, 1881-02-11
The Condemned Cuban.

1t was fearful night OH the coast OF
Cuba, for tornado had swept along the
sea and shore with relentless fury, leav-
ing death and destruction in it's merciless
path.
And yet, though sheltered by the for
est-clad point of land jutting out from
the main, the small vessel was getting
ready to leave the quiet inland waters
and put to sea.
The cause of thus daring death by
the commander of this little vessel was
because at the peak the lone star flag OF
the struggling Cubans fluttered in the
breeze, and sentence most severe rested
upon all who served beneath its folds.
The little vessel, once a New York
yacht, had run in to the Cuban coast
after dark, bearing arms, ammunition,
stores, and few good men and true for
the patriot army of Cespedes in the
mountains.
Having safely delivered her cargo into
the charge of the unfortunate General
Ryan, her American commander deter.
mined to put to sea in the face OF the
storm, for he knew that Spanish gun
boats were watching for him, and that
capture meant certain death by the gar
rote or rifle.
"Stand ready all to make sail. The
storm will be more merciful than the
Spaniards, called out the yachts Cap
tain; and the crew of half a dozen men
and two junior officers sprang to obey,
when to their cars came the deep boom
OF gun.
All paused, for what could it mean?
Certainly it was not the roar OF thun.
der, for its mutterings were heard far
away to landward.
Could another Cuban craft be running
in and the gun come from Spaniard in
chase?
No, it was the deep boom of heavy
gun, and those on the yacht looked al
each other in awe as it was repeated, for
they knew that the brazen throat was
pleading piteously for help, and that one
hundred lives-perhaps many more
hung on the answer to that appeal.
They are minute guns, and they are
calling for a pilot" said Enrique Del
monte, handsome young Cuban, who
was second in command OF the yacht.
"Will any go to their aid2" asked the
American commander.
mo, they are Cuban pilots, and il
must be Spanish msn.of-war that needs
them"
1T seems pity to see them wrecked,
even if they are our enemies. Hsrk
How pleading are those gunsp answered
the American.
Enemies though they be, they shall
not die, for | will save them!
You, Enrique Delmonte?n
''Yes, my Captain ; for, as you know,
my boyhood's home is near by, and !
know these waters well. Will you put
me on board, for you are going to sea p
said the noble Young Cuban.
1T is fearful risk for you to run.
Delmonte; you are already under sen.
tence of death, and"
II will die III good cause. Come.
let US lose no time, from the sound OF
those guns the vessel is drifting in rap.
idly
The American Captain offered no ar.
gument further, and the anchor was
raised, the sales, reefed down, were set,
and the little yacht sped like huge,
white bird away from its safe nest to
battle with the wild waters and winds
beyond.
1t took the united strength of the Cap
tain and Enrique Delmonte. who acted
as pilot, to hold the yacht on her course
for the seas washed over her decks IL
torrents, and she staggered fearfully be
meath the rude shocks Of the waves
At length the channel was safel,
passed through, and the open water
reached, when, not half a mile away
came the vivid red flash of a gun, ant
the deep boom rolled across the waters
1T is n large vessel, and evidently