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Updated: June 10, 2025
Clif's astounding exertions during the past hours had been enough to exhaust the strongest and sturdiest, and he was compelled to acknowledge to himself, as the battle progressed, that it had made inroads upon his strength. Back and forth across the little enclosure the pair fought fiercely. Once Clif slipped and fell beneath his opponent; but an instant after he was upon his feet.
And Clif, grim with desperation, looked him in the eye and answered boldly: "We are Americans," said he. "Prisoners?" "Yes." "From where?" "Morro Castle." The Spaniard looked the amazement he felt. "Morro Castle!" he echoed. "Humph! How did you get out?" "Take us back there and you'll find out," was Clif's defiant answer.
The broad back of his enemy, who sat in the stern, was within easy reach, and inspired his action. Quick as a flash Clif grasped the stern of the boat with one hand and with one mighty effort raised himself high out of the water. Before the Spaniard could divine what was happening, Clif's free arm was thrown around the fellow's neck, and he was drawn back into the water behind him.
But the Spaniard's handsome face showed little emotion, though his chest heaved and fell as he stood there. And then suddenly he stepped forward toward the two. "I have brought it, Miss Stuart," he said, with a dignified bow. He held out a heavy cloth cape, which the girl flung over her shoulders; then, leaning on Clif's arm, she stepped toward the door. "I am ready," she said.
The men who were running her had seen the light, and they had no idea of being led to destruction by their eagerness to follow that reckless merchantman. And so they were slowing up and keeping off the shore. There was a faint hope in that; the Maria might be able to steal away if she were quick enough in turning. Clif's order had been obeyed by the sailor the instant he heard it.
It was but a minute more before Clif's ankles were locked firmly in the ring, and then he was utterly helpless. For but a moment Ignacio stood looking at him, flashing the lantern full in his face. And then he turned and motioned to the two men. Without a word they faced about and stole away.
"If Clifton Holt was to tell you that white was black you'd believe him." "I'd consider it," said Ben, gravely. "If you want any supper it's in the cupboard," said Miss Betsey, rising, "I've had supper and dinner too, up to Mr Fleming's, and we went to meeting at the Scott school-house. It wasn't Clif's fault this time, Aunt Betsey, and we haven't done anything very bad either.
For this reason they had not observed Clif's movements, and gave themselves no concern about him. Whatever may have been his intended course of action, he was at last compelled to abandon it. Strain and tug as he would at the cords that bound his arms, they remained intact, nor could his ingenuity devise any way of releasing himself from their hold.
No reinforcements were at hand, and none could be sent in time from the flagship, even did those on board suspect the plight in which that boat's crew found itself. But desperate cases require desperate measures, and Clif was equal to the emergency. When it became evident that the Spaniards would indeed fight, Clif's busy brain thought of a means to turn the tide of conflict.
He was just in time to find himself face to face with his deadliest enemy; and the knife was hissing through the air. It was a moment of horrible peril. Clif's blood fairly froze. But quick as a flash his arm shot up. And he caught the descending wrist; for an instant the two glared into each other's eyes, straining and twisting.
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