A Voyage with Captain Dynamite

by Charles Edward Rich

  CHAPTER XXIV

  THE ESCAPE FROM THE LAGOON

  When the boys awoke it was dark again. They had slept through the daywithout a break. Mason, who had been hovering around restlessly all day,poked his head into the stateroom just as Harry was rubbing his eyes.

  "O, say, you chaps, have you returned to life again? Do you know youhave been pounding your ears for thirteen hours?"

  "Where are we, Midget?" asked Harry, yawning.

  "Still in the blooming lagoon."

  "Oh, yes, I remember now." Harry sighed comfortably and turned over.

  "Oh, say, you fellows; turn out. You have had sleep enough and I am aslonely as a cow in a strange pasture. You've had all the fun; now theleast you can do is to get up and tell me about it."

  "Fun, eh?" said Bert, who had been awakened by the conversation. "I wishyou had had my part of the enjoyment. More quiet amusement will do forme."

  "I am as hungry as a bear," said Harry, jumping out of bed. "If youwon't let us sleep we must eat. Have you had supper yet?"

  "No; Cap said he was going to wait until you waked up."

  "All right; if you'll get a bucket of water we'll be ready in shortorder. I've got to wash up. I'm as dirty as a digger Indian."

  When Harry turned out he found his own suit, carefully mended andpressed, laid out over a chair. He gladly discarded his badly fittingSpanish uniform, and after a good wash, donned his own clothing againand made quite a presentable appearance as he walked out on deck, wherehe found O'Connor and Miss Juanita and her mother lounging lazily insteamer chairs.

  O'Connor jumped up and warmly welcomed the boys, and Miss Juanitainsisted upon presenting them to her mother as "the brave American ladswho had saved her from the vengeance of General Serano."

  "And now, youngsters," said O'Connor, as soon as they had blushinglyacknowledged the warmly expressed gratitude of Miss Juanita's mother, "Iknow you are hungry and dinner waits. My Waldorf chef has done himselfproud in honor of the occasion and George Wash Jenks, his assistant, hasbegged to be allowed to serve us. Let's get busy." He rose as he spokeand the boys saw that he had dressed himself with scrupulous careagain, in a suit of light flannel, yachting cap, and immaculately whitecanvas shoes.

  It was a merry party that gathered around the cabin table, which, withits elaborate setting of crystal and silver, would have been a credit toany domestic establishment. Washington, in a white coat and apron, hisface wide ajar with a happy grin, served them skillfully. After desserthad been cleared away and O'Connor had secured permission from theladies to smoke his cigarette, Mason, who had been for many hoursimpatiently waiting to hear the story of his comrades' adventures, sawhis opportunity, and rising and bowing to the company with his funny,grave expression, said:

  "Ladies and gentlemen, and our distinguished host: Little as I amaccustomed to public speaking, I wish right here to say that I considerthat I have been very shabbily treated. Fickle fortune robbed me of anopportunity to become a hero, and it looks as if I would now be deniedeven the poor gratification of enjoying the thrilling adventures of mybrave comrades by word of mouth. I know I'm little and perhaps my suitwould not have fitted Miss Juanita as well as my friend Hamilton's, butit was not because of my size that unkind fate singled him out for thehero part and left me not so much as an understudy. It was pure hardluck, and now I demand, as the slighted party, that the story of therescue from the Spanish prison be told in the minutest detail for thebenefit of the assembled company by those who acted the principal parts.Captain Dynamite, I leave it to you if it is not due to a disappointed,would-be hero?"

  O'Connor laughed heartily at the boy, who kept a serious and sober faceduring his harangue.

  "Your position is well taken, Master Mason," he said. "I propose thatMaster Hamilton begin the story at the point where he and his companionfell into the hands of the Spaniards."

  After some urging Harry told in an easy narrative style the story of hisand Bert's adventures, to which Mason listened breathlessly, whileWashington, who had been permitted to stand behind O'Connor's chair,alternately grinned and stared in amazement. The story of the misfortuneof Villamonte seemed to amuse him greatly, and as Harry described hisexpression as he lay bound and gagged in the prison, the negro slappedhis leg in glee, and for a moment forgetting himself, cried out.

  "Ah guess Misser Tree Card Monte not bother Massa Cap'n Dynamite nomore. He, he, ha, ha."

  They all joined with Washington in his mirth, and in the midst of theirhilarity the cabin door opened and Suarez, with a reproachfulexpression, looked in at O'Connor and waited for the noise to subside.

  "Captain Morgan's sentinels on the point report a light off shore, sir,"he said, as soon as he could make himself heard.

  "What sort of a light, Suarez?" asked O'Connor, without showing anyexcitement.

  "Probably a vessel's light, sir."

  "Very well. Call me if it seems to be making in shore."

  Suarez cast another glance at O'Connor that seemed to say, "Petticoatsare out of place on filibusters," but he wisely refrained fromexpressing any such opinions aloud.

  Harry continued his narrative and O'Connor appeared to listen with asgreat an interest as if he were not familiar with the details already.Harry noticed, however, that every now and then he cast a glance at thedoor as if he expected Suarez to return. He had reached that point inhis story where they discover Villamonte riding madly after them on theplain and Washington's eyes were bulging with excitement, when the dooragain opened and Suarez stepped in and saluted.

  "I think you had better come on deck, sir," he said, quietly.

  "All right, Suarez," said O'Connor, jumping up quickly. "Go on with yourstory, my boy, I will join you again shortly. Keep up the interest;you've got your audience in the proper mood now." With a light laugh,intended to allay any anxiety Suarez's words might have caused hisguests, O'Connor left the cabin.

  Harry realized that some danger threatened them, but catching asignificant look in the eyes of the captain as he left the room, fell inwith his purpose readily and continued his story as if nothing hadhappened.

  "What is it, Suarez?" asked O'Connor, as soon as they were alone ondeck.

  "She's headed in shore and directly for the inlet, sir."

  "Can you make her out yet?"

  "I have not been ashore, sir, but Morgan's men say they can only see herlights."

  "Lower a boat and let me take your glasses. I do not want to alarm theladies by returning to the cabin for mine."

  "Women are a bit of a nuisance at such times, sir," said Suarez, whocould no longer refrain from expressing his views, however mildly.

  "No, you are wrong there, Suarez," said O'Connor, who understood themate's aversion to everyone and everything that was not workingdirectly for the good of the cause. "They are only an incentive to extracaution, which you must admit is an admirable thing for me." Suarezshook his head doubtfully as he went forward to get the boat in thewater and O'Connor laughed at his officer's crochet.

  A boat was quickly lowered and manned, and O'Connor was rowed to thepoint of land that separated the lagoon from the ocean. He made his wayto a group of men who, in the shelter of some palm trees, were watchingthe red and green lights of an approaching vessel.

  "Can you make her out?" asked O'Connor, eagerly.

  "No, sir. We have no glasses. Perhaps you can tell what she is."

  O'Connor took a long look at the lights, which were yet mere specks.

  "I can't make her out yet," he said, as he lowered his glasses, "butwhoever she is she must know the coast hereabouts pretty well to head inso close."

  He sat down with his back to one of the trees and his face to the seaand rolled a cigarette. He smoked calmly for ten minutes and then puthis glasses to his eyes again.

  "She's a gunboat," he said finally. "Let me know in fifteen minutes ifshe still holds her course."

  He turned back to his boat and was rowed rapidly back to the _Mariella_.Suarez met him at the gangway.


  "Did you make her out, sir?" he asked eagerly.

  "Yes, she's a gunboat--I think our old friend the _Belair_, and if it beshe there is no significance in her presence here. She has probably beencruising up and down the coast since we left her trying to solve themystery of our sudden disappearance. But in any event you better preparefor the worst; but quietly, Suarez, quietly. We do not want to alarm theladies unnecessarily."

  "Bother the ladies," grumbled Suarez to himself, as he went forward tocarry out the captain's orders. O'Connor leaned on the rail facing theblack point of land that hid them from view. Presently a boat put outfrom the shore and as she came under the _Mariella's_ quarter, O'Connorwhispered:

  "Well?"

  "Only the red light shows now, sir," answered a man in the small boat.

  "She has changed her course, then. Good. Keep a sharp lookout and let meknow at once if she changes again."

  "It seems to be steady, sir. I think she has come to anchor."

  "Whew," whistled O'Connor; "that's bad."

  The little boat put back to shore and O'Connor stood leaning over therail in deep thought. Meanwhile dark shapes moved quickly, but silently,across the deck as the men took their quarters. The mate arousedO'Connor from his reverie.

  "All is ready, sir," he said.

  "Very good, Suarez. I think I know what her game is now. She's beatingthe coast for just such hidden spots as this lagoon. Get word at once tothe men on the point to watch carefully for the approach of a launch orsmall boat. There is to be no demonstration unless they find the inlet.In that case let them see that no one gets out again. And Suarez, themachete--no guns. There must be no noise to tell the _Belair_ what hashappened."

  O'Connor rejoined the party in the cabin with a smile on his lips thatbelied the weight of anxiety on his mind.

  "Now ladies," he said cheerily, "if Harry has finished his tale ofadventure we will bid you good night, as I have to make ready for sea.You will occupy my cabin, as I have no doubt the boys will be quitewilling to bunk with me in a spare stateroom forward."

  The boys bade the ladies good night and retired to the deck with thecaptain.

  "What's up, Cap?" asked Harry, as soon as the door closed behind them.

  "Can't fool you, eh?" laughed O'Connor.

  "I knew something had gone wrong, sir, as soon as you left the cabin."

  "Well, I suppose I might just as well tell you boys, for you will findout sooner or later, but I do not want a word of it to reach the ladies;you understand?"

  "We'll be as silent as clams at high water," said Mason, "but I shouldlike to have it thoroughly understood that I am next in line for anyhero parts."

  "There is a Spanish gunboat--the same one we had the little mix-up withcoming down, I think--lying just off the inlet. I believe that hercommander suspects that we have hidden away in some such place as thisand he is beating the shore with small boats in the hope of locatingus."

  "But what chance would a small boat have if she did discover us?"

  "If the boat crew discovered us and got away the gunboat could shell usout or sink us in the lagoon."

  "Another cheery outlook," groaned Bert. "I thought we were safe on the_Mariella_ and it seems that it is only a choice between Spanish gunsashore and Spanish shells at sea."

  "Oh, it's not quite so bad as that, Master Wilson," said O'Connorlaughing, but with an anxious look in the direction of the cabin. "Ifthey do not discover our hiding-place we shall sneak out all right undercover of darkness, and if they do discover it, we shall have to fightfor it; but in either event we shall get out." O'Connor's mouthtightened into that straight line that indicated his desperate moods. Hestepped over to the rail and fixed his eyes on the black shore of thelagoon. It was his usual abrupt method of closing a conversation, andthe boys who were now familiar with his peculiarities, did not attemptto question him further.

  The tide was running into the inlet and the _Mariella_ had swung aroundon her anchor chains until she was pointed directly for the hiddenopening to the sea. The boys left O'Connor to his thoughts and strolledforward. The sky was partially overcast and the moon, which had justrisen, was almost obscured by heavy, slowly moving clouds. Now and then,however, it broke through a rift, flooding the lagoon with its silverylight and throwing the black sides of the _Mariella_ into bold relief.Not a breath of air stirred leaf or twig.

  "We are ready for action," whispered Harry, as they passed the silentforms of the men standing quietly at their stations. "They won't catchCaptain Dynamite napping, any way."

  Near the fo'c'sle deck they found Washington at his post, a Mauser inhis hand and machete and pistols in his belt.

  "Hullo, Wash," said Mason, "are we going to have another mix-up?"

  The negro grinned and bobbed his head rapidly at the same time placinghis finger on his lips.

  "What's the matter? Lost your tongue again?"

  "'Sh. George Wash Jenks can't talk on fightin' duty."

  "That's right, Wash; obey orders," said Harry, as they passed on.

  The dark forms of the waiting men, the dead silence that hung over thesteamer, and the tense air of anxiety and doubt that pervaded all beganto have a disquieting effect upon the boys who, at first, full ofconfidence in the courage and experience of O'Connor, had regarded theirsituation as only remotely dangerous. For a long time they stood lookingoff at the screen of trees and vines that separated them from the sea,where the gunboat lay in wait for its prey.

  A black cloud that had obscured the face of the moon slowly passed overit, and again the shores of the lagoon stood out in detail, almost as ifthe sun shone upon them. Harry placed a hand quickly on Bert's shoulderand pointed ahead of them. There was a commotion in the leafy screen asif something was forcing its way through. The next moment the bow of aboat crept slowly out until its full length was visible within thelagoon. Another cloud began to draw a fleecy fringe across the moon, butbefore its darker center passed over the shining disc, the boys couldsee many black moving spots on the surface of the water, rapidlyapproaching the boat from behind.

  "We must tell the captain," said Harry, turning quickly, only to findO'Connor with folded arms standing silently behind them, watching thescene with contracted brow. He did not appear to notice the presence ofthe boys.

  "Now, quick," he hissed between his teeth, as if coaching someone in thedistance, and at the same time the boys saw the black spots rise fromthe water, as many arms shot up and seized the gunwale of the boat. Thena veil of darkness shut out the dramatic scene as the cloud shut out thelight of the moon.

  There was a sound of splashing water, a low cry or two and then silenceagain. O'Connor turned away and joined the mate, who had watched thebrief spectacle from the bridge.

  "It was well done, Suarez," said O'Connor.

  "Aye, aye, sir; it was a neat job. Trust Morgan's men for that." Thesplash of oars alongside interrupted them and the sentries' boatappeared again. O'Connor leaned over the bridge.

  "Boat and four men captured at the inlet, sir," called a voice from outof the darkness.

  "Good; anyone hurt?"

  "Not a soul, sir. We were two to one and they threw up their hands whenwe climbed over the stern of their boat. What shall we do with theprisoners?"

  "Turn them over to Captain Morgan; and now, Suarez, when can we go tosea?"

  "Whenever you please, sir. The cargo is all ashore."

  "Get up steam at once."

  "Are you going to take her out to-night, sir, in the face of the_Belair_?"

  "If I don't take her out to-night we shall have to run the gauntlet in ahail of solid shot. It will not be long before they will suspect thatsomething has happened to that boat. By daybreak the _Belair_ will movein. Our only chance is to get out under cover of darkness. She is wellwithin range now, but we can get clear of the inlet with a bit of speedon before she discovers us, and if we've got to fight I prefer the opensea."

  "Very well, sir. Shall I heave the anchors?" asked Suarez.

  "You can't h
eave the anchors until you get up steam, man."

  "I told you we were ready for sea, sir," said Suarez, in a reproachfultone. "The _Mariella_ is always at your command."

  Fifteen minutes later O'Connor stood in the pilot house with his hand onthe wheel. He looked back for a moment at the two sentinel palms andthen he rang the bell for full speed ahead.

  The engines throbbed, the screws churned the still water of the lagooninto a white froth and the _Mariella_, with rapidly increasing speed,poked her nose into the green foliage that barred her passage to thesea. Branches and vines scraped along her sides for a moment and then,released from their impeding embrace, she forged ahead with a trembleand start into the open sea. The red portlight of the waiting gunboatgleamed in the darkness a few points off her port bow. O'Connor swungher head around until the light was off the _Mariella's_ quarter. Thenhe turned the wheel over to the steersman who stood beside him.

  "Keep her steady, now," he said, as he left the pilot house and returnedto the bridge, where Suarez stood with his glasses trained on the redlight.

  "No sign of movement, yet, sir," he said.

  "You have no lights burning?"

  "Not a light aboard, sir, except in the binnacle."

  "All depends upon the moon then. She'll hardly make us out against theshore. If the moon stays in for fifteen minutes we shall be out of rangeof her guns and we can outfoot her in a stern chase."