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Page 28
After making his report of what happened, the commander of the _Speedy_
again headed his craft to the eastward, and ran all that day, together
with most of the following night, within sight of the Cuban coast.
It wanted but an hour of daylight, when Ridge, who was sleeping on
deck, was aroused and told that the place of his landing was at hand.
A pot of coffee together with a substantial lunch had been prepared for
him, and Ensign Comly, whose wound had proved to be slight, was waiting
in a boat manned by four sailors.
Se�orita was hoisted in a sling and dropped overboard to swim ashore in
tow of the boat, and at the very last the _Speedy's_ commander
whispered the countersign of the Junta that was to open a way through
the Cuban lines.
Then the boat was noiselessly shoved off, and slipped away through the
chill darkness towards the denser shadow of the land that waited with
manifold perils to test the courage of our young trooper.
CHAPTER XI
A LIVELY EXPERIENCE OF CUBAN HOSPITALITY
"Good-bye, old man! Good luck, and hope we shall meet again soon."
With these words, accompanied by a warm hand-clasp, Ensign Dick Comly
stepped into his boat, and it was shoved off from the bit of Cuban
beach on which Ridge Norris had just been landed. For a couple of
minutes the young trooper stood motionless, listening with strained
ears to the lessening sound of muffled oars. It was the last link
connecting him with home, country, and safety. For a moment he was
possessed of such a panic that he was on the point of shouting for
Comly to come back and take him away. It did not seem as though he
could be left there alone in the dark, and amid all the crowding
terrors of that unknown land.
Just then Se�orita, who stood dripping and shivering beside him, rubbed
her wet nose softly against his cheek, as though begging for sympathy,
and in an instant his courage was restored. It was enough that another
creature more helpless than he was dependent upon him for guidance and
protection.
"It's all right, girl," he whispered, throwing an arm about the mare's
neck. "We'll stick to each other and pull through somehow." Then
plucking a handful of dried grass, he gave the animal a brisk rubbing
that warmed them both. By the time it was finished, birds were
twittering in the dense growth behind them, and the eastern sky was
suffused with the glow of coming day.
Knowing nothing of his surroundings, nor what eyes might in a few
minutes more discover these new features of the beach, Ridge now
removed his slender belongings to a hiding-place behind some bushes,
where he also fastened Se�orita. Then he set forth to explore the
shore with the hope of finding a path into the interior; for to force a
way through the tangled chaparral that everywhere approached close to
the water's edge seemed hopeless.
He had not gone a dozen paces when Se�orita uttered a shrill neigh of
distress at being thus deserted, and began a noisy struggle to break
loose. With a muttered exclamation of dismay Ridge ran back. It was
evident that the mare would not consent to be left.
"Very well," said the young man. "If you can't be reasonable and
remain quietly behind for a few minutes, we must make our exploration
in company. Perhaps it is better so, after all, for when I do discover
a trail we shall be ready to take instant advantage of it, and get the
more quickly away from this unpleasantly conspicuous place."
While thus talking in a low tone to the mare, Ridge was also equipping
her for the road. He had just finished tightening the saddle-girth and
was about to mount, when Se�orita uttered a snort indicative of some
strange presence. Turning quickly, her master was confronted by a
sight that caused his heart to sink like lead. Only a few paces away
stood a young man of dark but handsome features, clad in a well-worn
suit of linen and a broad-brimmed palmetto hat. A military belt filled
with cartridges encircled his waist, and from it hung an empty scabbard
of untanned cowhide, designed to carry a machete. With that weapon
held in one hand and a cocked pistol levelled full at Ridge in the
other, he presented the appearance of a first-class brigand.
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