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They were highly enthusiastic over the good work done under Clif's leadership, and were proud of his pluck as well as the good generalship he had shown. The tide of battle had carried them some distance from the spot where they had met the Cuban courier, and further still from where they had concealed their boat.
The race was a short one, and the result a foregone conclusion. There was no hope of Clif's escaping from the pursuing boat, with its crew of fresh and eager oarsmen. The latter closed in upon him with a leap and a bound, and soon were within oar's length of him.
"Now, boys," cried Clif, "every man behind a tree and fight for all you are worth. Let every shot tell." The wisdom of Clif's stand became at once apparent. From the ambush of the woods they could fire with little fear of stopping a Spanish bullet with their own bodies. And they did fire, and that to good purpose.
What the young man and the girl said to each other cannot concern us here, for we have now to do with Faraday's experience as a sailor. His love affair had to await the events of war, and so may the story of it. Clif's next service began on the morning following his escape. A small boat left the flagship and headed for Point Rubalcava on the Cuban coast.
They were few in numbers, but determination was written on every face. They reached the further edge of the clump of trees without giving a sound that would betray their presence to the enemy. Here they formed in line under Clif's leadership, shoulder to shoulder, ready for the charge.
The Spaniards were thoroughly frightened and Clif's sharp ear told him that some of the soldiers were already on the run, and that the officers had difficulty in keeping them all from retreating. Clif knew very well that if the enemy had any idea of how meagre were his forces they would be bolder, and instead of trying to get away would sweep down upon him with overwhelming force.
We are not out to capture a fort armed as we are with nothing but revolvers, and in this open boat we would be an easy prey to decent marksmanship." "Still, the boys like action," said Clif. "We may have plenty of it yet," replied the lieutenant, with a suspicion of uneasiness in his tone. Meanwhile the boat, guided by Clif's hand, had drawn nearer the shore.
It was in the shape of an exclamation of surprise and alarm from one of the men who had gone a few steps in advance of the others, and had reached the boat's hiding-place as Clif spoke. It arrested Clif's attention at once. "What's the matter?" he called, sharply. "The boat, sir," cried the marine, appearing from behind the bushes. "What of it?" "It's gone!" "Gone?" "Yes, sir."
The first result of this was a shower of bullets from the Spanish rifles that fortunately for the most part went wide of the mark. But one slightly wounded a sailor at Clif's side, as a sharp exclamation of pain quickly told him. It also aroused his native caution.
We were kept busy for a while pursuing them, and did not have much time to pursue this mystery." The officer smiled knowingly at this, for he had gathered enough from Clif's previous narrative to know that the little band of sailors had done great feats that night.
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