The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1897-09-23
CHAPTER VI.
A NOBLE sACRIrIcE.


grim and forbidding pile of masonry
which guards the entrance to the har-
Dor of Havana.
Upon the quarterback of the little
craft paced her owner, Castro Vasquez,
while at her wheel stood weather.
beaten son of Neptune, Cuban coast
pilot.
The crew of the vessel, however, bore
little resemblance to the conventional
sailor, save perhaps in their costumes,
and the manner ia which they per-
formed their work, if seen by profess
sional mariners, would have caused the
latter to deaounce them as "land-lub-
bers."
Nor would the seamcn have been
far astray in their estimate, that is.
barring the ''lubber" part, for not one
of the company on board, except the
owner and pilot, had ever been out OF
sight Of the land.
The people were in fact the social as
societies of Don Ccballos and Senior
Vasquez, and had. every one, been
present ut the secret political meeting;
they had volunteered their services to
man the yacht on the occasion of her
trip to intercept the steamer laden with
arms, it not being deemed expedient to
make use of a regular crew on such an
important mission.
Although the owner had sailed by the
Moro many times, yet this day he drew
a sigh of relief when his little craft had
passed beyond the range of the for
midablc guns that frowne9 menacingly
from the parapets.
'Ilow long should it take us to run
down to Salt Key bank, photo? For it
is there we are TO meet the steamer
with the wind no heavier than this,
senior, it will be all of twcnty-four
hours before we make the light on the
shoals"
"Ah, then we have plenty of time to
arrange our plans" answered the
Cuban. Then in loud voice he called:
Come, my friends, lay aft here. We
are too far away from that old stone
pile to fear detection by its guards, and
you have played sailors to perfection"
At this the amateur yachtsmen joined
their comrade on the quarter deck.
With but one of the characters is the
reader acquainted, and that is the en-
thusiastic young patriot, Valdes Haas.
He was on board the yacht as custodian
of the prisoner. Felipe Coras, who was
lying in the cabin, manacled, awaiting
sentence which had not yet been passed
upon him.
snow senors," said Vasquez, 81 want
to make you familiar with the line
of action which Don Manuel and
myself have thought best to pursue.
we are to fall in with the steamer, and
when out of sight of land take on board
as much OF her cargo as we can carry,
and then sail for Key Francis, which
from Caibarien.
"Senor Cehallos, his son and the re-
claimed Jose Calvo, whom you now
know was the prime factor in the cap
ture of that villain below there, have
gone down by land to prepare for our
reception. Our anchoring off the little
island will excite no suspicion, as l
have been there with the yacht several
times. A portion of the Key is dense
jungle, an excellent place in which to
conceal our valuable acquisition of
arms, until suitable opportunity can
be found to put them into the hands of
our friends. which trust viii not be
many days hence. What think you of
the plano
II can see no other that offers so sure
prospect of snccess," replied Haas.
nj 70 l,a oil of
failure here, unless through treachery,
of which fortunately we need have but
little fear, for Cubans of the stamp of
our prisoner are far from numerous,
and spaniards, OF course, we shall
avoid"
The little band of determined men
sat discussing the political situation I'M
til the shades of night dariSened the
scene, then the watch was set, and
duty went below.
As the sun arose from its watery bed,
the following morning, the joyful an
nouncemcnt from the pilot that a
steamer was in sight. brought everyone
on deck, and there far down on the
eastern horizon was long line of
smoke indicating the locality of the
vessel.
ut may not be the craft of which we
are in Search" remarked Vasquez, as
his friends became iubilant.
1--WE can only trust that it is" re-
piled the pilot, "for if it should be we
shall have good, long day to work by
her side"
At the expiration of an hour the hull
of the steamer was plainly visible. She
was headed toward the mainland of
Cuba aud was travelling at a very slow
rate of speed.
THAT must be the one" observed the
pilot, ''clse she would be going faster.
Look she changes her course, rs though
her commander was undecided which
way to steer. However. short time
win decide. Set our signals, senior, and
let him know that we want to speak
to him."
In n few moments the Spanish ensign
was flying from the masthead of the
yacht.
IL dislike very much TO show that
flag remarked Vasquez. as he looked
aloft at the red and yellow bunting.
"But it would not do to display any
other in case that craft is not the one
for which we are seeking. Ali There
goes his colorsl" he continued. "The
United States, ] take it. What say
You, plotoP' handing the glass to the
mariner.
Isl, 81. senior, Americana" was the
reply "And he is heading now directly
for us
Il think fortune smiles upon our mis-
sion this time remarked the owner of
the yacht.
Truly it did, for in less than half an
hour after the days had been hoisted,
the engine of the steamer had stopped
and the little schooner was lying with
her lib hauled to windward not more