But he turned and silently followed the sailor to the companionway.
They did not go below at once, however, for just then something occurred that made the sailor stop.
The man who had first spoke to Clif, the captain, apparently, had been sweeping the sh.o.r.e with his gla.s.s. And just then he gave a startled exclamation.
Everybody heard him, and the Spanish sailor stopped and turned to look.
Clif was so listless and despairing that he did not take the trouble to do likewise; but when he heard the exclamations of the men he felt his heart give a leap.
They were staring at a man on the sh.o.r.e.
"What in the world can be the matter with that fellow?" cried the captain.
"Santa Maria! he is calling to us!" exclaimed another.
"He must be crazy," declared a third.
The captain, with his gla.s.s could see more plainly than the others, and his astonishment grew greater.
"Why, he"s a Spanish officer--a lieutenant, I think! And he is trying to hail us. What can it mean?"
"Perhaps he"s got dispatches!" suggested some one.
It flashed over Clif in an instant what that meant, and Bessie Stuart heard him give a m.u.f.fled exclamation of delight.
For he could see a blue-uniformed figure running down the sh.o.r.e and waving its arms wildly.
"It"s Lieutenant Hernandez!" he panted.
And there was a wild gleam of hope in his eyes as he realized what that meant.
He might rescue them again!
Feverishly Clif watched to see what the gunboat would do. The captain continued staring and muttering exclamations of astonishment.
"I wonder if he does want us," he cried. "Por dios, I do think that"s it."
And a second later he made up his mind and whirled about.
"Hard a port!" he roared.
And Clif"s heart leaped with joy as he heard that order.
The sailor was so much interested in that strange incident that he let his prisoners remain on deck while he stood and stared. The Spanish vessel raced swiftly in toward sh.o.r.e.
And the stranger as soon as he saw that stopped his frantic gesticulating and stood still to wait.
The captain ran in as close as he dared, and then stopped. He stepped into the bow.
"What do you want?" he roared.
"Send a boat," the man shouted back. "I must come aboard. Quick!"
The captain muttered an exclamation of astonishment under his breath; but his curiosity alone would have been sufficient to move him. The gunboat"s wherry boat was quickly gotten away.
As for Clif, he was simply wild with delight. For he could see that it was Lieutenant Hernandez after all.
Bessie Stuart was so overcome by the sudden shock of the discovery that she was scarcely able to stand, breathlessly the two watched the rowboat speeding in.
The lieutenant waded out as far as he could, and when the boat reached him he climbed into the bow. In a few moments he was speeding back to the gunboat.
And when he stepped on board he found the captain staring at him.
"Lieutenant Hernandez!" he gasped.
"Yes," said the other with a bow.
But he scarcely glanced at the man until his eager eyes had sought out Clif and Bessie. When he saw them alive and unhurt a look of relief swept over his face.
And then he turned to the captain.
"What in the world is the matter?" the man cried.
The other nodded toward the two Americans.
"It is about them," he said.
"What about them?"
"Why did you stop them?"
"Stop them! Why they are Americans, and they were prisoners in Morro."
"I know that," said the officer. "But they were released."
"What!"
"Yes. And I was charged with the duty of seeing them safe on board the American ships."
The Spanish captain stared in amazement.
"Carramba!" he muttered. "Why didn"t they say so?"
"I don"t see that you gave them a chance," said the other. "You fired on them too soon."
"But I had no idea of this!" cried the other.
To doubt that story never once entered his head; he seemed to know who the lieutenant was.