The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-02-17

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navy was passed on her deck, and
would rather lose my life than see her &c
down"
Enrique Delmonte spoke with great
earnestness, and the American felt that
he had some deep cause for wishing tC
save the vessel. He knew that his father
was Spaniard and his mother Cuban
and that he had been reared in the navy
of Spain, which he had left to serve his
native land.
Shaping their course so as to head the
drifting vessel off, a lantern was shown
to tell of coming succor, and the cheer
that broke from the crew at sight of il
vas heard on board the yacht.
"Delmonte, again I must remind you
of the risk you rum" said the Captain.
II know all, and 1 will take my
chances; as soon as 1 board the Alaman-
da you had better stand seward, so as
not to be in this neighborhood by day
light"
"And you, Delmonte?"
| .'Oh 1 will run the vessel into the
harbor we left, and then go ashore and
hasten on after Ryan, for can overtake
him, and when you again come to the is
land will join you, unless I can do
more good ashore; but here We are, and
will hail"
In a ringing voice, and in Spanish,
Enrique Defmonte hailed the large ves-
sci, which was now plainly seen to be q
large steamer and war vessel, whose
light sails would not work her off shore.
'Ho, the Alamanda
cay, ay, are you a pilot?" came the
answer from the vessel of war.
eyes; will run under your lee and
come on board"
'All right, for our machinery has bro
ken down, we have lost our anchors and
are drifting rapidly" said an officer, in
earnest tones.
81 know that voice; it is Capt. Verona
himself. Now goodbye, Captain, and if
harm befell Enrique Delmonte tell my
friends how died. and the young Gu
ban grasped the Americans hand, and
stood ready to seize the ropes ready to be
thrown to him.
Though plunging fearfully, the Amer
lean held the yacht firmly in hand, and
ran close in under the stern of the
steamer, from which ropes were skill
fully thrown, and adroitly grasped by
the Cuban, who, with goodbye on his
lips to his shipmates, clambered over the
sides of the Spanish vessel, while the
yacht bounded away from the enemy
those on board had so much cause to
dread and started on her return voyage
to the United States
Upon reaching the deck Enrique Del
monte found himself in;the presence of a
score of officers, while crowds of sea
men stood not far away, gazing upon the
daring pilot that had come out to their
aid but. with his collar muffiing his
face, his hat drawn down over his eyes,
he was not recognized, though he looked
upon more than a dozen men who had
long been his comrades in the navy of
Spain.
''Are you a Cuban pilot, sir?" asked
Captain Verona, naughty, stern-faced
man of As.
II am Cuban, and have come to keep
you off yonder rocks, was the quiet reply,
while he pointed shoreward to the line of
breakers.
"Our rig is too light for US to work off
shore, and our machinery is broken
down and anchors gone, so, if you can
not save us, we are doomed, said the
Spaniard.
Il know that we'll, Senior, and l will
ing to his post of duty, he assumed con-
troll, and, no longer struggling to beat
out to sea, the steamer was put before
the gale, and went rushing landward
with fearful speed.
Calm and firm Enrique Delmonte
stood at the wheel, his eyes watching
every move Of the vessel, and penetrat
ing the loom ahead to catchs sight of
some well-known object by which he
could get his course.
And on rushed the Spanish vessel into
the channel, and, though apparently
surrounded by breakers. holding her
course unswervingly, until she glided
around the point of land that formed the
harbor, and was in safety.
You can move alongside OF yonder
rocks, Senior, for there is depth enough"
said the Cuban, when the cheers Of the
Spaniards at their rescue died away.
"You are daring and skillful pilot,
Senior, and you have saved myself and
crew, SO name your reward. said Capt.
Verona.
''The reward / ask, Senior Captain, is
mercy for any poor Cubans that may
fall into your hands" was the brusque
reply.
''Ha! this rings like the words OF o
traitor to Spain! Are you such, sir?"
II am Cuban patriot, Senor." was the
calm reply.
"Ah, and seem prond Of it. By Nep-
tune but we have been saved by foe;
your love Of gold must be great indeed
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