CHAPTER VI.
CUBA’S NEW RECRUIT.
Rub! rub! rub!
Chafe! chafe! chafe!
Under the shed over a wharf one human figure bent over another.
Rub! rub! rub!
With the quiet but energetic heroism of common humanity, the rescuer strove to bring back the spark of life to a young man only just snatched from the engulfing waters.
“It is odd, strange!” muttered the rubber, pausing for an instant to look at the lifeless figure. “Can it be possible that I was too late—or that I am too clumsy?”
He bent anxiously over the still figure.
“It would be a great thing to fool Senor Vasquez,” murmured the Cuban, for such he was. “Moreover, I would like greatly to save this American, who trusted me even as I trusted him.”
For some minutes more he continued to chafe the wrists and body of Hal Maynard.
“A sip or two of brandy might save him—but how shall one get brandy, which costs twenty-five pesetas a bottle? Perhaps——”
But Juan Ramirez suddenly and resolutely checked the thought that perhaps he might be justified in using some of the money intrusted to him by our hero.
“He said that belonged to another. Therefore he would not thank me to use some of it to save his life.”
Such was the simple creed of honor of this Cuban.
He was soon rewarded, however, by a flutter of the eyelids, a sigh from the unconscious one.
“Santa Maria! He still lives!” cried the Cuban, now overjoyed, and working as if his own life depended upon the result.
A minute later Hal Maynard opened his eyes.
Juan bent so low over him that, despite the darkness, our hero recognized his rescuer.
“Ramirez?” he murmured.
“At your service, Senor Americano.”
“But I was dropped into the harbor—weighted.”
“And I, senor, was fortunate enough to be near by.”
Hal blinked stupidly, having by no means recovered his wits as yet.
“Rest easily, and breathe freely,” counseled the Cuban. “Do not try to move yet. Do not even try to think.”
Hal obeyed, lying there for two or three minutes before he tried again to speak.
“Where are we now?” he asked, finally.
“Senor, I would caution you not to speak above a whisper. We are both in danger, if some unfriendly prowler should overhear us. Let me raise you—so. Now, do you see the building over yonder that rests upon the water’s edge?”
“Yes.”
“It was from one of those windows that you were dropped.”
“And you——”
“I was prowling near, senor. No sooner did the scoundrels hear the splash than they closed the window. It was then that I dove into the harbor, swam to you, and found you some ten feet below the surface. It was a simple matter to cut the ropes that bound the weights to you. Then I brought you here. That is all, senor.”
“All?” echoed Hal, now sitting up. “It seems to me, my friend, that you make a very modest statement of your noble action.”
“Senor, to-day you trusted me. In return I could not do less.”
“And it was you, I am sure, who went to the British consulate——”
“I was there, senor.”
“And it was you who lodged the information that resulted in my release at the Prefatura.”
“It was I, senor, as you have guessed,” Ramirez quietly replied.
“You have been my good angel to-day,” cried Maynard, gratefully.
“I could not do less, senor, after a stranger had trusted me.”
“And it was you who warned me to-night that I was being followed.”
“Wrong this time, senor. It was a friend of mine.”
“Yet he worked at your instigation?”
“True.”
“And, finally, you have saved me from certain death.”
“All of which, Senor Americano, gives me occasion to rejoice,” answered the Cuban, simply.
Hal now managed to get upon his feet. No sooner did he find himself facing the Cuban than he warmly grasped the latter’s hand.
“I owe you my life and the safety of my money,” cried Maynard, impulsively. “Yet I never saw you before to-day. Pardon me if such great friendliness bewilders me.”
“I have done only what any Cuban would do for an American,” was the quiet reply. “I offer you one more service before leaving you. You were bound to some ship?”
“The British brig, Emeline Atwood.”
“I know her berth. I will lead you there. Once on board, you should be safe. Come; I will show you the way, senor.”
“Wait just one instant,” implored Hal. “Ramirez, such friendship as you have shown to-day is seldom met with. Pardon me if I seek to learn something about you.”
“There is little to tell,” responded the Cuban. “I love this people and their island, for I am one of them. I have done, as perhaps you have guessed, all in my power to serve Cuba. You see, senor, I do not hesitate to trust you. You will wonder why one of my sentiments is not in the Cuban army. I will answer that question before you ask it. It is forbidden to a Cuban to join our patriot army unless he can bring with him a gun and some ammunition. When I can do that, I shall leave Havana and take to the long grass where the insurgents, if not as thick as locusts, are fighting as bravely as lions. Beyond that I can tell you little, except that I have no living relatives. All have died of starvation, and my greatest dread is that I shall starve before I am ready to strike out for the long grass.”
Simple and brief as Ramirez’s statement was, it was the eloquent account of a patriot who would die for his cause and country, and who would die with equal cheerfulness, either of starvation in Havana, or under arms in the field.
There were tears in Hal’s eyes as he heard the simple story.
But Ramirez cut short his reflections by saying:
“Senor, not all of our danger is behind us. If you are going to the English ship, let me advise you that we should start at once.”
“Just one more question before we go,” interposed Hal. “You spoke of a gun and ammunition. Can they be obtained here in Havana?”
“When one has the price, senor.”
“And what is that price?”
“Well, if I had twenty-five dollars I could buy a rifle and a pocketful of cartridges. But, why speculate? Twenty-five dollars is not to be found.”
“You are right,” responded Hal. “Let us find the brig.”
Ramirez guided him from the wharf and led him down a dark street, halting every few steps to make sure that they were not being followed.
Of a sudden, the Cuban, every instant alert, dragged our hero into a doorway.
“Here comes the patrol,” whispered Juan.
Hal listened, yet it was some moments before he could hear the tramp of soldiers.
“Your hearing is wonderful,” he whispered.
“It is said,” replied Ramirez, “that starvation quickens all the senses.”
“And you are starving?” uttered Hal, feeling as if he were choking.
“Far from it,” was the answer. “I ate a quarter of a loaf of bread the day before yesterday.”
“And since——”
“I have had several drinks of water, but it was warm and therefore not palatable.”
Terrible as this statement was, it was made quietly, without the least trace of a desire to parade misery.
Tears glistened in Hal Maynard’s eyes. He was about to speak when Ramirez cut him short by whispering:
“I find that this door behind us opens. That is fortunate, for otherwise we would perhaps be captured.”
Silently both moved into the hallway. Trying not even to breathe, they listened as a score of Spanish regulars or volunteers marched by.
Only a few yards further on they heard the command halt. Then followed a dialogue between an officer and a belated pedestrian.
It was soon evident that the latter could not give a satisfactory account of himself, for they heard the officer break in sharply:
“Enough! Step in between the files. You shall tell the rest of your story at the Prefatura.”
Tramp, tramp! sounded the squad, marching on again. Ramirez listened until long after Hal had heard the last footfall.
Then the door was opened once more, and the pair stole out to the sidewalk.
“We are safe,” breathed Ramirez. “Walk quickly for a minute, and you will be aboard your ship.”
A prediction that was realized, for, without further mishap, they reached the wharf and walked its length.
“Who comes here?” growled a gruff voice.
Hal’s heart gave a jump at sound of the old, dear, familiar English tongue.
“We are friends. I am an American,” he replied, stepping in advance. “I wish to speak with the captain.”
“You’ll find him on board, sir,” replied the sailor, more respectfully.
“I must leave you, senor,” whispered Ramirez, adding, when he saw Hal’s look of surprise: “The money that you intrusted to me I left with friends. Do not be uneasy. In twenty minutes you should see me back.”
Before Hal could grasp his hand to wring it, Ramirez had glided off in the shadows.
“Of all the true hearts in the world,” gasped Maynard, admiringly. “Will he come back? I wish I were as sure of heaven!”
Without a doubt regarding Ramirez, our hero turned and went aboard the brig.
Only three words of introduction were needed to secure a warm grasp from Captain Blodgett’s hand:
“I’m an American.”
“And left behind, eh?” demanded the captain. “We sail at midnight; Norfolk; there’s plenty of room aboard.”
“May I speak confidentially with you, sir?” asked Hal.
“Of course.”
They conversed in low tones by the rail for ten minutes. After that they turned, looking shoreward.
At length, Ramirez appeared. No sooner did he reach the wharf than he struck into a trot that did not slacken until the Cuban reached the Atwood’s deck.
“Your money, senor,” announced the breathless messenger.
Diving under his jacket, he produced a bag.
“To my belief it has not been opened. Nevertheless, senor, you will do me a great favor to count the money, and thus acquit me of all suspicion.”
“At your request only I do so,” answered Hal. “Captain, may we use the table in your cabin?”
“In more ways than one,” was the hearty answer. “Follow me below, gentlemen.”
There, upon the table the bag was opened, the money poured forth.
Not much time was required in the counting. Two thousand dollars was restored to the bag. The balance, sixty dollars, Hal stowed away in his own pockets.
“My own money,” he announced. “Ramirez, how can I ever thank you for all your honesty and goodness?”
“Since your people have been our friends for three years,” came the reply, “it is enough for me to know that I have served an American. And now I must take my leave of this vessel.”
“I also,” replied Hal, rising.
“You?” echoed Ramirez, amazed, while Captain Blodgett looked gravely on.
“Certainly,” rejoined Hal; “I am going with you.”
“With me, senor? Where, may I ask?”
“To the long grass, if you will take me.”
“You? Santa Maria! Do you mean, senor, that——”
He paused, utterly bewildered, but Hal Maynard finished, quickly:
“Ramirez, I saw a man when I met you. I am anxious to prove my own manhood. I offer myself as a recruit to fight Spain!”