulder should lay you up.Last night, as you say, the shock and suddenness of the injury had upsetyou, and no doubt you felt the rapid loss of blood. A few hours' sleephave made that good, so that you will quickly mend. I have no fear ofthe wound going wrong, for it was skillfully treated from the first.Now, let me lend a hand, and help to put your clothes on."
Half an hour later, with his left arm in a sling, and his empty sleevepinned to the coat, arm in arm with Mr. Brindle, Hal entered thebreakfast saloon, where they took their places at one of the many smalltables. Numbers of other passengers were already there, and they lookedat our hero with curiosity and admiration.
An hour later the engine steamed into a large station, and thepassengers descended from the cars.
"Just look out for the youngsters, Hal," said Mr. Brindle. "They'll becoming to meet their dad."
"Youngsters? Your youngsters?" asked Hal, in surprise; for Mr. Brindlehad never mentioned that he was married and had a family.
"Why, mine to be sure! There's Dora, the dearest blue-eyed girl thatever breathed; and Gerald, the biggest and most mischievous monkey thatever wore clothes. You'll know them at once. Ah, there they are, or I ammistaken."
"Hallo! There you are, dad!" cried the boy, a sturdy young fellow ofsome sixteen years. "Hi! Come along, Dora! Here he is, looking as fatand jolly as possible."
Breathless, and with hat tossed to the back of his head, the lad rushedat Mr. Brindle and embraced him, a graceful and pretty girl, lookingcharming and dainty in a white frock, following suit quickly.
"There, there, how glad I am to see you both again, my dears!" exclaimedMr. Brindle. "Both of you looking as well as ever too. But I amforgetting my duties. Dora--Gerald--come here and let me introduce you avery great friend, who is to be my overseer. Steady now, shake handsgently, for he has been in the wars. Hal, my dear boy, let me presentyou to my dear children."
Each in turn shook Hal heartily by the hand, Dora lookingsympathetically, and, at first, somewhat shyly at him
; while Gerald,boy-like, took good stock of the new overseer, not fearing to look wellinto his face.
"What has happened to your arm, Mr. Marchant? What war have you been in?And are you very much hurt?" Dora asked these questions in rapidsuccession.
"Dora," said her father, "this young gentleman was shot by a ruffian whoattempted to steal my bag. He has risked his life for me, and he ishelpless. I place him in your charge. You have had some experience ofnursing and will do your best. Now, let us get to the carriage."
Dora was a young lady about whom there was no nonsense. Here was afellow-being who was obviously suffering; somehow he had come by hisinjury in protecting her father. That was enough for any daughter. Forhis sake she would look after Hal. So she marched our hero from theplatform, chuckling secretly at the blush which had now changed hischeeks from dullest white to brilliant red. They stepped into thecomfortable carriage, and at a crack of the whip, the team of mules setforward at a hand-gallop.
What thoughts were Hal's as he was driven to his new home? It seemedlike a dream, for, a few weeks back, he was an orphan, with few friends.Then he had decided to start to America, where he would be entirelyunknown. But what had happened? Friends seemed to have risen up on everyside. Yes, it was good fortune. At least, that was what he thought ashis eyes wandered from Mr. Brindle and Gerald to Dora. Never before hadHal taken notice of any girl.
And here he found himself unconsciously glancing at Dora, and listeningeagerly to every word she said. It was sense too. Indeed, she discussedeveryday matters with her father in a manner which opened Hal's eyes.
"She's clever," thought Hal, "and she's a pretty girl. How kind she wasto me!"
And what of Dora? She, on her part, was taking stock of the overseer.Beneath her lashes she stole many a glance at him, always to meet hissteady eyes, and turn away in confusion. But still, she was able to cometo a conclusion. She saw a stalwart young man, who had yet an inch ormore to grow. He had an open face, and eyes which never flinched orturned away.
"I like the new overseer," she said to herself. "He looks honest, brave,and kind. But how pale he is!"
Under the Star-Spangled Banner: A Tale of the Spanish-American War Page 7