"Yes, I know," answered Lucia. "I heard father talking about it. Hesaid he had paid the government a large sum of money to let him keepon. So he's all right. But perhaps I ought not to have said this, forit is his own business, and I should not repeat what I hear."
The children entered the sugar-mill, and stood watching the workers.Every one was so busy that no notice was taken of the young visitors.Here were great troughs full of the canes which were being crushed byheavy rollers; the juice was flowing fast into the tanks below. Andthere were the caldrons full of the boiling syrup; by their sides stoodmen with long, heavy skimmers stirring the juice, and taking off thescum which rose to the surface.
"THE MACHINES MADE A STEADY, GRINDING SOUND"]
There were large, shallow pans close by, where the sugar was placed tocool. The air was full of the sweet smell of the sugar; the engineswere clanking noisily; the machines made a steady, grinding sound, and,above all, the cries of the negroes could be heard, as they called toeach other at their work.
A few minutes was long enough for the children to stay in this busy,steaming place. Then they went out again into the bright, clear air.After giving the black baby into the charge of one of the negro girlswho was standing near by, our little cousins mounted their ponies,and rode slowly back to the house.
They passed field after field where men were cutting down the tallsugar-canes. How rapidly they moved along, leaving the ground quiteclear, as they passed over it! Was it such hard work? They certainlybent over very much as they lifted the heavy, clumsy tools in theirhands. These tools looked somewhat like long cheese-knives, only theywere much thicker and heavier.
Ramon would say, "Why, those are machetes. I wish I could use one nowin defending my country. Many a brave insurgent has nothing else tofight with excepting the machete he brought from his little farm. Noguns can be obtained, for the Spaniards hold the cities, and will notallow any weapons to get to the Cubans. But those machetes will dogreat good yet."
As the boy watched the men working, he was thinking how differentlyhe would like to use the machete, but he did not say anything of thiskind to Lucia. He was just a little afraid that her father was not asanxious for Cuba to be free as he and his own parents were.
When the children reached the house, Lucia's parents insisted thatRamon and Maria should spend the day, and a delicious luncheon was nowwaiting for them.
"This afternoon," said the planter, "you may go over to the quartersand see the fun. You know it is a half-holiday, and there will be greatgood times among the blacks."
CHAPTER VI.
THE QUARTERS.
AFTER a little rest in the garden, the children started out once more.This time they chose to walk, taking Lucia's big dog with them forcompany.
Even before they started, they could hear the sound of drums andshouting and laughter coming from the quarters. They did not have farto go before they came upon a crowd of black children. The boys werehaving a game of ball. It was so confused it would be hard to describeit. It certainly could not be called baseball, nor anything like it.
And here were the cabins, built close together. Cocoanut and mangotrees shaded the little huts. Near each one was a small garden wherethe people raised the vegetables they liked best. Okra was sure to beseen here, for what old mammy could be satisfied with her Sunday dinnerunless she had some of this delicious plant in at least one of thedishes? Here also was the chicota, much like our summer squash, andcorn, on which the pigs must be fattened.
As for fruits, there were custard-apple and sour-sop trees, themaumee, looking much like a melon; besides many other things whichgrow so easily in the warm lands. Chickens were running about in everydirection, while there seemed as many pens with pigs grunting inside asthere were cabins.
How happy the people all seemed! That is, all but a baby here and therewho had been forgotten by his mother and was crying to keep himselfcompany as he sprawled about on the ground. And how grand the womenthought themselves in the bright red and yellow bandannas wound aroundtheir heads!
You may be sure that all of the jewelry the people owned was worn thatday. Maria could not help smiling at one young girl who had immenserings in her ears, three chains of glass beads around her neck, heavybrass rings on her fingers, and broad bracelets that clinked togetheron her arms. She strutted around as proudly as the peacocks near by.
They are handsome birds, but very vain and silly, like this poor blackgirl who seemed to admire herself so greatly. She tossed her head fromside to side as she got ready to lead the dance.
The drummer bent to his work with all his heart; one pair of dancersafter another took their places, and moved in perfect time with fasterand faster steps. The crowd of bystanders watched them in admiration.
Under the shade of a mango-tree two black children were playing a gameof dominoes.
"What a nice set it is," said Ramon to his sister. "I am going to askthem if they bought it. It must have cost quite a big sum for them tospend."
The older of the two players heard Ramon's words. He looked up with aproud smile that made his mouth stretch from ear to ear as he said:
"I made them all myself, little master. I got the wood from anebony-tree."
"But of what did you make the white points set into the dominoes?"asked Ramon. "They look like ivory."
"I cut them out of alligator's teeth, little master. Now didn't I dowell?"
This was said with another broad grin and a big roll of his eyes thatmade Lucia and Maria laugh in spite of themselves.
"Well, I should say so," answered Ramon.
"You deserve a medal. But can you read and write? A boy as smart as youought to go to school."
"No, little master. But that doesn't trouble me any. I don't need anylearning," was the answer. And no doubt the little fellow had no ideabut that he was as well off as any one need be. He could play in thesunshine all day long and he had plenty of good food. Wasn't his mothera fine cook, though! He was right in thinking so, too, for she couldmake the nicest "messes" out of the herbs and vegetables growing in thelittle garden behind the cabin.
There were melons and plantains in abundance; salt fish or jerked beefto eat every day, and a long sleep at night on a straw bed in thecabin. Oh, life was a lovely thing! And what should the little blackboy know of the cruel war and the Cuban children who had been drivenaway from their homes? To be sure, he had heard sad stories in hislife, but they were about the old times when his people were broughtto Cuba as slaves. He had listened to his father's tales of slavery,although he himself had been free ever since he was a little child.
The boy's grandfather was born far away in Africa where the sun wasalways hot. He had lived a wild, happy life in his little village underthe palm-trees by the side of a broad river. As he grew up he huntedthe panther and the elephant, and made scarecrows to frighten away themonkeys from the corn-fields. He was very happy.
But one day a band of white men took the village by surprise. Theytook many other prisoners besides himself. The poor blacks were put inchains and driven on board boats in which the white men had come to theplace.
Down the river they sailed, never more to see their little thatchedhomes and have gay feasts under the palms. At last they came to thegreat ocean, where a large vessel was waiting for them. As they werepacked away in the hold of the vessel, no notice was taken of theircries except a lash of the whip, now and then, across their bare backs.
Then came the long voyage, and the dreadful seasickness in the crowdedhold of the vessel. Many died before the shores of Cuba came in sight.But when those who still lived were able once more to stand on dry landthey were too weak and sick to care where they should go next.
In a few days, however, they found themselves working under masters onthe sugar plantations, and making new homes and friends among those whowere slaves like themselves.
The little domino player told Manuel that his grandfather worked sofaithfully that after awhile he was given a part of each day for hisown use. In this
way he earned money enough to buy his own freedomas well as his wife's. But he had children growing up who were stillslaves. He wished them to be free also.
Then came an order from the Spanish rulers that all the slaves shouldbe gradually given their liberty. But this was not till many yearsafter their black brothers in America had been set free by that greatman, President Lincoln.
CHAPTER VII.
HOME AGAIN.
AFTER Ramon and Maria got home that night they told Paulina about theirvisit to the quarters, and their talk with the little domino player.Paulina knew him well, and said he was a very bright and good boy.
"Some of those little negroes are too lazy," she declared, "but Pedrois always busy. I wish he could go to school, for he will make a smartman."
She went on to tell more of the old days. There was one story of whichshe was very fond. It was of a cargo of slaves who were being broughtto Cuba. They outwitted their masters. This was the way they did it.
After the ship had been sailing for many days, it began to leak badly.The water poured in so fast that all hands were kept busy pumping itout. It seemed, after a while, to rush in faster than the men couldget it out. The ship's carpenter went around the vessel, and hunted inevery part, but could not find a single leak.
"It is the work of the evil one," cried the captain.
The slaves wrung their hands, and wailed, while the crew worked at thepumps till they were quite worn out. When it seemed as though the shipmust soon sink, an island came in sight. The Spaniards quickly loweredprovisions and water into the small boats, and rowed away, leaving theslaves to die, as they supposed.
But they had no sooner got well out of reach than the ship began torise out of the water. The black people could be seen dancing about onthe deck in delight. The sails were set to the wind, and away sped thevessel.
How was it possible? This was the whole story. The prisoners had gottenhold of some knives, with which they cut through the outer planking ofthe vessel. Of course, it began to leak sadly. But when the carpentersearched for these leaks the slaves had cleverly filled the holes withplugs packed with oakum, and he could not find them.
In this way the whole cargo of negroes succeeded in getting out of theclutches of the Spaniards. Old Paulina chuckled as she told the storyand thought of the cleverness of her people.
CHAPTER VIII.
STARTLING NEWS.
IT was a pleasant evening in February. The children felt gay and happy,for their father was getting so much stronger. Why, this very day hehad walked with them a mile in an excursion to a cave. Miguel had toldthem such wonderful things about it, they begged their father to takethem there. Although they lived so near, they had never happened tovisit it before.
When they reached the spot, they were obliged to crouch down in orderto enter the cave. The opening was merely a small hole between therocks. But, as they crept down under the ground, the passage grewwider, and led into a large room.
"Do you suppose Robinson Crusoe's cave was anything like this?" Mariaasked her brother.
But the answer was, "I don't think so; you know it was not beautiful.And see here, Maria, look at those shining pendants hanging from theroof. They are as clear as diamonds. Oh, look down beside your feet;there are more of those lovely things; they are reaching up to meetthose coming from above."
"What makes them, papa?"
Senor Diaz then explained to the children that there must be a greatdeal of lime in the rocks overhead, and that, when the water slowlyfiltered through the roof of the cave, it brought with it the limewhich formed in these wonderful crystals.
"People pay great sums of money for precious stones," said theirfather, "but what could be more beautiful than these shining pyramids!The pendants hanging from the roof are called stalactites. Thosereaching up from the floor of the cave are stalagmites. Do you supposeyou can remember such hard words, my dear little Isabella? But come,children, I have something else to show you here."
He led the children to a little pond, in which they could dimly see, bythe light of the torch, fish sporting about in the water.
"Those fishes are happy as can be, yet they are perfectly blind. I madesome experiments years ago that led me to discover it. You see how darkit is. The creatures living here would have no use for eyesight, sothey gradually became blind. We can only keep the organs of our body ingood condition by using them."
It was no wonder the children enjoyed the day with their father, ashe always had so much of interest to tell them. This evening, as theysat on the balcony, Maria was talking about the fish that lived indarkness, when Ramon suddenly exclaimed:
"Look! look! the garden is fairly alive with lights. The cucujos aregiving us a display of fireworks. Let's catch them, and have some fun.Except in the rainy season, it is not often that we see so many." Heran into the house for a candle, and the three children were soonchasing the cucujos along the walks.
The light of the candle attracted the insects, then it was an easymatter to catch hundreds of them in a fine thread net. We should callthem fireflies, but they are much larger and more brilliant than anyinsect we have ever seen.
As they floated along above the flowers, Maria said they always madeher think of fairies with their torch-bearers. The light was softand cloud-like, yet it was bright enough to show the colours of theflowers, although the night was quite dark.
"Why not make a belt of them for your waists, as well as necklacesand bracelets?" Ramon asked his sisters. "Then you can go in and showyourselves to mother. You can tell her you are all ready for a party."
"All right," answered the girls. "But you must help us, Ramon."
How could the children do such things without hurting the beautifullittle creatures, we wonder. But they knew a way, as they had done thembefore.
Each cucujo has a tiny hook near its head, which can be fastened in aperson's clothing without harming it in the least. Grown-up ladies inHavana often adorn themselves in this way when going to a party. Theylook very brilliant, I assure you.
It was not many minutes before Maria and Isabella were fairly ablazewith lights. Then they danced into the house to be admired by theirparents.
"Now let's take them off and put them in those wicker cages you madelast summer, Ramon," said Isabella. "I'm sure the poor little thingsare tired of hanging from our clothes. They must wish to fly aroundonce more. They will not mind being shut up in the cages for a day ortwo, if we give them plenty of sugar to eat."
"All right, but I wouldn't keep them shut up long enough to make petsof them," said her brother. "I cannot help believing they would ratherbe free."
As he said these words, there was a step on the garden walk, and amoment later a strange man stood in front of the children.
"Is your father at home?" he asked. "I have a message for him."
Ramon hurried into the house. Senor Diaz came out and spoke with thestranger in low tones. When he went back into the sitting-room hecarried in his hand a piece of paper that looked perfectly blank. Thestranger had disappeared again into the darkness.
"What did the children's good father do with that paper?" you ask.
He went quickly to his desk and put it under lock and key. Nothingcould be done with it till the morning sun should light up the easternsky.
"Then what?" you curiously ask again.
If we could have watched Senor Diaz, we should have seen him go to hisdesk once more, take out the precious paper, and go over it with a hairpencil dipped in a bottle of colorless liquid.
After that, we should have seen Maria running with the paper to thewindow, where the sun's rays would dry it quickly. Lo and behold!writing began to appear which threw the whole family into a great stateof excitement. These were the words:
"The U. S. warship _Maine_ has been blown up. The Americans areroused. They believe without doubt that the Spaniards are the doers ofthe terrible deed. Victory shall be ours at last, for the United Stateswill now surely take our part against Spain."
There was n
o signature to the letter.
That very night Maria's household were wakened by a brilliant lightpouring into their windows. It came from the burning plantation whereLucia had her home. When morning dawned there was no trace of abuilding left on the whole place. No person was injured, however, butLucia and her parents went to friends in Havana. The rich planter hadbecome a poor man in a single night.
Who had set the fire? It was probably the insurgents, who haddiscovered that the planter was a friend of the Spaniards and wassecretly working against the freedom of Cuba.
CHAPTER IX.
FIRST YEARS IN THE NEW WORLD.
"PAPA dear," said Maria, one evening not long after this, "why did ourpeople ever leave Spain and come here to make a home for themselves? Ofcourse, they had heard what a beautiful island it is, but was that theonly reason?"
"They had indeed heard this, my child, but they also believed theycould become rich by raising sugar-cane or tobacco. Great fortunes weremade in the old days on the plantations here. My own grandfather was avery wealthy man.
"But you know the story of Cuba since then. The heavy taxes and thecruel laws of Spain caused my relatives, as well as thousands of otherfamilies, to lose their fortunes. We have tried to free ourselves manytimes but have not succeeded yet."
"Well, don't be sad, papa dear; the good time is coming quickly now,you know. We have not had as hard a time as the poor savages Columbusfound here, anyway. How I do pity them!" said Maria, with her eyes fullof tears.
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