After discussing her strange manoeuvering and admiring her symmetrical and nautical finish, one by one as the hours advanced they sought their hammocks, leaving no one upon the quarter deck save Roswel and the young middy Tom Dalton. These two were on watch; and the goleta having, for the last hour remained without a movement, they ceased to think of her and beguiled their weary watch walk with talking of friends they hoped soon again to meet, till Dalton closed his eyes and slept, yet still mechanically pacing up and down the deck; and as he slept he dreamed of a sister's embrace, a mother's love, and the blushing welcome of a maiden with whom he had exchanged looks of hair three years before.
`Eight bells,' suddenly reported in the quick, hilarious tone with which the end of the four hours watch is usually proclaimed, aroused him to momentary consciousness; and without quite waking himself up and losing the delicious dream, he instinctly reached his hammock and tumbled into it, there to have out, undisturbed, his happy dream.
Roswell at the same time surrendered the deck to the lieutenant of the next four hours watch, and forgetting the schooner, or thinking it not worth while to report her for observation she was now so quiet, he followed Dalton below and was soon fast bound in that deep sleep which falls upon the sailor after ending his long night watch.
The movements on board the frigate had not been unnoticed from the goleta. This vessel after passing the castle ahead of the frigate, it will be remembered, was lost to those who watched her, among the numerous vessels that filled the harbor. She had, however, run but a little distance in among the crafts at anchor, when instead of dropping her slender lateen yards and coming too, like the rest, she took it in all but her fore sail, with which lowered a few feet she with diminished speed gently kept on her way through the fleet as if seeking an anchoring ground. All around her were vessels among whom as she made her way she attracted no little attention. The only person to be seen in her was a man standing upon the bows, who communicated orders from time to time to the helmsman, by the motions of his hand. Guided by these motions the helmsman steered the goleta on through the midst of the closely anchored fleet without coming in contact.
At intervals, as they sailed along, the person upon the bow would cast his eyes in search of the frigate which was also making her way under shortening sail towards her present anchorage. From his manner and the dumb orders he communicated aft, it was plain that the movements of the caravel were governed by those of the frigate, that she was watching the vessel of war, as the small, quick-moving king-bird watches the hawk as he hovers over before settling upon, his cyrie.
At length, as the frigate came to anchor the foresail of the goleta descended upon her deck, and a man in a scarlet cap taking a ight grapnel in his hand cast it from the end, of the bowsprit far ahead beyond the hawser of a brig that was anchored just above. The line was then drawn in board through a round channel in the bows and the goleta was stationary without an anchor. The success of this cast was watched from the windlass by the man who had been giving the orders from the bows. When he found that the vessel was held by the grapnel and slender line attached to it he sprung from the windless and went aft. As he moved along the deck the bulwarks enclosing them were so high that the top of his head was level with them. The quarter deck was elevated a step above the main-deck. Here stood a youth with a spy glass in his hand surveying the frigate through a small port level with his eye. Several of these look-outs were now visible so constructed beneath the cap of the bulwarks as to be unnoticed a little distance off: through which observations might be taken of things without the observer being seen. The upper portion of the bulwarks was also so made with hinges and hasps as to fall down all around the quarter deck, like the leaf of a table, leaving them only breast high. Amid-ships were hammock nettings. Her inner works were all painted a rich vermillion, and the raised work around the cabin and binnacle, and the mouldings upon the capstan were all silvergilt. A crescent of boarding pikes half encircled the main-mast: and beneath an upturned boat amid-ships a practised eye might have guessed that an eighteen pounder was lurking. If this was the case it was carefully concealed. The cleanly decks; the well arranged running rigging; the neatly furled sails, triced up against the masts, the slender arched yards rivalling in length the masts themselves; the air of nautical precison pervading every thing were features certainly not often found in a mere merchantman. Forward were gathered about a dozen men, light, active looking fellows, with skins as brown as hazel-nuts; eyes glittering like the basilisks: wearing picturesque red caps with tassels; striped shirts, and scarlet sashes bound about their waists; men of Castillian features and tongue. Yet the men were none too many to sail so large a vessel, and they displayed neither knife nor pistol in their sashes. The goleta might be an honest merchantman after all. But circumstances looked very strongly against her, to say the least
CHAPTER III.
Scene on board the goleta—The two officers— The mystery of the bazel's motion explained— The frigate's gun deck—The prisoner .
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 on
ce 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 manoeuvres 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 turne
d 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!
Steel Belt; or, The Three Masted Goleta. A Tale of Boston Bay Page 3