The Saint Paul globe., 1904-05-29
CHAPTER VI. (continued)

Havana. These sugar droghers be-
longing to the plantations (every es-
tate on the coast had one or more)
went in and out of the harbor without
being taken much notice Of Some
times the battery at the waters edge
on the north side or custom house
guard would hail them, but not often
and even then only to ask the name.
where from, and for the number of
sugar-hogsheads on board. 'By heav-
ems! That's the very thing!" rejoiced
Sebright. And it was agreed that this
would be our best way. We should
time our arrival for early morning, or
else at dusk. The craft that brought
us in should be made, by a piece of un-
Lion, and remain alongside long
enough to give us time to sneak in
through an open deck-port.
The whole occurrence must be so
contrived as to wear the appearance
of pure accident to the onlookers
should there be any. Shouting and an
exchange of abuse on both parts
should sound very true. Then the
drogher, getting herself clear, would
proceed innocently to the custom
house steps, where all such coasters
had to report themselves on arrival
Never fear. We shall put in some
loud and scandalous cursing, Sc
bright assured me. '"rhe boys will
greatly enjoy that part, l dare say
Remained to consider the purpose
of the schooner that had come out of
Rio Medic to hang on our skirts. 1t
was doubtful whether 1t was In our
power to shake her off. Sebright was
full of admiration for her sailing quail
tiles, coupled with infinite contempt
for the 'lubberly gang on board"
II l had the handling of her, now"
he said, II would take my position as
near as l liked, and stick there. It
seems almost as if she would do II Of
herself, If those imbeciles would only
let her have her own way. / never
yet saw a Spaniard, good or bad. that
was anything of a sailor. AS 1t is. we
may maintain a distance that would
make 1t difficult for them to see what
we are about. And, if not, then
why, you must take your leave Of us
at night"
He didn't know that, but for the
dismalness of such a departure, 1t were
not just as we'll Who could tell what
eyes might be watching on shore.
You know I never pretended nv
plan was quite safe. But have you got
another ?''io I'D e@
And now the time was approaching;
the time to awake and step forth out
Of the temple of sunshine and love
of whispers and silences. It had
come. The night before both Will
liams and Sebright had been on deck,
working the ship with an anxious care
TO take the utmost advantage Of every
favoring flaw in the contrary breeze
In the morning 1 was told there was
norther brewing. A norther is
tempestuous gale. 1 saw no signs of
it.
Dazzling white patches, about the
size Of a mans hand, came out be-
tween sky and water. They grew in
width, and ran together with hum
mocky outline into a continuous un-
dulation Of sand dunes. Here and
there this rampant had q gap like
breach made by guns. A voice on
deck pronounced:
That's right. Here's his landmark.
The fellow knew very well what he
was talking about"
1t was Sebright's voice, and Castro,
strOlling away triumphantly, affected
TO turn his back on the land. He had
recognized the formation Of the coast
about the inlet long before anybody
else could distinguish the details.
To the infinite qualification of every
one on board, it had been discovered
at daylight that the schooner had lost
touch with us during the hours of
darkness-either through unskillful
handling, or from some accidental dis
advantage of the variable wind. l had
been informed of it, directly 1 showed
myself on deck in the morning, by sew
eral men who had radiant grins, as If
some great piece of luck had befallen
them, one and all.
Some sailors hauled the boat along
side, the rest lined the rail as for a
naval spectacle, and Williams stared
blankly. My girls cheeks glowed;
her eyes sparkled audaciously. She
had done up her hair in some way that
made 1t fit her head like a cap. 1t be-
came her exceedingly. and the decision
of her movements, the white serenity
of her brow. dazzled me as If / had
less childlike, older ripe for this ad-
venture in a new development Of
strength and courage. She inclined
her head slowly at the gaping sailors
who had taken their caps off.
AS soon as she appeared, Castro,
who had been leaning against the bull
wark, started up, and with a NUT
tered "Adios, senores,' went down the
oversize ladder and ensconced himself
in the bow of the boat. The leav-
taking was hurried. over. williams
gave no sign of feeling, except, per-
hapS, for the greater intensity of his
stare, which passed beyond our
shoulders in the very act of handshak-
ing. Sebright helped Seraphina down
into the boat and ran up again nimbly.
He gave me a flask as descended.
"All right there?" he asked from
above. as soon as had taken my seat
in the stern sheets by the side of Sera-
phina. He was standing on the poop
deck ready with a sign for letting go
the end of our painter on deck; but be-
fore l could answer in the affirmative,
Castro, ensconced forward under his
hat, drew his ready blade across the
rope, as if 1t were a throat.
Our little sail filled to a breeze
which was much too feeble to produce
q perceptible effect on the ship, and
we left behind us her towering form,
as one recedes from a tall white spire
on a plain. 1 laid the boats head
straight for the dwarf headland. mark
ing the mouth of the inlet on the inter-
minable range of sand dunes We
drove on with a smart ripple, but be-
fore we felt sufficiently settled to ex-
change a few words the animated sound
languished suddenly, paused altogether,
and, with renewed murmur under our
feet, seemed to lose itself below the
CLASSY waters.
CHAPTER VII.
The calm had returned. The sea,
changing from the warm glitter of a