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To attempt to carry him away was equally useless; the Americans did not expect to reach the shore themselves. "I'll leave him to his fate," Clif muttered. "The Spaniards may help him if they choose." And with that he turned toward the sailors again; the men had by that time nearly succeeded in getting the boat away. They were working like Trojans.
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.
And Clif shut his teeth together with a snap. "We're in for it now," he muttered. "That settles it." There was no longer the last hope of escape. There was no longer even any use of keeping on. There were but two things to be considered, sink or surrender. There was a grim smile on the cadet's face as he turned away from the wheel.
In about fifteen minutes the little town drew near. Clif did not know the name of it, for he had no idea where he had run ashore on the previous night. But he did not think he was far from Havana. The arrival of the soldiers created intense excitement in the town. Men and women and children and barking dogs rushed out to see them pass.
The New York had dropped them near the appointed spot, but it had been deemed prudent not to take the ship near enough to attract attention to the intended destination of Clif and his crew. They therefore had considerable distance yet to row before touching land. "I know the coast pretty well along here," thought Clif, as he set in the stern, tiller ropes in hand. "We'll get there all right."
The Spaniards, as was natural for them to be, were aroused to a high pitch of excitement against the youth whose vigilance promised to set all their plans at naught. With a hoarse yell of rage they tugged at the oars and their boat fairly leaped through the water after the intrepid young cadet. Clif saw the movement, and redoubled his efforts at the oars.
He was left almost alone on deck as the weather got rougher; for the crew made themselves comfortable below, knowing what hard work lay before them through the stormy night. It was not the custom on the vessel to keep the whole watch on duty except at night; and Clif had only the two sailors at the wheel and the lookout in the bow for company.
Half dazed he looked and saw a Spanish sailor in the act of lifting himself up to the deck to join his superior. And Clif had no doubt there were half a dozen others following. There was of course nothing that Clif could do; a movement on his part would have been sheer suicide. He thought the case was hopeless; he had let himself be caught napping.
There was nothing for Clif to do but wait; for when the door shut he was locked in the cell. That man's action was a mysterious one indeed. It left the cadet plenty to think of. He saw now where he got the keys. He was evidently one of the officers in charge of the castle. But why had he done it? Clif was utterly baffled before that question.
"I know the spot well," he exclaimed, after looking at the diagram for a moment. "All the better," said the rear admiral. Then after some further directions and instructions from the officer, Clif saluted and took his leave, happy in the thought that he had been singled out for such important duty and that he would have this opportunity of active work.
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