Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-02-03
CHAPTER NIX.

CHAPTER MN.
When the Sparrow Hawk was within
some three miles of the rover, the sea
breeze suddenly began to fall; for quar-
ter Of an hour there was succession of
short. irregular puffs and uncertain
Gains. and then the wind sank altogether;
the crispcd smiles Of the ridgy waves
| subsidized into cool serenity, and q few
minutes later the whole surface of the
gulf was shining silvcry and bright as n
vast mirror. or rs the unrutllcd bosom
Of an inland lake.
Condemned to inactivity on both sides.
the future combatants applied themselves
Mt once to the stcrnest preparations for
q fight which nll forcsaw must be final
and conclusive; but doub!y peril6us was
the need Of Manly to provide every re-
source with which his genius and cxpc-
ricncc could surround him. since the very
calm which prevented hin, from working
of shore manfully under bold sail to meet
one enemy, compelled him to await the
insidious and almost unseen approaches
Of another, In the triumphant army Of
the Spaniarls, flushed with their recent
victory, whose columns he might already
behold entering the gates Of the city, and
whose artillery he might soon expect to
hear laundering from the cmbrasurcs Of
the batteries under whose guns he lay.
"Arc they cightecns or twenty .fOurs,
Montgomery? asked the commander of
the young man, whose long sojourn might
be presumed to render him familiar with
all the details of the city and Its FORTH.
cations, (which form the battery Of yon
low Aeur dcau fort to the left Of the
mOlcY
"Neithcr one nor the other, CAPTAIN
Manly" replied the young man; "there Is
not u gun there Of smaller calibcr than
twcnty-fours and cightccns."
"Heavy odds against contemporaries
carronadcs, and that at long bowls, too.
We must be moving. IL we mean TO do
anything against that heavy fellow In the
Ofiing, for he II hard match for us mt
the best; and II these dons begin to pep.
per us, as 1t Is like enough they will, IL
they don't sink us at our anchors, for
which l. would be lonth to answer, they
will leave little work for him to do"
"Mr. Morton" he continued, after n
moments pause, addressing the officer of
the deck, "call all hands. II you please
The shrill whistle Of the boatswain and
the hoarse call repeated everywhere, was
followed by the heavy tramping of feet
and the simultaneous rush Of the crew
from all quarters until a hundred and
twenty as stout fellows as ever walked
deck were mustered about their ancient
captain. whose long. rellnQulshed and now
resumed authority they hailed with trans
port and the fullest conviction Of tri-
uniph.
"Clenr away all the boats, sir, and let
tho launch aud long boat have their
Hedges on b0ard--I shall both tow and
kedge of shore. as checrily rs we may,
for we must put two miles of water be.
tween US and those water batteries he
fore they open their fire upon Us. which
they will do soon. as they know am
aboard you. Look alive now, my lads;
II you do your duty lively we shall be
without the range Of their guns before
they can train their muzxles upon us; and
every mile we make now brings us as
much tho nearer to yOn cruiser. which Is
our real enemy, as 1t removes US from
these naughty dons."
Tho men cheered Justify. tho boats
were speedily fitted, manned and lowered,
and the ship was about to commence the
doubtful experiment Of hedging out from
under the guns OF the heavy batteries
when suddenly white flag was display
cd on mast ut the mole head. and immc-
diately aftcrward boat was seen pulling
out, with It's stern sheets filed, with
officers of rank and similar emblem Of
pacific intentions floating from staff
at her bows, and the gorgeous blazonry
Of old Spain displayed ut her stern.
"IIa! they will treat with u.s." cried
the commander. ut Is well so--we shall
gain time. Haul down that red ensign
meantime, and set Spanish colors at her
gaffs. with white Tag at her fore. We
arc an American, remember, and with
protection from his excellency the gov
ernor OF Havana"
In the meantime the shore boat had
come alongside, and the ENJOYS. consist.
Ing OF two or three subaltcrns Of the
spanish army, accompanying lieutenant
colonel who was the governors aid-de-
camp likewise, came on board, and We're
received by Frederick and his other OH.
GERS, who were now all In full uniform
as officers OF the United States, with all
courtesy and honor.
Their errand was soon told. Informa-
ton had been given to the royalist gen.
eral that two persons most obnoxious to
the Government, daring partisaus of
Morelos, and unremitting enemies of
Spain. having succeeded In making their
escape from the bloody field OF Guanax-
iato. had been received on board the Sea
King, and We're now In asylum under the
cover Of her Gag. 1t would appear that
the momentary elevation Of the piratical
ensign on board the cruiser had escaped
the observation of the Spaniaris. since
they spoke Of the Sea King. and appear
ed to consider her a. a cruiser Of the
United States; and Il was In consequence
Of the assumed neutrality Of that power,
and ON the faith Of treaties. that the
surrender Of these men was demanded,
who had borne arms against Spain on
her own ground, In defiance Of the state
OF amity and peace existing bstwesn the