Young Glory and the Spanish Cruiser Part 36

"Two hours, sir?"

"Yes, the tide's flowing now. I estimate in two hours' time there'll be enough depth of water to float us off that bank."

"If we're here to be floated," answered Young Glory, gloomily.

"That is so. A shot may send us to the bottom at any time."

"It's a case for desperate measures, sir."

"Desperate! I see nothing."

"Sir, let us land and storm the batteries."

"What! with our small force?"

"Enough, sir, if we take them all."

"And the ship, Young Glory?"

"The men are not wanted here, sir. It's useless working the guns, because we can't do any damage with them, and the Spaniards won't attempt to board us."

"It must be done. There's nothing else left."

Mr. Tyler shouted forth his orders. All was excitement now. When the men knew what decision had been come to they were delighted, for desperate though the undertaking appeared to be, it was better than staying on the ship to be sunk with it.

On the weather side of the ship the boats were manned.

Lieut. Tyler, in person, led the attack, and his forces counted, all told, about one hundred and fifty men.

"A handful," said Young Glory.

"Maybe," said Dan, laughing, "but, begorra! the hand isn't made that'll squeeze us."

The Spaniards, strangely enough, made no effort to oppose the landing.

Probably they thought the prey so easy of capture that they wished to tackle them at close quarters. Not a shot was fired as the boats rowed towards the sh.o.r.e.

"This means an ambush," said Young Glory.

Mr. Tyler thought the same, and he was actively on the alert.

The boats were drawn up on the beach, and the men were so eager to get to close quarters with the enemy that they dashed at a furious pace towards the steep and rugged path that led to the batteries.

Young Glory was at their head. Dan was a few paces behind him.

Suddenly, from a wood to the left dashed a body of Spanish soldiers, over a hundred strong, and at the same time nearly two hundred of the enemy came rushing down the hill to the right.

"Between two fires!" cried Young Glory.

Round he glanced quickly, and as he did so, he saw not far away a number of great rocks, forming almost a semi-circle, with the sea in the rear.

"Forward, lads!" he shouted loudly.

The men dashed after him, Mr. Tyler in vain trying to check them.

It looked as if Young Glory was about to charge the great force that was rushing down the hill, but such was not Young Glory's intention. The Spaniards speedily discovered what his plan was. Then a mad race took place to see which party should first arrive at the group of rocks.

"We are safe, sir!" cried Young Glory breathlessly, as he and his comrades reached the haven.

"Yes, it's a natural fortress. We can hold out against five hundred men.

Let them have it, lads!"

"It's hail Columbia we'll give them!"

Hurrah! Crack! Crack!

The sailors fired furiously now. The Spaniards fell at every shot. But they did not retreat. Instead of doing so the two forces joined, and together they came with a mad rush at the rocks, behind which stood the seamen, awaiting the enemy's attack.

"Don't waste a shot now!" cried Mr. Tyler, and his men waited till the enemy were quite near.

Then a terrific volley was poured forth. Not less than thirty men fell, but their comrades came on just the same. Crack! Crack!

Again the seamen fired, and then such of the Spaniards as survived bounded like deer at the rocks, trying to scale them.

It was a hand to hand fight now, in which the advantage lay almost entirely with the defenders.

The cutla.s.s and pistol did great work at close quarters.

Not more than ten Spaniards got inside the inclosure, and they never got out again.

Dan was fighting furiously by Young Glory's side, and the two men seemed to bear charmed lives.

"Kill that yellow-haired dog!" cried a voice in the Spanish ranks; "it's Young Glory!"

Young Glory!

How savagely the Spaniards echoed the name.

"One thousand dollars to the man who kills him!" shouted the same voice.

And then a dozen men, burning to be able to claim the reward, sprang at the rock behind which Young Glory stood.

CHAPTER XVI.

CONCLUSION.