This word came distinctly across the water.
"They"ve caught a spy," exclaimed Young Glory, quickly, to turn the men"s thoughts away from himself. "Hurry up, lads, and you may get back in time to see the fun, for he"ll have to die, that"s sure."
Not another word reached the boat. Yet, Young Glory felt by no means safe. He knew that a boat might be sent off to overtake him, and then he was lost entirely.
But as the minutes pa.s.sed, and he heard no sound of pursuing oars, he became easier in his mind.
To get out of possible danger from sh.o.r.e, he ordered the men to row out towards the sea, but here he was beaten. The waves ran high and the boats were in great danger of being swamped. Back to the sh.o.r.e again he had to go, and adhere to the original plan of creeping along by the beach.
The coast was rocky hereabout.
Suddenly above their heads a figure, which looked unnaturally tall in the darkness, rose on a great bowlder which overshadowed the water.
"You have a traitor in that boat!" cried this apparition. "The man with you is not Captain Calderon. It is Young Glory!"
CHAPTER VI.
FIGHTING IN THE BOATS--DAN DALY ARRIVES.
These words produced a panic.
It was a wonder that the boats were not overturned. The men stopped rowing, and so the craft containing the ammunition drifted up against them, and they were all in a ma.s.s together.
The actions of many of the men were most violent and threatening. They uttered fierce cries, and a.s.sailed Young Glory with menaces.
"To your work," he cried, bravely, thinking yet that he might overawe them.
But they took no notice.
"I am your captain," said Young Glory. "Obey my orders!"
"You are a traitor!"
"Seize him! Kill him!"
These were the cries that were now heard. But a clear voice came from the sh.o.r.e. It was that of the man who had denounced Young Glory.
"Do not kill him," he said. "Traitors must be treated differently. Make a prisoner of him."
"Who are you who give your orders?" asked one of the men. "You seem to own us!"
"Own or not," was the stern answer, "it will be bad for those who refuse to obey me. I am Jose Castro!"
There was a buzz of astonishment.
Everyone had heard of the famous Spanish spy, whose services to Spain in the war had been immense.
"Jose Castro!" muttered Young Glory. "And I thought I had seen his hated face for the last time when he sank in the river at Seville. Such men never die. I am lost," he added, "but I will die fighting!"
Three men came towards him. They were bent on carrying out the spy"s orders, and were about to seize him.
"Stand back!" he cried, defiantly.
"Yield!"
"Never!"
"We are fifty to one. To fight is useless," said the Spanish soldier.
"You will be killed."
"Then I will die fighting. Back! I say," he added, as the men pressed forward. "I will never be taken alive!"
"We shall see!"
The three men rushed at Young Glory.
Instantly he drew his sword. Around his head it flashed.
Then down it came on the nearest man"s head. He dropped. A moment later one of his companions was lying in his blood. The third man hesitated.
"This shall cost you dearly," said Young Glory, defiantly, as he faced the crowd.
"Shoot him!"
"No, no! There must be no firing," said one of the sergeants. "A noise will bring the guns of the American cruiser on us. Once more, will you surrender?"
"No!"
"Rush at him, men. Cut him to pieces if he resists."
Such an order is easier given than obeyed. Men cannot move about a boat with perfect freedom, and Young Glory standing in the stern was a desperate foe.
The fight was renewed.
It was a repet.i.tion of what had previously taken place.
Two men fell before Young Glory"s terrible sword, and the boy himself was not hurt.
But now a diversion took place.
Young Glory heard the sound of oars behind him, and he saw on turning his head, that one of the Spanish boats was hastily coming up. Attacked on both sides the end was certain.
It was necessary to do something at once. To jump into the water was no good. The boats would row after him and capture him in a few minutes. In the sea he would be quite powerless to defend himself.
"Now will you surrender?" cried the sergeant.