Clif wanted to feel happy, but he scarcely dared. For he had before his mind the thought of that lonely Spanish officer, waiting somewhere in the distance to see them depart and leave him to his fate.
It was a solemn thought, and it made Clif tremble. He almost wished that the man had not rescued him.
But then again he thought of Ignacio and his frenzied5 cruelty, and he felt that he would have died himself to save any man from such a fate as that.
And now it was done and there was no undoing6 it. There was no way of aiding the lieutenant7, no way of persuading him, nothing but death for him to face.
But as Clif sat there through the early hours of the morning and gazed upon that silent figure by his side he felt that his love for that girl was consecrated8 by that hero's sacrifice. There was a light of high purpose in the brave man's eyes; he was accepting his life and hers at the cost of another's, and the terms were such as made him feel the meaning of his existence. It was to be no child's play, no blind hunt for pleasure or wealth or fame, but a life with a purpose and meaning, a struggle for the right.
"I think his face will always be watching me," thought Clif.
And there were moments in his after life when the thought that that quiet Spaniard's eyes were watching made him shrink from the base things of life.
The light that shone in from the eastern sky gradually grew brighter and brighter, and Clif awakened9 from his solemn reverie to the duty that lay before him then.
He had Bessie Stuart to protect, and to lead from that position of peril10.
It would indeed be a frightful11 calamity12, he thought, if that sacrifice of Lieutenant Hernandez should avail nothing. If that girl should fall once more into the clutches of the Spaniards.
"For they are not all like that man," thought the lad.
And so he waited nervously13 until the light was bright enough. And then very gently he awakened her and assisted her to rise.
The girl was weak and exhausted, but she gathered her strength for this last final effort.
"We have not far to go," Clif said. "And we will soon be safe."
The two halted for a moment at the doorway of the hut and gazed out.
In the faint gray light they could not make out the line of the shore beyond, but they heard the noise of the breakers and knew that it was not far away.
And so half carrying his friend, Clif set out in the direction of the sound. Once only he turned again.
That was to take a parting look in the direction he knew Lieutenant Hernandez to be.
But he could make out only a dim line of woods behind him. No one could be seen, and the place was lonely and silent and gray.
But Clif fancied those quiet eyes were watching him from the distance.
There was no time to be lost, however, for no one knew when they might chance to meet with some of the enemy; they were in the midst of a thickly settled country.
And so they made their way swiftly down to the shore.
There they found a rowboat, drawn14 up on the beach a little beyond them. Clif was startled to see a figure standing15 by it.
But it proved to be only a boy, and he hailed them and then disappeared. Clif knew that he had been sent there to guard the boat; it was more of the lieutenant's thoughtfulness.
The sight of that guarantee of safety revived Bessie Stuart's spirits considerably16; her step grew quicker and in a few moments they reached the spot.
There were a pair of oars17 in the boat, which was a small one. Without a word, Clif set to work to put it off from the shore.
That was as hard a task as could have been given him; for great waves were rolling upon the beach. But Clif was an athlete and a sailor besides; and the realization18 of their danger nerved his arm.
He seated the girl in the bow and ran the boat out with a rush; he caught a favorable moment. He plunged19 on until the water was up to his waist, and then he leaped into the boat and seized the oars just as another great wave swept them in toward shore again.
But Clif pulled for his life and held his own; and when the current set out again, he breasted the line of breakers and reached the sea beyond.
Bessie Stuart sat perfectly20 motionless, grasping the gunwale, until she saw that they were safe. Then she gave a slight gasp21 and closed her eyes wearily.
Clif had but one object, and that was to get as far from the coast of Cuba as he could; every stroke that he rowed put him further away from that dreaded22 shore.
And he knew, though he could not see them then, that far out to sea lay the vessels24 of the blockading squadron. Once in sight of them and the anxious fugitives25 were safe.
And so Clif put every ounce of muscle he had into that task. Not a word more was spoken; but the man's lips were set in a desperate resolve and his broad back heaved as he fought his way on.
There was a heavy sea, and progress was frightfully slow. Now that they were so near to safety, to be recaptured would be frightful indeed.
But yet the cadet knew that Spanish soldiers on the shore might catch sight of them at any moment, and come rushing down the beach to open fire.
Clif had rescued one man from just such a plight26 as that; and so as he rowed he glanced nervously along the shore.
But he saw no one, and no one saw him. The light brightened until he could make out everything along the coast, but there was no sign of any one's having noticed them.
An so with his heart growing lighter27 at every moment Clif tugged28 at the oars and forced the frail29 boat ahead through the waves. It was but natural that his relief should be great, for his adventures upon that island had been terrible ones indeed.
A warship30 is far from a safe place of residence, especially in war time. But Clif felt that if he once got under the American flag again all his worry would be at an end.
And so every stroke nearer was a cause for joy.
For perhaps five minutes he rowed on in silence. By that time he was some distance from shore, though their progress was slow in the heavy sea.
But they felt that they were safe. They felt that there was no longer anything to be feared. And there was a silent prayer of thanksgiving in Clif Faraday's heart.
And such being his feelings, the reader may imagine the horror and consternation31 that swept over him a moment later.
For an appalling32 discovery was made, one that seemed fairly to freeze Clif's blood.
He was struggling with his back toward Bessie Stuart. And the joy that was in his heart was turned to horror by hearing the girl give a shrill33 scream.
The cadet whirled about.
He saw the girl, her face transfixed and white as a sheet, pointing with a trembling finger off to starboard.
Clif followed the direction of her gaze; what he saw made his brain reel, made him almost totter34 backward into the boat.
Not half a mile away, coming straight down the coast and bearing down upon them at full speed, was a vessel23, a low gunboat.
And high above her bow was floating a Spanish flag.
Clif stared at the frightful apparition35 as if he had seen a ghost.
What it meant to him may be imagined—the failure of all their hopes—their capture and death!
And there was not the slightest possibility of escape!
Perfectly wild with terror the agonized36 cadet whirled about, gazing seaward, with a faint hope of the possibility of there being seen by some American vessel.
But the gray horizon was not light enough for them to be sighted. And all hope was gone.
Bessie Stuart continued pointing to the vessel as if she were paralyzed by fright.
"Row! Row!" she shrieked37.
And Clif seized the oars frantically38. But he knew that it was utterly39 useless. The gunboat was coming on like a race horse.
And scarcely had he taken two strokes before the matter was settled finally. For there came a puff40 of white smoke from the Spaniard's bow.
And almost at the same instant with a deafening41, blinding crash, a solid shot struck the tiny rowboat.
It plunged through, almost tearing the frail craft in half, hurling42 splinters about and sending the two horrified43 occupants tumbling into the water!
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1
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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3
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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4
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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5
frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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6
undoing
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| n.毁灭的原因，祸根；破坏，毁灭 | |
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7
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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8
consecrated
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| adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献 | |
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9
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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10
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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11
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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12
calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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14
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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15
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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16
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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17
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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18
realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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19
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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21
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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23
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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25
fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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26
plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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27
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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28
tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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30
warship
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| n.军舰，战舰 | |
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31
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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32
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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33
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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34
totter
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| v.蹒跚， 摇摇欲坠；n.蹒跚的步子 | |
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35
apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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36
agonized
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| v.使（极度）痛苦，折磨( agonize的过去式和过去分词 )；苦斗；苦苦思索；感到极度痛苦 | |
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37
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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39
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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40
puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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41
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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42
hurling
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| n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的现在分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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43
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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