The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-01-15
A Cuban EiIibuster.
Ry Harold Bindlass in an English Mag
azine. In Three Parts.)



~ tho nanting of the windlass. The ram
came down as it only can IN the lrop-
Toe shifting the iron decks with raIlle
and roar. and speaking the Oily sea "ltii
ubite The crew stood about hlrn' anu
nudeed one another as they notlced lne4.
oficer's unusual indifference TO the muo
the links flung about deck ana winch
druu. for news had leaked out through
the steward that something unusual was
on hand
BEG pardon SIR" said the grizzled quar-
termaster, touching his hat, Dut We
tic If well if you was 10 tell the cap
tain that if it's savin' some poor "le1oi
from the Spaniards. we're with MIN one
and all ,r,,
Thanks" answered the mate; IN let
him know Then he climbed to the lo1ty
bridge and when the telegraph tlnked mai
sneed ahead there was great splashihS
and seething aft, for the Olivet was nyllg
light and her propeller whirled round nan
bIace clear. With a heavy thud accomp't-
nving the clatter OF the wei-worn en-
eines and a shivering through all her
rusty plates, she headed in-snors; ana
CAPTAIN Armstrong leaned out over the
hridge-rails with very ANXIOUS FACE as
the lights of the cruiser drew near. SWING
ing to and fro through the rain IKE
twinkling stars.
share challenge rose from the Span
iard's poop, and some one crleo' heep
off with that steamer-where are you go
ing?"
sIn-shore, to pick up last barge OF rum
before we 90 to sea- the mate hailed IN
Castilian; and a horse voice answered.
''Buen viaje; vaya con dos.
The cruiser faded into the blackness
astern. and the mate said quietly: Sne
had no steam, sir, l think; there was no
vapor about her funnel.
.aThank goodness for that, was the an
sWer; we've more than enough GORDON
burning coal very recklessly tonight. You
NAV as well put out the side-lghts now
and bring Watkins up here"
The mate obeyed, and when he returne
the stranger paced excitedly up and down
the bridge with the water soaking from
his tattered garments. Get my spare
oilskins out OF the chart-room," sad the
captain; lit means fever to get soaked III
climate like this"
THE fever and are old companions"
Watkins answered hoarsely; and I've
work to do tonight Can't you bear
oars?'
His companions strained their ears, and
presently the dull noise of wood grinding
against thole-pins became family audible
Yes said Captain Armstrong; there
they are at last"
A low, black object, ringed about with
phosph orescent fire, came splashing out OF
the darkness. Watkins hailed her in
Spanish: Have you seen barge loaded
with rum casks?"
NO" answered a sullen voice, and what
followed was not blessing this time:
"Vaya al diablo.'
He's not there; he would have recogniz-
ed my voice. said Watkins. Suppose
they should keep him ashore"
Another barge came up and passed; olt
neither did she contain him they sought
and the three fell strangely silent as they
| waited, listening with all their ears. Han
an hour of nervous suspense followed, du-
ring which there was nothing to be heard
but the welter of water along the plates,
and the clanking of the engines as the
Olivet slowly circled round. Then the
rain ceased, and presently the splash of
oars drew near again.
This must be the last; surely he is
there" said Captain Armstrong. The
only thing we can do is to run foul OF
them. Most of the olive-skins can swim,
and if these can't they must take their
chance. Hail them when they're near.
The telegraph tinkled for full speed, and
the bridge-rails ratified as the half sub
merged propeller whirled and splashed,
driven by every pound of steam. Steady
helm,'' said the captain as u patcn OF
deeper blaclsness appeared upon the st2r-
board bow with a flicker of lamoent sea-
fire about it. The mate hailed the ap-
preaching barge, and all started as an
English voice made answer Help LOT
d. Lords sake. help! Run them down,
might have been a blow with rifle mutt
and some one cried in Spanish, ''silence
there rehel dog" Then the oars spiashed
confrsedly and a negro shout of alarm
rang out. ,,
she's pIenty way" said the captain
orinIv land we can't do wholesale murer
with the propeller. Port there-hard over
helm!"
The clatter of the engines ceased, ana
there was a grinding of wheei-chalns as
the lofty iron bows swung round A man
stood I'D in the barge, waving a lantern
and then the white streak of the steam
erss forecastle-head hid the craft from
sight A clamor of cries followed, ana
above them all the three could hear
shrill voice calling in Spanish, stop her
before you run US DOWN.
STEADY helmr' was all the captain SAID
and the next moment there was dull
cr,ns.n,np noise beneath the bows as the
iron stem bit into the yielding timber.
Then something rasped and bumped along
the mates in a phosphorescent swirl of
water. and an English shout came from
among the wreckage, "Wil some one fling
me liner
rome went whistling out, and the mate
oro ,,icious,v beneath his breath as the
"a swung slackly back against the SIDE
,,.bila the captain. leaning over the ralis'
sa,,t down a cheering cry, Hold on, we re
| oor,ino, hack. and well have you yet as
| tho steamer forged ahead into the DARK
moss Then a shadowy figure leaped up on
| the side-light screen, balanced itself lot
| n moment. and, just as the mate stepped
| forward to lay his hands upon 1t, hung
both arms aloft and launched out INTO
| r,id-air 'srThe crazy fool-there's another
| 70 he fshed out now, gasped the mate.
! Wen stop her and back her down. SAID
the captain stand by the gangway with
| q lantern. and lower the Jacobs ladder. "
Again the propeller churned and ratified,
! and presently great wreaths OF white.
/ s,anrled by luminous green and gold.
/ seethed forward as the Olivet slowly went
| sStern until Watkins voice came from
somewhere beneath the poop, Way
/ enough, stop her. or the screw will cut
us up" The vibration died away; the
/ steamer came slowly 10 standstiil, and
! the mate leaped down TO the lowest step
/ of the ladder. while wiry seamen, clinglns
/ like cats to trailing lines, and jamminG
their toes against the landings of the
{ plates. climbed down by her side. BY the
/ yellow glow Of the mates lantern the over
/ turned and crushed-in barge became
/ family visible short distance from the
! quarter. Shadowy objects loosed their hold
] 49,. III car,n.. srla stnir,c- tcrca -lis .ha