"Perhaps. I also know that you are a prisoner on this ship, and that it is dangerous for you to kill me."
"Not so dangerous as to let you go. You have heard every word that pa.s.sed between my friends, and have their secret and their lives in your hands. I need say no more to justify myself."
The Spaniard tapped lightly on the boat, and instantly Juan and Manuel rose. They walked round to the other side.
"You here!" they cried, seeing their brother officer.
"Yes, and caramba! but it would have gone hard with your plot, but for me. You seemed to forget that you are not the only people on this ship.
Look!"
He pointed to Young Glory as he spoke.
They were astounded.
"Then he"s heard what we said?"
"Every word, Juan."
"It means ruin."
"No, fortunately no harm is done. I hold this sailor in my power. He cannot escape me. You must carry out your plot instantly."
"All is ready. We will do so."
They knew there was no time to be lost, and leaving Young Glory to the care of their friend, they turned away to carry into execution their diabolical scheme.
The Spanish officer who had Young Glory in his power, did not wish to be noticed by any of the crew in a suspicious att.i.tude. So he sat down underneath the boat by the side of Young Glory.
"Don"t move," he said, showing the sailor his glittering steel blade.
"It will be fatal to you if you do."
Young Glory"s position was a maddening one. He was in possession of a secret, and was unable to disclose it in the proper quarter. But he never lost sight of the fact that it might yet be possible for him to get away from the Spaniard, and his brain was busily at work upon the project.
It is doubtful if he would have succeeded if fortune had not favored him.
Two sailors, coming along, were thrown nearly off their feet as the vessel lurched, and in saving themselves they fell with outstretched hands against the boat.
The cutter toppled over on the Spaniard. Young Glory quicker than he in moving, had rolled to one side.
In a moment the Spaniard had recovered himself, and furiously threw himself at Young Glory. But the latter was prepared now. He caught the Spaniard by the arm, wrested the dagger from him, and then with a tremendous effort he hurled the man backwards, throwing him off the deck into the sea.
"Help! Help!" screamed the poor wretch.
But it was too late. The cruiser was sailing at a fast pace, the sea was running high, and the night was dark. Long before a boat could have reached him he would have sunk.
Young Glory had no time to lose.
He was rushing away when the two sailors barred his path, and one of them handled him somewhat roughly.
"Shiver me! you lubber, but you don"t pa.s.s," he said.
"That"s right, Bill, we don"t allow murders on this ship."
"Stand aside!" cried Young Glory, hotly, "or it will be the worse for you. I must see Mr. Tyler instantly on a matter of life and death."
"Young Glory!" the two sailors cried.
"Yes, and now you know me, perhaps you will let me pa.s.s. If you have a complaint to make against me do so, and I shall know how to defend myself. You know where to find me when wanted, for I"m not likely to leave the ship."
The men let him go, and he tore along towards the cabin which Lieutenant Tyler was using.
Meanwhile, let us see what was happening below.
Manuel and Juan had not lost a moment.
They had hurried below, and pa.s.sing rapidly around, had given the word to all their friends that the time had come to act.
Half a dozen Spaniards who had been a.s.sisting in the work of the ship collected together, so as to prevent any one getting near the magazine to render help. The officers took charge of the more dangerous end of the scheme.
It was necessary that they should do so. For they were the only prisoners who were allowed perfect freedom. The fact of their walking about would not alarm the sentries, and so strolling carelessly along in small groups, not less than six Spanish naval officers were within reach of the sentries who were guarding the magazine.
Manuel gave the signal.
It was a faint whistle, but quite audible to ears that had waited anxiously for the sound.
Each man knew what to do, for all the details were prearranged.
Juan sprang at the nearest sentry. Manuel dashed past him and flew at the throat of the second sentry.
Juan and another officer seized the first sentry without the least difficulty. The man was taken completely by surprise, and not being able to resist, he was instantly disarmed.
The second sentry gave more trouble.
He had had some time in which to resist the Spanish officers.
Swiftly he raised his rifle to his shoulder to shoot down his foes, but agile as a panther, Manuel sprang under the rifle, striking it up as he rose.
Bang!
The weapon exploded, but the shot did no harm.
Instantly three Spaniards threw themselves on the sentry, tearing his rifle from his hands, and taking his cutla.s.s from his side.
"Hold him fast!" shouted Manuel, as he made for the magazine. "That shot will arouse the entire ship, and there is no time to be lost!"
"If they attack?"
"Shoot them down. Keep them in check for two minutes. That is all I ask!"