"Certainly," was Hal"s ready answer. "I fancy that your men will soon be engaged, for this place is surrounded by bush, as you can see for yourself, and that is an ideal cover for Spanish irregulars, who, I may tell you, are masters at that particular form of fighting, having been taught many bitter lessons by the insurgents. There! Listen to that!"
They went outside the tent, and heard the distant rattle of musketry, and then the answering shots from their own pickets. Taking up a rifle, and filling his pockets with cartridges, Hal at once ran up the hill to join them.
"Keep yer noddle low thar," a sergeant sang out to him. "The Dons aer sendin" their bullets skimmin" over here, and it"s odds yer don"t quite see from where. That"s the ticket. Get low down, and keep a lively look-out."
Hal took the advice given him, and, copying the example of the sergeant, threw himself down behind a rock. Then, dropping his rifle for the moment, he commenced to build up a little breastwork, just like the schantzes used by the Boers in South Africa. Having obtained excellent cover in this way, he knelt up and stared into the bush.
Ping! thud! A rifle flashed three hundred yards away, and the bullet struck a foot or two to his right, sending chips of rock and a fine dust flying into the air. Ping! phit! Again the rifle cracked, and all that Hal could see was a dense ma.s.s of tangled green trailers and ferns.
"Wait a bit," he murmured beneath his breath. "I see that big fern moving. Why, as I live, it has crawled ten feet in the last half-minute.
There must be a man behind."
He aimed carefully and fired. Instantly the waving fronds started high into the air, and, falling asunder, disclosed a Spanish guerrilla reeling blindly from side to side. Then he flung his arms wildly above his head, and, twisting round in his agony, fell p.r.o.ne to the earth.
[Ill.u.s.tration: "HE AIMED CAREFULLY AND FIRED."]
"That aer one for you, pard," the sergeant cried. "Guess it wur a mighty fluke."
"Wrong, then," Hal answered. "The Spaniards have stuck ferns into their hats, coats, and belts, and that is the reason why you do not spot them.
It"s a very old trick of theirs, and one that they learned from the Cubans. Watch for moving leaves, and pull your trigger with the sights leveled three feet beneath."
"So! aer that it?" the sergeant answered wonderingly. "You"re mighty cute, young feller. Hillo! Durn me, but thar aer a fern on the walk."
He rose to his knees, and, sighting carefully, pulled his trigger very gently. The report was followed instantly by a commotion amidst the leaves, which suddenly fell to the ground.
"That fetched home, I"m thinking," he cried. "Here goes for another.
Ah----"
Hal turned his head, to see the unfortunate American suddenly collapse, and lie motionless across the bowlder. A Spanish bullet had brought quick revenge for the death of a comrade.
"Poor beggar! The fortune of war," Hal remarked sadly. "Well, as he"s gone, I must act for both."
He placed a cartridge in the breech and went on firing. Then he pa.s.sed the news that the Spaniards were, like Malcolm"s army of old, decked with boughs and leaves, along the lines of trenches which had been thrown up hastily for the protection of the outposts. Hour after hour the musketry duel continued, and so clever were the Spanish guerrillas at taking cover that they forced the American pickets back to the main body of the marines. About midnight Hal retired from the firing line for refreshment and sleep.
"What advice do you give about these fellows?" asked the officer.
"They"re certainly clever at keeping out of sight, and there seems no way of getting alongside them. We"ve four killed already, including our surgeon, and if it wasn"t for the bad shootin" of the enemy there"d be heaps more."
"I should say, turn on the electric searchlight till morning, and then pound the bush with the guns of the ships," Hal answered. "If that does not stop the firing, you"ll have to choose between retiring and rushing their cover."
"We"re not going to do the first, in any case," the officer replied st.u.r.dily; "but that is a good dodge--to turn on the light. I"ll signal down for it," and he went away at once.
Hal ate a meal of tinned meat and rusks, which he washed down with a big draught of coffee from the lid of his canteen. Then he rolled himself in a blanket which had been given to him, and quickly fell asleep, for he was worn out with his long day in the trenches. But all night long the musketry flickered along the hillside, and when morning dawned it was as active as ever. Early in the day a band of Cuban insurgents joined the invading Americans, and gave information of a Spanish camp four miles away.
"There"s going to be a fight to-morrow," said the marine officer to Hal.
"We"ve just had orders to march out and attack this Spanish encampment.
Cubans will lead the way, so that we shall not be wantin" you as guide; but if you"d care to come, why, you know you"re welcome."
"Just what I"d like. When do you start?"
"Early dawn. We"ll get breakfast for all hands, and then away, so as to make a day"s job of it. The ships are now going to throw sh.e.l.ls into the bush."
He had scarcely finished speaking, when loud booming was heard from the sea, and missiles commenced to hurtle overhead. Every corner of the bush was searched by the exploding sh.e.l.ls, but, in spite of the flying fragments, the same desultory and hara.s.sing fire continued, for the Spanish guerrillas clung tenaciously to their posts.
Next morning a force of six hundred, including marines and Cubans, marched from their bivouacs, Hal joining the party, armed as before with a rifle.
"I reckon we"ll have to be precious wide awake," said his new friend.
"Cubans are out as scouts, but in this thick bush we want something in the shape of a balloon. How far should you say we are from the Dons?"
"They told us that the camp was four miles from us," answered Hal. "We have been marching for an hour, so I fancy that we must be within half a mile or less of the enemy. Hillo! Lie down quickly!"
The silence of the bush, through which the troops were forcing a way, was suddenly broken by the crackle of musketry coming from directly in front. Fortunately, the marines were moving in open order, or otherwise the losses would have been heavy. As it was, no one was. .h.i.t, though showers of leaves were stripped from the trees, and came tumbling in a cloud to the ground, or upon the heads of those who happened to be beneath.
"A Spanish ambush!" exclaimed the officer. "Here, sir, hop along over to the signaler, and tell him to let the _Dolphin_ know whereabouts they are lying."
"Right! I"ll do it!" cried Hal. "You can expect me back shortly."
He bent low in the bush, and ran to the left, to a knoll upon which a signaler was stationed. On his right nothing but thick scrub was to be seen, from which, however, the continuous ping of musketry rang, proving that hidden foes lurked there. Straight ahead was the coast, towards which a gunboat, the _Dolphin_, was steaming so as to aid the land party with its guns.
Hal at once gave his message, and watched the signaler wag his flags to those on the gunboat. A few minutes later small sh.e.l.ls from the quick-firers began to fall into the cover in which the Spaniards were lurking. Then rifle volleys were directed at them, searching every corner. At length, unable to face the hail any longer, they broke and fled.
"After them! Charge! All together, boys!" shouted the officer in command; and, springing to their feet, the whole party dashed forward.
"Hold! Lie down, all of you! You"ll get knocked to pieces by the sh.e.l.ls!" the officer shouted again; and, producing a whistle, blew a shrill blast upon it. For the _Dolphin"s_ guns were still playing upon the bush, and to attempt to cross it would have been to incur heavy loss. At length, however, the gunboat was signaled to cease fire, and, at once rising to their feet, the whole of the invading force dashed towards the Spanish camp.
Rifle in hand, Hal ran ahead of the men, and alongside the officers, and was one of the first to rush amongst the huts in which the enemy had taken up their quarters.
"There are Spaniards just in front!" he shouted. "At them! Let us have some prisoners."
"Hooroo, lads! Charge!" the officer shrieked at the pitch of his voice, and at the order the men who were nearest swept like a torrent to the end of the narrow and dusty little street.
"Hands up! Surrender! You are prisoners," he commanded, coming suddenly in sight of a Spanish lieutenant and some eighteen men. Instantly rifles were dropped to the ground, and the small party of the enemy, who had been unable to escape, held their arms above their heads in token of submission. Then their young officer advanced, and with saddened face and a sigh of resignation tendered his sword to the American officer.
"We surrender, senor," he said, in very fair English. "The fortune of war has smiled but blackly upon us."
Hal only waited to see that the prisoners were safely taken, and to hear the American officer make some consoling reply, before he again dashed forward in pursuit of the enemy. Suddenly a rifle cracked from a hut in front, and the bullet pierced the rim of his hat, whistling shrilly as it hurtled by his ear. Then a Spaniard stepped into the open, and, shooting a cartridge into the breech, took a calm and steady aim at him again. The figure was at once familiar, and a turn of the head at that moment disclosed the handsome but scowling features of Jose d"Arousta.
Hal did not hesitate, but, lowering his bayonet, he rushed full tilt at his old enemy. There was a sharp report, the stunning effect of a concussion close at hand, the shock of which can only be realized by those who have been unfortunate enough to experience it, and he staggered back, half dazed. Next moment, with an oath at his want of success, Jose sprang behind the building into the bush, where he was at once lost to sight. As for Hal, he was too stunned to be able even to see for a few moments, so great was the effect of the rifle which had been discharged at point-blank range. When he was able to look round, not a Spaniard was in sight, but a poor Cuban, who had been at his side, lay wounded at his feet, having been struck by the bullet which Jose d"Arousta had intended for himself.
CHAPTER XXI
NEARING THE END
Hal Marchant returned to Guantanamo with the marines after the successful attack upon the Spanish camp, which was left a ma.s.s of flame from end to end. Their arrival was greeted vociferously, for theirs was the first real victory ash.o.r.e. They found their comrades in a great state of excitement, news having arrived of the army of invasion. It had already embarked, and had actually sailed from Tampa. But, after all, it proved to be a false start, for the very next day brought information that the fleet of transports had been ordered back, for fear that Spain"s one remaining squadron of warships, which sailed under the flag of Admiral Camara, should suddenly fall upon and annihilate it.