Fitz the Filibuster Part 50

"Nonsense! It was a hint for both."

"No. He has taken a fancy to you. He told me himself he had, and that it was his doing that you got up your strength so quickly."

"Oh, gammon!" cried Fitz petulantly.

"No, it was what he calls his pheesic. He told me that when a man was in bad health--crenky, he called it--that the thing to pull him round was soup; and you know how he was always scheming something of the kind for you. I shouldn't like to a.n.a.lyse too strictly what he made it of."

"Why, meat, of course," cried the middy. "I don't know," said Poole dryly. "You see, it's not like being ash.o.r.e; but you had soup pretty well every day, and you said yourself that it tasted all right. But it doesn't matter. It did you good."

"Don't you think we had better change the subject?" said Fitz sharply.

"Yes; and we'll go up aloft again. Coming?"

"Of course," was the reply.

They turned back to go aft towards the mainmast-shrouds, Don Ramon's followers making room for them to pa.s.s; but as they reached the part of the deck where they were going to ascend, they came upon the boatswain looking as black as thunder.

"Hullo, b.u.t.ters! Anything the matter?" said Poole. "Matter!" growled the copper-faced old fellow. "Look at my deck--I mean, as much of it as you can see. I am pretty nigh sick of this! A set of jabbering monkeys; that's about what they are."

"Up aloft again, Poole?" cried the skipper. "Just going," was the reply, and giving up his place by the starboard main-shrouds to Fitz, the lad ran across the deck to the port side, where he began to ascend, the pair meeting at the masthead upon equal terms. "Here, I'd give up the gla.s.s to you," cried Poole, "but father mightn't like it, though your eyes are as sharp or sharper than mine. I'll give one sweep round and report to the deck, and then you shall have a turn."

Poole pa.s.sed his arm round a stay and raised the gla.s.s to his eyes, while Fitz took a turn round the rope with one leg, and waited, thinking.

"Isn't such a bad fellow," he said to himself, as he watched the captain's son, "but he's getting a little too familiar. He seems to forget sometimes that I'm an officer; but there, it doesn't much matter, and it won't last long."

"Well, my lad?" came from the deck.

"All clear, father," was the reply, and as Fitz glanced down he saw Don Ramon place the cigarette he was holding between his teeth and clap his hands, while from his crowd of followers who were looking on there ascended a loud _Viva_!

And the hot day glided on.

There was a fair breeze, and the schooner fairly danced over the laughing waters, sending shoals of flying-fish skimming out before them, with their wing-like fins glistening like those of gigantic dragon-flies, before they dropped back into the sea.

Rations were served out to the eager crowd, and a buzz of conversation was kept up, to ascend to the two lads, who spent most of their time aloft, watching, talking, and comparing notes about what a peaceful time it seemed and how strange a contrast to the excitement of the previous day and night.

"It's too good to be true, my lads," said the skipper quietly, as the afternoon glided by. "We have made such a splendid run that it isn't reasonable to expect fortune will favour us much farther."

"Ah, you think that?" said Don Ramon, who came up rolling a fresh cigarette.

"Yes, sir, I do. In another hour we shall be round that headland, and in sight of Velova if the mate keeps us clear of that long reef of rocks which guards the bay."

"Ah, and then you think Villarayo will be waiting for us with his men?"

"Oh no," said the skipper; "I can't say for certain, but I should doubt whether he has found out as yet that we are gone. I feel certain now that he would not stir till all his reinforcements had reached him."

"That is right," said the Don eagerly, "and even then--I know our people well--they will fight bravely twice, but it is very hard to move them again. But you spoke as if you _were_ in doubt. What is it you expect?"

"I expect, sir, that as soon as we get round that headland we shall see the gunboat waiting for us, and ready to open fire. And once she gets well within range--"

Reed stopped. "Yes, what then?" cried Don Ramon eagerly. The skipper shrugged his shoulders. "What can we do, sir, with my schooner crowded up like this?"

"Fly," said the Don, with his eyes flashing. "Of course; there is nothing else to be done. But if they have decent men to work that gun, one well-placed shot or sh.e.l.l will wreck my rigging, and we shall lie like a wounded bird upon the water."

The Don looked fixedly in the skipper's face for some moments before giving him a short nod and turning away to light his cigarette.

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.

NO BURGESS ABOARD.

But the skipper's forebodings were needless. As they sailed round the headland it was through a sea of golden light. There lay Velova with every window flashing in the late afternoon sunshine. Small coasting vessels were at anchor, boats were putting out to sea to reach the fishing-grounds; and, save that through the gla.s.s a few figures could be seen about the little fort with its flagstaff flying the national colours, and the rough earthworks could be made out mounting a few small guns, all was calm and peaceful.

"There, captain," cried Don Ramon triumphantly, "what do you say now?"

"It is for you to speak, sir. What do you say now?"

"Sail right in as close up to the wharf as you can get; you can lay your vessel alongside in these calm waters."

"And if they open fire?"

"They will not dare," cried the Don, his eyes flashing with excitement.

"We must be first, and there will be scarcely any one there."

"But if they did, sir?"

"If they did, my men would crowd into your boats, we should row ash.o.r.e and carry the fort and earthworks. We can do that with ease while you come right on to where we will meet you, and help to land the guns.

Captain Reed, our young friend's plans have opened the way to triumph.

You will see that all the people in Velova now will declare for me. I shall arm them with the rifles you have brought, strengthen the fort and earthworks, and plant three of the pieces upon the road leading to the mountain-pa.s.s by which the enemy are bound to come. Let them attack then if they dare. Do you see? Do you understand?" he added quickly.

"Yes. Excellent. Nothing could be better than your plan, sir; and if Villarayo should not arrive till morning the game would be your own."

"Would be! Will be," said the Spaniard fiercely. "What is to prevent it now?"

The skipper glanced round as they stood together aft, and saving the two lads there was no one to overhear his words, as he leaned a little nearer to the excited Spaniard and said, almost in a whisper--

"The gunboat."

There was a faint click. Don Ramon had closed his teeth sharply, and he turned half round to gaze out to sea. The next minute he turned back with his brow knit and his eyes half-closed.

"Yes, my good friend," he said quietly; "that is the great enemy. Ah!

if you could show me how to get control of that it would mean all.

Still I do not despair. She is not here now, and there is the land, the country all before me. Let her keep away till after Villarayo has returned, and I have scattered all his horde of ruffians, the sweepings of the place--as I shall, for once I have landed with my warlike supplies, all that is good and true in Velova will fight for me to the death--and then the march to San Cristobal will be an easy task. The news that Villarayo and his people are scattered will go before me, and the people there will crowd to me for arms, the arms that I shall send round by your vessel to meet me there. Oh, it will be all child's play now, and in another few days my flag will be flying at San Cristobal, as it will be flying here."

"If," said Fitz quietly to Poole, as the Spaniard walked forward to address his men, "he is not counting his chickens before they are hatched."

"Yes," said the skipper, who had heard his words; "and if the gunboat does not return."

"Well, father, there are some things in his favour," said Poole, "even about the gunboat."