WEBVTT

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Chapter one of A Prisoner of Morrow. This is a LibriVox recording. All

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LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer,

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please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording
by Tom Weiss. A Prisoner of Morrow

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or in the Hands of the Enemy
by Upton Sinclair, Chapter one, sighting

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a Prize. About noon of a
day in May during the recent year,

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the converted tug Unkahs left Key West
to join the blockading squadron off the northern

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coast of Cuba. Her commander was
Lieutenant Raymond and her junior officer naval Cadet

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Clifford Faraday. The regular junior officer
was absent on sick lead, and Cadet

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Faraday had been assigned to his place
in recognition of gallant conduct. The ropes

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were cast off, and slowly the
tug glided away from the dock and out

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toward the open sea. It was
not very long before the harbor of Key

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West was left behind, and then
began the long trip to Havana. It

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was over a hundred miles and that
meant seven or eight hours journey for the

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Unkah's, But the Unca's was a
good stout vessel unusually swift for a tug,

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and she made the water fairly fly. When once she got clear of

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the land, Cliff leaned against one
of the rapid firing guns in the bow

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and gazed longingly ahead. He was
anxious to reach his destination. There were

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wild rumors concerning Spanish fleets, Cadize
squadrons, and Cape Verde's squadrons, and

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Mediterranean squadrons, which were continually being
sighted or heard of near by. And

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for all Cliff knew the decisive battle
of the war might be fought at any

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time, and he felt that if
it took place while he was absent,

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he would never cease to regret it
as long as he lived. The Uncas

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could not do much such a battle, but she was anxious to do her

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share. It was possible also that
Morrow might succeed in provoking an attack.

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The guns of the Havanad defenses kept
blazing away at anything that came near,

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and the American sailors were fairly boiling
over with impatience to get a whack at

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them, and at any time Admiral
Sampson might give the word. So Cliff

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was restless and impatient as he stood
in the bow of the swift tug and

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gazed southward. It was a rather
damp place of observation the cadet had chosen,

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for it had been blowing quite a
gale that day, and the Uncas

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was plowing her way through a heavy
sea. The spray was flying over the

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decks. But who would have thought
of going below at such a time as

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that? It was not Cliff's turn
on duty. Lieutenant Raymond seemed to think

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that after his struggle on board the
Spanish Monitor, the young cadet deserved the

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rest, but he was too eager
and wide awake just then to wish to

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take it. When the tug was
well underway, the Lieutenant came out of

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the pilot house and joined Cliff again, thinking of the whether mister Faraday,

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inquired Lieutenant Raymond, No, sir, replied the Cadet. I was thinking

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of Ignazio. I don't know how
he happened to get into my thoughts,

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but he did. Who was Ignazio? He's a Spaniard. I've had some

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trouble with, answered Cliff. You
may have heard about one of his exploits,

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which one is that he made an
attempt to assassinate rear Admiral Sampson.

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Oh yes, I heard about that, said the officer. The Admiral told

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me about it himself. I believe
you were the person who interfered. I

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had the good luck to be standing
near, said Cliff modestly, And of

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course I sprang between them, and
the spy stabbed you, yes, in

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the shoulder. But he did not
hurt me very much. He must be

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a desperate man he is. That's
stabbing business seemed to be a favorite trick

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of his. I hope I shen't
have to face him again. Whether Ignacio

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was a Spaniard or a trader Cuban, no one could say. Cliff had

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first met him trying to lead astray
an American officer who had been sent with

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dispatches for Gomez, and Cliff had
foiled the plot and had been Ignacio's deadly

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enemy ever since. Cliff had been
keeping a careful watch for him. He

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knew that the vindictive fellow would follow
his every move. Ignacio was acting as

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a spy for the Spaniards, and
so must have found it easy to keep

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track of the cadets whereabouts, But
so far Cliff had not met him.

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We are likely to have a wild
night of it, said Lieutenant Raymond.

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The clouds seemed to get darker every
minute. It'll be a night for the

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blockade runners, was Cliff's answer.
We may have some excitement. We'll have

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it anyway, said the other.
I don't know of anything I less rather

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do than whether a storm while in
among the vessels the fleet, it will

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be necessary to stay on deck every
instant of the time, keeping watch for

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our very lives. I know how
it is, the cadet added, I

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was on the porter dining room one
such night, and we captured a prize

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coming out of Havana after almost running
her down in the darkness. I heard

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about it, said Lieutenant Raymond.
You may repeat the performance tonight if you

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have a chance. We aren't likely
to meet with anything till we get there.

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As the lieutenant said that, he
turned and gazed ahead. The broad

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Sea stretched out on every side of
them, without a sign of smoke or

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sail to vary the monotony of its
tossing ways. But it always lends zest

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to a trip like this. The
officer at it to know that it's possible

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you may run across a stray spaniard
at any moment. It pays to keep

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one's eyes open, and then you
have the pleasure of chasing two or three

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and finding there's some other nation's ship, said Cliff with a laugh. That's

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about all we've done so far,
said the lieutenant, But we're still hoping

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perhaps you'll bring us good luck.
I'll do my best, the cadet declared,

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with a smile. Better get ready
for it by resting a bit your

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dinners below. Cliff took the hint
and went below. The boat was pitching

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so violently that he found eating a
very difficult operation, and it was generally

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so unpleasant in the little cabin that
he was glad to go on deck again.

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And then later in the afternoon,
at four o'clock it came time for

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him to go on duty. After
that he had to remain outside, whether

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he wanted to or not. The
gale grew considerably stronger, and as the

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darkness came on it got much chillier, but Cliff still paced up and down

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the deck with a glass in his
hand, watching for a sign of a

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passing vessel or of the approaching Cuban
coast. He was left almost alone on

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deck as the weather got rougher for
the crew made themselves comfort, now,

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knowing what hard work lay before them
through the stormy night. It was not

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the custom on the vessel to keep
the whole watch on duty except at night,

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and Cliff had only the two sailors
at the wheel and the lookout in

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the bow for company. But if
he felt any jealousy of those who were

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below out of the cold, he
had the grim satisfaction of being able to

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disturb their comfort. Before very long. It was about half past four in

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the afternoon, and suddenly the lookout
turned and called the cliff. The eager

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cadet knew what it meant. He
seized the glass and hurried forward. He

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followed the direction of the man's finger. I think I see smoke, sir,

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was what the sailor said, and
Cliff took a long look and then

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turned his face, betraying his excitement. An instant later his voice rang through

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the ship steamer ahoy off the starboard
vow. End of chapter one recording by

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Tom Weiss Tom's audiobooks dot Com.
Chapter two of A Prisoner of Morrow by

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Upton Sinclair. This LibriVox recording is
in the public domain. Recording by Tom

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Ways Chapter two, A long chase
there was excitement on board of the Uncas

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the instant Cliff's cry was heard,
the sailors came tumbling up on deck,

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Lieutenant Raymond among the first. He
took to the last eagerly from the Lad's

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hand, and anxiously studied the sky
in the direction indicated. It's too far

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west to be near Havannah, he
exclaimed, and he stepped into the pilot

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house to direct the vessel in a
new direction. At the same time,

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the smoke began to pour from the
funnel, showing that those down in the

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engine room had heard Cliff's hail,
and so in a few moments the Uncas

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was speeding away in the direction of
the Stranger. And after that there was

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a long, weary wait while the
two vessels gradually drew nearer. All that

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could be made out then was the
long line of smoke, which always indicates

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a distant steamer, but it took
a sharp eye to make even that out.

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This will be a long chase,
said the lieutenant. If she takes

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it into her head to run,
we'll have a hard time to catch up

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to her. Before dark, Cliff
glanced significantly at the bow gun. If

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we can only get within range,
he thought to himself, we won't have

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to wait to catch up to her. The lieutenant was standing by the pilot

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house with the glass in his hand, and every once in a while he

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would make an attempt to catch sight
of the stranger's smoke stack. It may

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be one of our own warships,
he said, and if it is,

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we don't want to waste any coal
chasing her. But such was not the

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case, and it was only half
an hour or so before the lieutenant found

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it out. The Uncas rose as
a high wave swept by, and the

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officer, who had the glass to
his eye, gave an eager exclamation.

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She's got one funnel, he exclaimed, and it's black with a red top,

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and so it's not an American warship. And after that there was nothing

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now to be done except wait until
the two approached nearer. It was evident

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from the gradual change of course the
Uncas was obliged to make that the vessel

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she was following was headed in a
southerly direction that would take her toward the

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western end of Cuba. Cliff thought
to himself, perhaps she sighted us and

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is running away. She must have
been a very shy vessel to have taken

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alarm at so great a distance,
but from the slowness with which she came

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into view, that seemed to be
the case, and Cliff paced the deck

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impatiently. It was not very much
longer before he went off duty again,

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but he did not go below.
For perhaps an hour. He remained on

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deck watching the strange vessel. It
seemed an age, but Cliff had his

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reward. The chase loomed gradually nearer
the black and red smoke pipe came into

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view, and then when the uncas
rose, the top of the black hall

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as well. And suddenly the lieutenant
handed the glass to Cliff. You may

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see now, he said, she
is a merchant steamer, and she flies

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the Spanish flag. Cliff nearly dropped
the glass at those startling words. The

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lieutenant said them as calmly as if
he were telling the time of day.

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You don't seem very much excited,
the cadet thought, And yet the lieutenant's

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statement proved to be true. It
was several minutes before Cliff got a favorable

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view, but he kept his eyes
fixed on the smoke, and he finally

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caught a glimpse of the hall,
and sure enough there was the hated red

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and yellow ensign, waving defiantly from
the stern. It was blown off to

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one side by the breeze and could
be plainly seen. Cliff was fairly boiling

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over with excitement at that discovery.
We've got our prize, he chuckled,

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I brought the luck, after all. Lieutenant Raymond was not nearly so little

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moved, as he chose to pretend
he had announced his discovery in that careless

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way, half in a spirit of
fun. The news got round among the

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crew, and however the officer may
have felt, there was no indifference there.

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The engines of the Uncas began to
work even more rapidly, and cartridges

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were hastily brought up for the rapid
firing guns. Nobody meant to let that

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steamer get away. She must have
suspected her danger by that time, for

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the smoke grew blacker. But the
crew of the Uncas knew that there were

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few merchant ships could beat that tug, and they rubbed their hands gleefully.

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There is something very aggravating about a
race like that. In a rowing race,

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you may break your back if you
choose trying to catch the boat in

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front, and even in a sailing
race. You may do something, but

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when it comes to steam, you
can only grit your teeth and walk up

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and down and watch, and try
not to let anybody see how anxious you

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are. In that way, half
an hour passed, and mile after mile

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of the storm tossed waters. By
that time the hall of the vessel was

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plainly visible on the horizon, and
the Spanish flag was still waving from her

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stern. Cliff had been gazing every
once in a while at the lieutenant with

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an inquiring look upon his face,
but the officer had only shaken his head.

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Not yet, he said, wait
a little, and Cliff would then

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take another stroll across the deck.
But at last his inquiring look brought another

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answer. Go ahead, said the
lieutenant, and the cadet made a leap

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at the gun. It was already
loaded, and he sighted it himself.

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He was no longer nervous and hurried. It was at least a minute before

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he rose, and then at his
signal, the sailor pulled the firing trigger.

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There was a flash and a loud
report, and everyone looked anxiously to

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see the effect. Lieutenant Raymond,
who had the glass, was the only

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one who could tell, for the
sea was so wild that the slight splash

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could not be noticed. The shot, of course, fell short, for

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the vessel was still out of range, but it hit right in line,

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and the officer nodded approvingly. Now
we'll wait, he said. She may

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give up, but she didn't.
So far as those on the uncas could

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tell. The shot had no effect
whatever. The vessel kept straight on in

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her course. She's counting on the
darkness coming, said the lieutenant. But

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that was not the only reason why
the Spaniard did not give up. Those

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upon the uncas discovered another shortly afterward, the Cuban coast, exclaimed the officer.

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Yes, the long, faint line
of the shore was at last visible,

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just on the horizon's edge. It
lay to the southward, directly ahead.

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What good will that do her,
asked Clift. If she finds she

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can't get away, answered the other, she may make a run for one

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of the ports, or try to
get under the shelter of the batteries.

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For a while. After that,
nothing more was said, and the tug

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plowed its way through the tossing water. When the lieutenant spoke again, it

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was to point to the gun.
Try it again, he said, and

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Cliff did try it. The two
ships were then not over three or four

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miles apart, and when the cadet
fired again, he heard the lieutenant give

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a pleased exclamation. There within range, and then Cliff got to work with

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all his might. Had he had
a calm sea, he could have raked

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that vessel without missing a shot.
He had only to experiment and get the

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aim just right, and then leave
the gun to stay in that one position

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while he blazed away. But the
Uncas, in climbing over the ways,

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was now up and now down,
so that sometimes the shots fell short and

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sometimes they went high, But every
once in a while he had the satisfaction

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of hearing that he had had landed
one. After that, the chase was

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a lively one, for the Uncas
kept blazing away merrily. The people on

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board that fleeing vessel must have had
a very large time of it that afternoon.

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It was just what Cliff Faraday light. He was beginning to be quite

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an expert in target practice, and
he was willing to experiment with that ship

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just as long as the ammunition held
out. But his opportunity did not last

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very long, for the land in
front was neared very rapidly, and after

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that there was less fun and more
work. The stranger headed round gradually to

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the west. She evidently had no
idea of being driven toward Havana. The

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uncas swerved more sharply in order to
head her off. Lieutenant Raymond was in

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the pilot house, and Cliff soon
saw by the way he managed things that

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he was an expert in all the
tricks of dodging, and those who were

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handling the merchant ship saw it too. They would have been soon headed off.

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So they turned in another direction,
quite sharply, making straight in towards

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shore. Again. Under ordinary circumstances, with the short range that he had

219
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by that time, Cliff could have
riddled the vessel in short order, but

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aiming in that sea was so far
a matter of luck that comparatively little damage

221
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could be done. No one knew
what the enemy's last move could mean.

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But we can go in any water
that's deep enough for them, he thought

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Cliff grimly as he blazed away,
And so thought the lieutenant too, for

224
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he was soon racing in. For
perhaps ten minutes. Pursuer and pursued kept

225
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straight on the firing, never ceasing
for a moment. Perhaps she may run

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on shore on purpose, said the
lieutenant, coming out of the pilot house.

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For a moment, on purpose,
echoed Cliff. Yes, so that

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we can't get the cargo, but
she'll be beaten to pieces on the rocks.

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Cliff objected, They may chance at
anyhow. You see, they aren't

230
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more than a mile or two from
the shore now, and they're running in

231
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still. If that's the trick they
try, Cliff thought to himself, we

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can stay out and have her hard
to our hearts content and help the waves

233
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to wreck her. But the Spaniard
had a far better plan than that,

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as her pursuers learned sometime later.
Cliff studied the coast in front of them

235
00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:23.400
as well as he could see without
a glass. There was simply a long

236
00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:27.680
line of sandy shore without a bay
and an inlet of any kind, and

237
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there were no towns or batteries visible. I don't see what she can be

238
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hoping for there, he muttered.
But he had no time to speculate in

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00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:41.119
the matter, for it was his
business to keep firing. By that time,

240
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the range was short and he was
beginning to do damage. It took

241
00:18:45.160 --> 00:18:49.160
an expert to fire at the instant
when the tossing ship was leveled. But

242
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Cliff had time to practice, and
he soon got the knack of it.

243
00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:59.359
And then it must have been exceedingly
unpleasant living on that ship. One after

244
00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:03.039
another, heavy six pound shots crashed
through her stern, and even at that

245
00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:10.160
distance it began to exhibit a ragged
appearance. The cadet expected at any moment

246
00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:14.079
to reach the engines or the rudder
of the fleeing ship and so render her

247
00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:18.079
helpless, but probably her cargo served
to protect the former, and the rudder

248
00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:22.880
was very hard to hit. She
must have something important view to stand all

249
00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:26.400
this, Cliff thought to himself,
But I can't see what it is.

250
00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:32.759
The chase at that time was a
very exciting one. The Spanish merchantman was

251
00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:37.079
dashing inshore at the top of his
speed. About a mile or two beyond

252
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it was the uncle's tearing up the
water, plunging along at her fastest pace,

253
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and banging away half a dozen times
amitute with their bow gun. Lieutenant's

254
00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:51.119
Raymond's eyes were dancing. Then he
had taken the wheels himself and was hard

255
00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:55.359
at work. And as for Cliff, he was so busily engaged that he

256
00:19:55.440 --> 00:20:00.599
seemed to see nothing except the high
stern of that runaway. But a fool,

257
00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:03.599
he growled to himself. She'll be
so torn to pieces she won't be

258
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worth capturing. I wish I could
kill the captain. But the captain of

259
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that vessel knew his business, as
those of the Uncas found later on.

260
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He was a Spaniard and simply gifted
with Spanish cunning. He had no idea

261
00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:26.079
of running his ship aground, but
he knew that coast perfectly, and he

262
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used his knowledge. When he neared
the land, the tug was still some

263
00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:36.000
distance ascern As that did not suit
the Spaniard's purposes. He very calmly slowed

264
00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:38.599
up, and that in spite of
the fact that the tug was so close

265
00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:45.279
that the rapid firing gun was hitting
him every other's shot that the vessel had

266
00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:48.880
slowed up. Lieutenant Raymond, of
course, could not tell. But he

267
00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:52.000
wouldn't have cared anyhow, for he
had made up his mind to go in

268
00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:57.000
there, no matter what was there, torpedoes or the very old nick himself,

269
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and he went. Perhaps five minutes
more. The Uncas dashed in at

270
00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:07.799
full speed, and the merchantmen still
never swerved. There within a quarter mile

271
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of the shore, gasped Cliff.
He turned to his third box of cartridges

272
00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:17.119
with a grim smile on his face. Or he knew that something must happen

273
00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:22.359
soon. It did too, very
soon. It began when the merchantmen suddenly

274
00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:26.680
swung round the starboard. Aha,
chuckled the cadet. They're as close in

275
00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:33.400
as they dare, and now I
suppose they'll run down shore awhile Lieutenant Raymond

276
00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:37.000
was much puzzled to think why the
vessel had risk going so close in that

277
00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:41.839
storm, but he wasted no time
in speculating, but drove the wheel around

278
00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:45.119
with all his might. The Uncas
swerved and sped over to shut the merchantmen

279
00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:49.599
off. At the same instance,
the reason of the whole thing was seen.

280
00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:53.839
The Uncas was not a mile from
shore, and as she turned her

281
00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:59.440
broadside to the land, a massed
battery in the sand let drive with a

282
00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:03.960
dozen guns at once. The whole
thing was so sudden that for a moment

283
00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:08.480
it quite frightened the Americans. Cliff
even stopped firing long enough to stare.

284
00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:12.720
But the sudden alarm did not last
very long. It left the men on

285
00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:18.880
the Unca's lapping, for they had
quite forgotten the character of the Spanish gunner's

286
00:22:18.920 --> 00:22:22.599
aim. A shot tore through the
tug's funnel, another chip to piece from

287
00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:27.359
her bow, half a dozen shells
whistled over her, and that was all.

288
00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:33.440
Cliff turned calmly to his own gun
again. If that's the best they

289
00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:37.920
can do, he thought, They're
welcome. But that was not the best.

290
00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:41.759
It wasn't that the batteries were aimed
better next time, they were aimed

291
00:22:41.880 --> 00:22:47.640
far worse. In their eager haste, they did not even touch the Uncos.

292
00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:51.559
But an instant later something happened that
showed that the captain of the Spanish

293
00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:56.160
merchantmen had one more string to his
bow. He not only knew the location

294
00:22:56.279 --> 00:23:03.079
of the batteries, but he knew
the location of the sandbars. While his

295
00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:07.200
own vessel sped on in safety.
On board the Uncas, there suddenly came

296
00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:11.680
a grinding thud, and an instant
later, the tug stopped short, so

297
00:23:11.880 --> 00:23:15.319
short it almost sent Cliff flying over
the top of the gun he was working.

298
00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:19.880
And at the same time a shout
was heard from Lieutenant Raymond, one

299
00:23:19.960 --> 00:23:25.440
that made the sailor's hearts leap up
into their throats. We're aground. We're

300
00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:33.039
aground and in front of a Spanish
battery and of chapter two recording by Tom

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00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:45.359
Weiss Tom's audiobooks dot com. Chapter
three of a Prisoner of Morrow by up

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00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:51.839
to Sinclair. This LibriVox recording is
in the public domain. Recording by Tom

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00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:56.519
Weiss, Chapter three, an Old
Enemy. It would be hard to imagine

304
00:23:56.519 --> 00:24:00.440
a vessel in a much greater predicament
than the un was at that moment.

305
00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:07.200
Everything was in confusion in an instant, that is, everything except one thing.

306
00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:11.079
Lieutenant Raymond was too busy to notice
the coolness of one person on board,

307
00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:17.960
but he remembered it afterward, and
with satisfaction. It was Cliff Faraday.

308
00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:21.920
He picked himself up from the deck
where he had been flung and took

309
00:24:22.039 --> 00:24:26.720
one glance about him. Then he
turned to the guns. Whatever the position

310
00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:30.759
of the tug, his duty just
then remained the same. He could not

311
00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:34.000
free her, and so he did
not waste any time rushing about. There

312
00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:38.559
was that Spanish merchantman, calmly walking
off to safety, and there was a

313
00:24:38.599 --> 00:24:42.400
gleam of vengeance in the cadet's eye
as he went to the gun again.

314
00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:48.160
Those on board of the fleeing vessel
had seen the success of their clever plan,

315
00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:52.640
and they gave a wild cheer.
It was answered from the shore batteries.

316
00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:56.880
The steamer turned at once and headed
out to sea. That put her

317
00:24:56.000 --> 00:25:02.720
broadside to the Uncah's, and instantly
the six pounder blazed away. That was

318
00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:06.279
the time to do the work too. The vessel was quite near and a

319
00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:11.559
fair mark. The Uncas was now
steady too, Cliff thought grimly to himself.

320
00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:15.079
One of the sailors saw what he
was doing and sprang to aid him.

321
00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:19.640
They banged away as fast as they
could load at the same time the

322
00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:25.599
Spanish batteries opened. They had a
fair mark likewise, and plenty of time

323
00:25:25.640 --> 00:25:29.240
to aim. It was a race
to see who could smash up their prey

324
00:25:29.640 --> 00:25:33.559
the quickest. Cliff would certainly have
disabled the fleeing vessel if it had not

325
00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:38.640
been for an unfortunate accident. What
the accident was may be told in a

326
00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:44.920
few words. It spoiled his chance. He turned away to get more cartridges,

327
00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:48.759
and at that instant a shell struck
the six pounder gun. It was

328
00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:53.200
a miracle that Cliff was not hit. His uniform was torn in three places,

329
00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:56.759
and his cap knocked off. The
sailor next to him got a nasty

330
00:25:56.799 --> 00:26:00.519
wound in the arm, made by
a flying fragment, and that, of

331
00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:07.319
course made the merchantman safe. She
steamed off in triumph. It was bad

332
00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:10.839
for the tug, too, for
it showed the batteries were getting the range.

333
00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:15.319
The flight of the Unkahs was a
desperate one. She was being tossed

334
00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:18.079
about by a raging sea and cut
up by the fire from the guns.

335
00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:22.839
Whether she had struck on rocks or
sand or mud, no one had any

336
00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:27.200
means of telling, but her engines
were reversed the instant the accident occurred,

337
00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:32.680
and a hasty examination of the hold
showed that, whatever the danger was,

338
00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:37.400
there was no leak. But that
seemed cold comfort, for at the rate

339
00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:40.839
the heavy batteries were blazing away,
there was likely to be a number of

340
00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:44.880
leaks in a very short while,
and even a steel tug will not hold

341
00:26:44.920 --> 00:26:48.799
together long with the sea pounding over
her like this one was. Yet,

342
00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:53.039
as it actually happened, that sea
was the only thing that got the vessel

343
00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:57.799
out of her unfortunate predicament. They
were a great deal luckier than they would

344
00:26:57.799 --> 00:27:02.559
have dared to hope to be,
for when they realized they were aground,

345
00:27:02.839 --> 00:27:06.359
there was not a man on board
who did not think his last hour was

346
00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:11.000
at hand. But as it actually
happened, the sandbar upon which the tug

347
00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:15.240
had driven lay some distance beneath the
surface, and it had caught the vessel

348
00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:19.119
by the keel. The engines throbbed
wildly, doing their noblest to pull the

349
00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:25.079
vessel off. And then one after
another came the great waves, tossing her

350
00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:29.599
this way and that, wrenching and
twisting, lifting and lifting again, while

351
00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:33.960
everyone on deck clung for his life. There was a minute or two of

352
00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:37.559
agonizing suspense, while the shore batteries
kept up a galling fire, and the

353
00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:42.519
merchantman steamed out to sea, proud
of her triumph. And then suddenly came

354
00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:48.319
a wild cheer from the imperiled Americans. Then men fairly shrieked in a transport

355
00:27:48.359 --> 00:27:53.079
of delight. She's moving, she
started, She's safe, And the men

356
00:27:53.240 --> 00:27:59.440
fairly hugged each other for joy,
slowly, then faster, then faster still,

357
00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:03.559
and finally at full speed backward.
The gallant tug had torn herself loose

358
00:28:03.599 --> 00:28:08.880
from the grip of the sand and
was free. The baffled Spanish batteries redoubled

359
00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:14.920
their fire at that one could almost
imagine the gunners grinding their teeth with rage

360
00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:19.119
as they saw their prey escaping.
But grinding their teeth did not seem to

361
00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:23.319
sharpen their eyes. Their aim was
as bad as ever, and the Uncas

362
00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:29.559
seemed like the proverbial man in the
rainstorm who keeps dry by dodging the drops.

363
00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:34.400
The confusion on board of the escaped
vessel may be imagined how that triumphant

364
00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:41.240
captain must have sworn Spanish oaths.
It was a ticklish task that Lieutenant Raymond

365
00:28:41.240 --> 00:28:45.279
had before him. Then. He
knew there were sandbars about, but he

366
00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:49.000
did not know where they were,
and the task was to avoid them.

367
00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:53.960
He did it by creeping along very
slowly, in absolute indifference to the galling

368
00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:59.039
fire from the shore guns. He
knew that there must be a channel for

369
00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:03.599
he and the span had come in
by it. He had only a vague

370
00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:07.240
idea where it was. But the
Uncas stopped and then crept slowly forward,

371
00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:11.839
heading north, and after five minutes
of torment, they knew that they were

372
00:29:11.880 --> 00:29:15.640
safe. They were far enough from
shore to start up again and get away

373
00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:19.960
from those Spanish guns. The gallant
tug was quite battered by that time,

374
00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:26.480
but nobody cared for that in the
wild rejoicing that prevailed. The vessel swung

375
00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:30.160
around to court. And now for
that prize, muttered the lieutenant, and

376
00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:34.279
he went for her too, full
speed ahead. He was mad. Now

377
00:29:36.079 --> 00:29:40.599
the vessel had gotten the start of
about two miles. She had apparently exhausted

378
00:29:40.599 --> 00:29:44.599
her resources in the neighborhood of Cuba, for she was heading north out to

379
00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:48.880
sea again. And so it's only
a question of time. Chuckle cliff,

380
00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:53.000
we've got her. And so they
had. The Spaniards must have realized it

381
00:29:53.119 --> 00:29:59.079
two, mister Faraday, said the
lieutenant. Try a shot from the starboard

382
00:29:59.079 --> 00:30:03.400
gun. The shot was fired,
and it did the work. The merchantman

383
00:30:03.559 --> 00:30:07.720
had evidently had enough and saw that
there was no further hope, for in

384
00:30:07.839 --> 00:30:11.519
full view of the shore batteries,
she swung round and came slowly to a

385
00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:17.759
halt, a signal that she surrendered. It made the Americans give another cheer,

386
00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:22.079
and it must have made the Spaniards
on shore fairly yell, for they

387
00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:26.519
began banging away even at that distance, though they couldn't come anywhere near the

388
00:30:26.599 --> 00:30:30.720
tug As. For the Americans,
they signed with relief. They had worked

389
00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:34.680
hard for that victory, and they
felt that they had earned it. The

390
00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:40.240
race was over then, and they
were happy. Cliff was so wearied by

391
00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:44.759
his heroic labor at that gun he
must have lifted and ram some two hundred

392
00:30:44.839 --> 00:30:48.000
six pounder cartridges, that he sat
down on the wreck of the machine to

393
00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:52.640
wait until the two vessels drew near, and the lieutenant gave up the wheel

394
00:30:52.680 --> 00:30:56.119
to one of the men and came
out to look his capture over at leisure.

395
00:30:56.880 --> 00:31:00.799
She was a fairly large vessel and
seemed to have a big carrying capacity.

396
00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:04.960
What she was loaded with no one
could guess, but at any rate,

397
00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:08.519
she was a big prize for a
small crew like that of the Uncahs.

398
00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:12.960
I think I'll retire from business after
today. Cliff heard the old boats

399
00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:18.039
in remark that personage had had one
arm badly damaged in the struggle that had

400
00:31:18.079 --> 00:31:22.720
taken place in the morning with a
Spanish gunboat, but he seemed to have

401
00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:27.000
forgotten his wounds in the general excitement. The little tug steamed boldly up toward

402
00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:32.440
her big prize, which lay idly
tossing on the waves. One could see

403
00:31:32.440 --> 00:31:37.319
her officers and crew standing on deck
watching the approach. I'll bet they feel

404
00:31:37.359 --> 00:31:41.119
happy, Cliff muttered to himself.
The lieutenant loaned him the glass. Then

405
00:31:41.119 --> 00:31:45.759
he could see the faces of the
men. There was one of them he

406
00:31:45.880 --> 00:31:49.039
might have recognized had he been careful, But he did not recognize it,

407
00:31:49.160 --> 00:31:55.519
and so he failed to save himself
some mighty unpleasant adventures. Indeed, they

408
00:31:55.519 --> 00:32:00.319
were all typical Spanish faces, dark
and sullen, but there was one there

409
00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:05.759
even darker and more sullen than the
rest, And the owner of that countenance

410
00:32:05.799 --> 00:32:08.519
had a glass in his hand and
was staring at those on the tug.

411
00:32:09.160 --> 00:32:14.960
Though the cadet did not know it, that man was at that instant watching

412
00:32:15.119 --> 00:32:20.559
him, and there was an expression
of furious hate on his face as he

413
00:32:20.599 --> 00:32:25.440
looked. Lieutenant Raymond expected no further
trouble, but he took no chances.

414
00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:30.839
Men were stationed at the three remaining
six pounders, and the rest of the

415
00:32:30.920 --> 00:32:35.960
crew was armed in silence. The
uncas steamed up to within a hundred yards

416
00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:39.680
of her prize, and then came
the signal to stop engines. It was

417
00:32:39.720 --> 00:32:45.279
the time for a boarding party.
Cliff, as junior officer, knew that

418
00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:47.960
that was his duty, and without
a word, he proceeded to get the

419
00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:52.160
small boat off It was quite a
task in that heavy sea, but the

420
00:32:52.200 --> 00:32:57.759
eager sailors worked with the will,
and though nearly swamped twice, managed to

421
00:32:57.799 --> 00:33:01.400
get clear of the tug, and
Cliff was seated in the stern heading for

422
00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:06.400
the big merchantmen. Keep your eyes
open. He heard the lieutenant shout,

423
00:33:06.759 --> 00:33:10.599
they may make trouble, and Cliff
knotted and the boat shot away. They

424
00:33:10.640 --> 00:33:15.640
wouldn't catch him napping on board that
Spanish vessel, not much, but they

425
00:33:15.680 --> 00:33:21.119
come perilously near it all the same. It was a rough trip in that

426
00:33:21.200 --> 00:33:23.839
tossing rowboat. It seemed to sink
and then fairly bound up. On the

427
00:33:23.880 --> 00:33:28.880
next wave. Its bow went down
and its stern shot up. It did

428
00:33:28.920 --> 00:33:32.599
everything except turn over, while the
spray fairly flew over it. But the

429
00:33:32.680 --> 00:33:37.680
sturdy sailors worked with a will,
and the distance was not very great.

430
00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:40.720
In a short time, the little
craft shot round in the lee of the

431
00:33:40.759 --> 00:33:45.839
spaniard a ladder there, shouted Cliff, and in a few moments the rope

432
00:33:45.880 --> 00:33:51.200
ladder came tumbling down. It seemed
to come with bad grace, though as

433
00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:54.599
if it knew its owners didn't want
to send it. The rowboat was backed

434
00:33:54.680 --> 00:33:59.599
near and Cliff with a sudden spring
caught the ladder and leaked clear of the

435
00:33:59.599 --> 00:34:02.519
way. Before he went up.
He turned to the sailors. Two of

436
00:34:02.559 --> 00:34:07.680
you follow me, he commanded.
He climbed quickly up the ladder and stepped

437
00:34:07.720 --> 00:34:10.480
out on the deck, and gazing
about him eagerly, he saw about a

438
00:34:10.519 --> 00:34:15.360
dozen dark faced Spaniards gathered together and
glaring at him. One of them,

439
00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:21.000
wearing the uniform of the captain,
stepped forward toward him. He was a

440
00:34:21.079 --> 00:34:24.480
surly, ill looking man with a
heavy dark mustache. He bowed stiffly to

441
00:34:24.519 --> 00:34:29.719
the cadet. The signor takes possession, he said in a low voice.

442
00:34:30.360 --> 00:34:34.400
Cliff was so busy watching this man
that he did not look around the vessel.

443
00:34:34.920 --> 00:34:37.840
But we must do so. We
must glance for one instant at the

444
00:34:37.880 --> 00:34:43.599
capston, which was just behind where
the jaunty young cadet was standing. There

445
00:34:43.719 --> 00:34:47.599
was an interesting person near the capston. Cliff did not see him, and

446
00:34:47.760 --> 00:34:52.880
neither did the sailors, nor even
the Spaniards on the vessel, for he

447
00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:57.760
was crouching behind the capston, out
of sight. He was a small man,

448
00:34:57.920 --> 00:35:01.079
dark and swarthy. He was the
same one we noticed glaring at Cliff.

449
00:35:01.519 --> 00:35:06.679
He had recognized him and realized in
a flash that the issue between them

450
00:35:07.039 --> 00:35:12.519
was death. Death for one or
else death for the other. For Cliff

451
00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:15.679
knew the man and would secure him
the instant he saw him. His crimes

452
00:35:15.679 --> 00:35:22.320
were many, treason and attempted assassination. The worst for the man was Ignazio,

453
00:35:23.239 --> 00:35:27.679
and his dark, beady eyes were
glittering with hatred. As he crouched

454
00:35:27.719 --> 00:35:31.760
in his momentary hiding place. He
was quivering all over with rage. The

455
00:35:31.880 --> 00:35:37.280
muscles of his sinewy arms were clinched
and tense, and in his right hand

456
00:35:37.320 --> 00:35:42.000
he clutched a sharp, gleaming knife, half hidden under his coat. His

457
00:35:42.079 --> 00:35:45.480
glance was fixed on the figure just
in front of him. The unsuspecting cadet

458
00:35:45.599 --> 00:35:51.440
was not twenty yards away. His
back turned to his crouching enemy, and

459
00:35:51.559 --> 00:35:57.280
Ignazio bent forward to listen and wait
his chance. The cadet, the object

460
00:35:57.280 --> 00:36:00.719
of his hatred, was talking to
the captain. The signor takes possession.

461
00:36:01.039 --> 00:36:07.239
The latter repeated again, The signor
does with your permission, said Cliff quietly.

462
00:36:07.800 --> 00:36:09.719
You gave us quite a run,
he added, after a moment's thought.

463
00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:15.440
A Spaniard would not surrender to Yankee
pigs without a fight, snarled the

464
00:36:15.480 --> 00:36:19.559
other. You had best be a
bit careful, was Cliff's stern response,

465
00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:24.280
or you may find yourself in irons. The Spaniard relapsed into a sudden silence.

466
00:36:24.800 --> 00:36:30.400
What ship is this, demanded the
cadet, the Maria from where Cadiz

467
00:36:30.920 --> 00:36:37.199
indeed, and bound where my yey
a honda. Cliff gave a low whistle.

468
00:36:37.719 --> 00:36:39.280
We caught you about in time,
he said, with a smile.

469
00:36:39.679 --> 00:36:44.239
You were nearly there. But I
suppose the story is made up for the

470
00:36:44.280 --> 00:36:49.039
occasion. What is your cargo?
The captain went over quite a list of

471
00:36:49.119 --> 00:36:52.360
articles. The sailors who were with
Cliff chuckled with delight as they heard him.

472
00:36:52.519 --> 00:36:55.599
We get a share in all this, Cliff heard one of them whisper

473
00:36:55.679 --> 00:37:00.800
under his breath. Cliff smiled,
and as soon as the captain finished,

474
00:37:00.079 --> 00:37:04.639
he raised his arm and pointed to
the stern of the vessel. You and

475
00:37:04.760 --> 00:37:07.960
your men will go aft, he
commanded, for the present, I will

476
00:37:07.000 --> 00:37:12.199
see you shortly. The spaniard was
on the point of obeying. He had

477
00:37:12.360 --> 00:37:16.079
half turned, when suddenly, with
a single bound, the treacherous Ignacio sprang

478
00:37:16.159 --> 00:37:20.840
forward. His keen knife glanced in
the air as he raised it in his

479
00:37:20.880 --> 00:37:25.559
outstretched arm and leaped upon the unsuspecting
cadet. Ignacio was clever at that sort

480
00:37:25.599 --> 00:37:30.480
of thing. He had tried it
before. His spring had been silent as

481
00:37:30.480 --> 00:37:34.719
a cat's. Neither the sailors nor
the officer hurt him, and the blow

482
00:37:34.800 --> 00:37:39.199
might have fallen Cliff's only warning of
his deadly peril. But unfortunately for the

483
00:37:39.280 --> 00:37:44.599
desperate assassin, he had failed to
let the captain of that vessel know what

484
00:37:44.679 --> 00:37:46.800
he meant to do, and the
captain, as he saw him leap,

485
00:37:47.079 --> 00:37:51.760
realized in a flash that would mean
an instant hanging for him, and a

486
00:37:51.840 --> 00:37:54.960
look of horror swept over his face. Cliff saw it and whirled about.

487
00:37:55.440 --> 00:38:00.199
He was just in time to find
himself face to face with this deadliest enemy,

488
00:38:00.639 --> 00:38:07.320
and the knife was hissing through the
air. End of chapter three recording

489
00:38:07.440 --> 00:38:19.519
by Tom Weiss Tom's audiobooks dot Com. Chapter four of a Prisoner of Morrow

490
00:38:19.599 --> 00:38:24.920
by Upton Sinclair. This LibriVox recording
is in the public domain. Recording by

491
00:38:25.079 --> 00:38:31.599
Tom Weiss, Chapter four, in
Command of the Prize. It was a

492
00:38:31.679 --> 00:38:37.039
moment of horrible peril. Cliff's blood
fairly froze, but quick as a flash,

493
00:38:37.360 --> 00:38:42.079
his arm shot up and he caught
the descending wrist. For an instant

494
00:38:42.119 --> 00:38:45.519
the two glared into each other's eyes, straining and twisting, and then the

495
00:38:45.559 --> 00:38:51.800
two sailors of the Uncas leaped forward
and seized the battled spaniard, and almost

496
00:38:51.800 --> 00:38:55.760
in the twinkling of an eyelid,
Cliff Faraday was saved. He could hardly

497
00:38:55.800 --> 00:39:00.679
realize what had happened, and he
staggered back against the rail of the vessel

498
00:39:00.960 --> 00:39:05.400
and gasped for breath. But that
was only for a moment, too,

499
00:39:05.760 --> 00:39:09.039
and then the blood surged back to
his cheeks, and the cadet was himself

500
00:39:09.079 --> 00:39:14.840
once more. He stepped forward,
a calm smile playing about his mouth.

501
00:39:15.320 --> 00:39:19.679
Bind that man, he said to
the sailors. The two men were grasping

502
00:39:19.679 --> 00:39:23.000
the sinewy cuban and holding him so
tight that he could not move. They

503
00:39:23.079 --> 00:39:27.840
almost crushed his wrist, and he
dropped the knife with a hoarse cry of

504
00:39:27.960 --> 00:39:31.039
pain, and Cliff picked it up
and glanced at it for a moment,

505
00:39:31.239 --> 00:39:37.639
then flung it far out into the
sea. After that he turned to Ignacio.

506
00:39:37.440 --> 00:39:40.400
You have met me once more,
my friend, he said, and

507
00:39:40.480 --> 00:39:45.320
this time you will not get away. And that was all the conversation he

508
00:39:45.360 --> 00:39:49.920
had with him. Glancing about the
deck, he picked up a piece of

509
00:39:50.000 --> 00:39:53.760
rope and stepped toward the prisoner.
He did not strike the fellow, as

510
00:39:53.840 --> 00:39:58.920
the Spaniards seemed to think he would, but the sailors flung him to the

511
00:39:58.960 --> 00:40:04.280
deck and Cli carefully bound his feet
together. Then, while he fairly fumed

512
00:40:04.280 --> 00:40:07.039
with rage and hatred, his hands
were made fast, and he was left

513
00:40:07.119 --> 00:40:13.360
lying there, shrieking curses in his
native Spanish. Cliff turned to the captain

514
00:40:13.400 --> 00:40:17.800
of the vessel. The man was
frightened nearly to death and began protesting voluably.

515
00:40:19.400 --> 00:40:22.559
I did not know it, Signor, he cried. Indeed, I

516
00:40:22.599 --> 00:40:27.400
did not know it, Santa Maria. I don't suppose you did, said

517
00:40:27.440 --> 00:40:30.400
Cliff, calmly. You did not
act like it, but you will have

518
00:40:30.440 --> 00:40:35.800
to suffer for it. Suffer for
it, Madre di dios. No signor

519
00:40:36.119 --> 00:40:39.599
what does the signor mean? Surely
he will not hang me for this signor

520
00:40:39.719 --> 00:40:44.880
will not hang you, said Cliff, unable to help smiling at the blustering

521
00:40:45.000 --> 00:40:50.280
fellow's terror. Then what will the
signor do? He will tie you like

522
00:40:50.400 --> 00:40:55.039
ignazio. The man was evidently relieved, but he protested voluably he did not

523
00:40:55.239 --> 00:41:00.920
want to be tied. Is it
customary, he cried, said Cliff.

524
00:41:00.400 --> 00:41:06.440
Neither is it customary to try to
assassinate an officer after that? I think

525
00:41:06.480 --> 00:41:10.280
common prudence requires it, but cried
the man angrily. I will not submit,

526
00:41:10.519 --> 00:41:15.960
Porthos, I will not. You
will either submit or be made to,

527
00:41:15.280 --> 00:41:20.920
said Cliff, or else sink to
the bottom. And so the man

528
00:41:21.039 --> 00:41:24.960
had to give up. Those two
delighted tars went the rounds and tied every

529
00:41:25.000 --> 00:41:29.679
single man on that vessel, hand
and foot, and they tied them tight,

530
00:41:29.719 --> 00:41:32.480
too, occasionally giving them a dig
in the ribs for good measure.

531
00:41:34.119 --> 00:41:37.760
And when they came to search them, Cliff was glad he had done as

532
00:41:37.760 --> 00:41:42.239
he did, for quite a respectable
heap of knives and revolvers were removed from

533
00:41:42.239 --> 00:41:45.800
the clothes of those angry Spaniards,
but it did not take long to tie

534
00:41:45.840 --> 00:41:51.320
them up, and then Cliff felt
safe. He took a few extra hitches

535
00:41:51.360 --> 00:41:55.000
in the treacherous Ignacio, who was
by far the most valuable prize of them

536
00:41:55.000 --> 00:42:00.119
all. Admiral Sampson will be glad
to get you, the cadet thought to

537
00:42:00.239 --> 00:42:06.320
himself, and then he turned to
examine the captured vessel. His sword in

538
00:42:06.360 --> 00:42:09.559
his hand, he went down the
forward companionway, where he met a group

539
00:42:09.639 --> 00:42:15.679
of frightened firemen and stokers huddled below. They seemed to think the Yankee pigs

540
00:42:15.719 --> 00:42:19.960
were going to murder them on the
spot, but Cliff had another use for

541
00:42:20.000 --> 00:42:23.760
them. Being able to speak Spanish, he found it easy to reassure them

542
00:42:23.800 --> 00:42:28.960
in a few words, and sent
them down to their work again. Then

543
00:42:29.000 --> 00:42:32.760
he descended into the hold. He
was worried lest the continuous firing he had

544
00:42:32.800 --> 00:42:38.159
directed upon the vessel had made her
unseaworthy, But apparently the holes were all

545
00:42:38.280 --> 00:42:43.239
well above the water line, for
there did not seem to be any leap,

546
00:42:44.079 --> 00:42:46.920
and that was all there was to
be done. Cliff knew that he

547
00:42:47.000 --> 00:42:52.960
had the task before him of piloting
that vessel into Key West. He was

548
00:42:52.159 --> 00:42:57.320
not willing to let that ugly looking
Spanish captain have anything to do with the

549
00:42:57.360 --> 00:43:01.320
matter. Cliff had fancied he would
rather enjoy that duty, but under the

550
00:43:01.360 --> 00:43:07.320
circumstances of the present case, he
was not so much pleased. For the

551
00:43:07.440 --> 00:43:09.880
darkness was gathering then, and the
cadet knew that he had a long,

552
00:43:10.000 --> 00:43:15.400
hard night before him. It would
be necessary for him to remain on the

553
00:43:15.440 --> 00:43:20.679
vessel's bridge all through the stormy trip, and moreover, it would take him

554
00:43:20.760 --> 00:43:24.679
away from Havana, the place of
all places he was then anxious to reach.

555
00:43:25.519 --> 00:43:29.760
But the duty had to be faced, and so Cliff sent one of

556
00:43:29.760 --> 00:43:34.280
the sailors back to the Unkahs to
report the state of affairs and ask for

557
00:43:34.360 --> 00:43:39.079
a prize crew. It seems scarcely
orthodox to send a small boat away without

558
00:43:39.119 --> 00:43:45.599
an officer to command it, but
that too was inevitable. The boat arrived

559
00:43:45.639 --> 00:43:49.960
safely, however, and returned with
three more men, all the little tug

560
00:43:50.280 --> 00:43:54.320
dared spare. Lieutenant Raymond sent word
to report at Key West with the prize,

561
00:43:54.679 --> 00:43:59.639
but to steam slowly so as not
to come anywhere near the shore before

562
00:43:59.719 --> 00:44:05.679
daylight. Lieutenant Raymond was evidently a
little worried about entrusting the big vessel to

563
00:44:05.760 --> 00:44:10.559
an inexperienced officer like Cliff, and
Cliff was not so very cock sure himself.

564
00:44:12.400 --> 00:44:15.360
No one knew just where they were, and in the storm and darkness,

565
00:44:15.519 --> 00:44:21.159
reaching Key West Harbor would be tasking
up for an old hand. The

566
00:44:21.239 --> 00:44:25.760
cadet realized the enormous responsibility thus thrown
upon him, and he made up his

567
00:44:25.840 --> 00:44:31.360
mind that eternal vigilance should be the
watchword. If staying awake all night'll do

568
00:44:31.440 --> 00:44:36.280
any good, he muttered, I'll
do it. And then the small boat

569
00:44:36.360 --> 00:44:40.760
dashed away to the Uncas again and
Cliff was left alone. He stepped into

570
00:44:40.800 --> 00:44:45.719
the pilot house of the steamer and
signaled for half speed ahead. The vessel

571
00:44:45.920 --> 00:44:52.360
began to glide forward again, heading
north. The tug steamed away in the

572
00:44:52.400 --> 00:45:00.599
direction of Havana. End of chapter
four recording by Tom Weiss Tom's Audiobooks.

573
00:45:06.920 --> 00:45:12.880
Chapter five of A Prisoner of Morrow
by Upton Sinclair. This LibriVox recording is

574
00:45:13.000 --> 00:45:17.599
in the public domain. Recording by
Tom Weis. Chapter five, A Hail

575
00:45:17.960 --> 00:45:23.519
from the Darkness. The four sailors
who were with Cliff fully realized the task

576
00:45:23.639 --> 00:45:28.960
which was before them. It was
then about dusk and the night was coming

577
00:45:29.000 --> 00:45:31.800
on rapidly. Two of the men
were stationed as lookouts, and the other

578
00:45:31.840 --> 00:45:37.400
two took the wheel. Cliff set
to work to try to calculate as best

579
00:45:37.440 --> 00:45:40.320
as he could how far and in
what direction he was from Key West.

580
00:45:40.880 --> 00:45:45.840
He wished to take no chances of
running ashore or getting lost. Those and

581
00:45:45.920 --> 00:45:51.519
the possibility of collision seemed the only
dangers that had to be guarded against.

582
00:45:51.960 --> 00:45:55.840
The possibility of meeting a Spanish vessel
was not considered, for the chance seemed

583
00:45:57.119 --> 00:46:01.519
very remote. The two lookouts were
both stationed in the bow. That fact

584
00:46:01.559 --> 00:46:06.239
and the other just mentioned, sufficed
to account for the fact that the real

585
00:46:06.320 --> 00:46:09.840
danger that threatened the crew of the
merchantmen was not thought of or guarded against.

586
00:46:09.920 --> 00:46:14.880
In the least, her cliff had
no way of knowing that any trouble

587
00:46:15.000 --> 00:46:17.639
was to come from behind him.
But coming it was, and in a

588
00:46:17.719 --> 00:46:22.199
hurry. Within the shelter of a
narrow inlet just to one side of the

589
00:46:22.239 --> 00:46:28.840
batteries that had made so much trouble
for the Uncas had lain hidden and unsuspected

590
00:46:29.199 --> 00:46:32.199
an object that was destined to play
an important part in the rest of the

591
00:46:32.239 --> 00:46:37.400
present story. It was a Spanish
gunboat, of much the same kind as

592
00:46:37.400 --> 00:46:43.440
the Unca's, only smaller. Hidden
by the land. Her officers had eagerly

593
00:46:43.480 --> 00:46:47.039
watched the struggle we have just seen. The Spanish vessel had not ventured out

594
00:46:47.039 --> 00:46:52.239
to take part for one important reason. She had not steam up, but

595
00:46:52.320 --> 00:46:57.920
she would probably not have done so
anyhow, for the Uncas was the stronger

596
00:46:58.000 --> 00:47:02.239
of the two, and so venturing
out would have been little better than suicide.

597
00:47:02.840 --> 00:47:07.039
The Spanish captain had a plan that
put that one far in the shade.

598
00:47:07.800 --> 00:47:13.039
The Uncas was still visible down the
shore, and the merchantmen had hardly

599
00:47:13.039 --> 00:47:16.880
gotten well started out to sea before
great volumes of black smoke began to pour

600
00:47:17.039 --> 00:47:22.239
from the furnaces of the Spaniard.
Her men worked like fiends. Sailors pitched

601
00:47:22.280 --> 00:47:27.119
in to help the fireman handle coal, while the shores of the dark little

602
00:47:27.159 --> 00:47:31.639
inlet flared brightly with the gleam of
the furnaces. Meanwhile, the officers,

603
00:47:31.679 --> 00:47:37.679
with their glasses were feverishly watching the
distant steamer, now hauled down to the

604
00:47:37.760 --> 00:47:43.199
north and almost invisible in the darkness. It was about half an hour later,

605
00:47:43.400 --> 00:47:47.480
perhaps even less, that the Spanish
gunboat weighed her anchor and stole silently

606
00:47:47.519 --> 00:47:52.960
out to the open sea. She
breasted the fierce waves at the entrance to

607
00:47:52.000 --> 00:47:57.880
the inlet boldly. A minute later
she was plowing her way through the storming

608
00:47:57.960 --> 00:48:01.440
sea. It was dark then,
and she could see nothing, But her

609
00:48:01.480 --> 00:48:07.440
captain had the course to a hair's
breath. He knew which way his prey

610
00:48:07.599 --> 00:48:12.039
was gone, and he knew to
what port she was going. He knew

611
00:48:12.119 --> 00:48:16.039
too that she would not dare go
near the harbor of Key West until daylight,

612
00:48:16.679 --> 00:48:21.480
and so if by any chance he
missed her in the darkness, he

613
00:48:21.559 --> 00:48:25.639
would still have another opportunity. And
those on the shore who saw the vessel

614
00:48:25.679 --> 00:48:31.880
glide away chuckled gleefully to themselves.
It was something to look forward to a

615
00:48:32.000 --> 00:48:37.360
chance to revenge themselves upon the impotent
Yankees who had dared to elude the fire

616
00:48:37.519 --> 00:48:44.280
from their guns. Meanwhile, the
Yankees, totally unsuspicious of this last move,

617
00:48:44.719 --> 00:48:49.760
were buffeting their way bravely ahead.
The lookouts clinging to the railing in

618
00:48:49.800 --> 00:48:53.039
the bow were peering anxiously ahead in
the darkness, and the sailors in the

619
00:48:53.079 --> 00:48:58.000
pilot house were wrestling with the wheel. It was quite a task to keep

620
00:48:58.039 --> 00:49:01.239
that vessel headed straight, or she
was going into the very teeth of the

621
00:49:01.320 --> 00:49:07.280
gale. And as for Cliff,
he was watchfulness personified. When he was

622
00:49:07.320 --> 00:49:12.639
not eyeing the compass carefully, he
was hurrying about the vessel now down in

623
00:49:12.639 --> 00:49:15.760
the firerooms, making sure that those
Spaniards were doing as they were ordered,

624
00:49:16.039 --> 00:49:21.159
and again looking the prisoners over to
make sure that the sly rascals had not

625
00:49:21.280 --> 00:49:24.360
wriggled themselves free. It would be
a fine thing to do, he thought

626
00:49:24.360 --> 00:49:30.199
to himself, if they managed to
recapture the ship. There was something quite

627
00:49:30.239 --> 00:49:35.079
prophetic in that thought. It was
hard to keep awake all night, but

628
00:49:35.199 --> 00:49:37.159
a man can do it if he
has to, even though he has been

629
00:49:37.199 --> 00:49:43.440
working like a trojan all day.
Cliff kept moving to work off the sleepiness

630
00:49:43.480 --> 00:49:46.559
whenever he felt it coming on.
I'll have time enough to sleep by and

631
00:49:46.599 --> 00:49:51.920
by, he muttered. He was
thinking grimly enough of how he would be

632
00:49:52.039 --> 00:49:55.079
stalled in the town of Key West
with his prize, waiting for a chance

633
00:49:55.119 --> 00:50:00.400
to get out to the fleet again. The vessel did not attempt to make

634
00:50:00.440 --> 00:50:04.440
more than half speed during the trip, and that against the storm was very

635
00:50:04.480 --> 00:50:08.480
little. But there was no need
to hurry, thought everyone, and so

636
00:50:08.679 --> 00:50:13.800
for some two hours the vessel crept
on, wearily, as it seemed,

637
00:50:14.000 --> 00:50:19.519
and monotonously. The only thing to
vary matters was when some extra high wave

638
00:50:19.559 --> 00:50:23.239
would fling itself over the bow in
a shower of spray. But that was

639
00:50:23.320 --> 00:50:28.119
not a welcome incident, for it
made it harder for the weary sailors to

640
00:50:28.199 --> 00:50:31.599
keep the course straight. The cadet
paced up and down the neck he had

641
00:50:31.599 --> 00:50:36.599
been doing that for perhaps the last
half hour, stopping only to say a

642
00:50:36.679 --> 00:50:39.639
cheery word to the lookouts, and
once to prop up Ignacio, who was

643
00:50:39.719 --> 00:50:46.000
being rolled unceremoniously about the deck.
The cunning spaniard looked so bedraggled and miserable

644
00:50:46.320 --> 00:50:51.360
that Cliff would have felt sorry for
him if he had not known what a

645
00:50:51.440 --> 00:50:54.400
villain he was. He'd stabbed me
again if he got a chance, he

646
00:50:54.519 --> 00:51:00.159
mused, For Cliff had saved that
fellow's life once, but it had not

647
00:51:00.320 --> 00:51:05.320
made the least difference in his vindictive
hatred. I'm afraid, Cliff muttered that

648
00:51:05.360 --> 00:51:09.000
Ignacio will have to suffer this time. The spaniard must have hurt him,

649
00:51:09.039 --> 00:51:14.199
for he muttered an oath under his
breath. It would be wiser if it

650
00:51:14.360 --> 00:51:17.239
was a prayer, said the cadet. Ignacio. You are near the end

651
00:51:17.239 --> 00:51:22.639
of your rope, and you may
as well prepare for your faith. The

652
00:51:22.760 --> 00:51:27.280
man fairly trembled all over with rage
as he glared at his enemy. Such

653
00:51:27.400 --> 00:51:30.000
rage as his was, Cliff was
not used to, and he watched the

654
00:51:30.039 --> 00:51:35.719
man with a feeling of horror.
I don't like Spaniards, was the abrupt

655
00:51:35.800 --> 00:51:42.119
exclamation with which he turned away and
Ignacio gritted his teeth and simply glared at

656
00:51:42.199 --> 00:51:45.559
him, following back and forth his
every move as a cat. Might I

657
00:51:45.719 --> 00:51:50.679
might have a chance. Yet he
hissed under his breath, karamba, if

658
00:51:50.719 --> 00:51:53.840
I only had him by the throat. But Cliff paid no more attention to

659
00:51:53.880 --> 00:51:59.360
the Spaniard. He had other things
to attend to, things to keep him

660
00:51:59.440 --> 00:52:04.639
busy. It was not very long
before that was especially true, for some

661
00:52:04.920 --> 00:52:09.440
interesting immense began to happen. Then
they began so suddenly that there is almost

662
00:52:09.559 --> 00:52:14.760
no way to introduce them. The
first signs of the storm was when it

663
00:52:14.840 --> 00:52:17.760
broke in the blackness of the night, nothing could be seen, and the

664
00:52:17.840 --> 00:52:23.360
vessel was struggling along absolutely without suspicion, and Cliff, as we have said,

665
00:52:23.639 --> 00:52:28.519
was walking up and down, engrossed
in his own thoughts, almost forgetting

666
00:52:28.559 --> 00:52:31.159
that he was in the open sea
where a Spanish warship might chance to be

667
00:52:31.239 --> 00:52:37.000
lurking. And so it was,
literally and actually a thunderbolt from a clear

668
00:52:37.039 --> 00:52:42.440
sky. The blackness of the waters
were suddenly broken by a sharp flash of

669
00:52:42.519 --> 00:52:46.360
light, perhaps two hundred yards off
to starboard, and an instant later came

670
00:52:46.400 --> 00:52:51.960
the loud report of a gun.
The consternation of the Americans. It would

671
00:52:52.000 --> 00:52:57.000
be hard to imagine. They were
simply aghast, and Cliff stood fairly rooted

672
00:52:57.079 --> 00:53:00.480
to the deck. His mind was
in a tumult, but he strove to

673
00:53:00.480 --> 00:53:04.880
think what that startling interruption could mean. They must have fired at us,

674
00:53:04.880 --> 00:53:07.519
he gasped, and if there was
any doubt of that, an instant later

675
00:53:07.559 --> 00:53:13.280
came a second flash. To a
merchantman in wartime, such a signal as

676
00:53:13.320 --> 00:53:19.519
peremptory. It means slow up or
else take the consequences. There were two

677
00:53:19.599 --> 00:53:24.400
possibilities that presented themselves to the commander
of this particular merchant ship. One was

678
00:53:24.440 --> 00:53:30.719
that he had met an American warship, and the other it was far less

679
00:53:30.760 --> 00:53:36.360
probable, but it was possible and
terrible. They might have fallen into the

680
00:53:36.400 --> 00:53:39.840
hands of the enemy. But whatever
was the case, there was nothing for

681
00:53:39.920 --> 00:53:45.159
Cliff to do but obey the signals. He could not run, and he

682
00:53:45.199 --> 00:53:50.920
could not fight. If only I
knew, he thought anxiously, And then

683
00:53:51.079 --> 00:53:54.400
suddenly he learned, for a faint
voice was borne over to him through the

684
00:53:54.440 --> 00:54:00.639
gale. It was a voice that
spoke English. Ahoy. There it rang,

685
00:54:00.199 --> 00:54:05.239
and Cliff roared back with all his
might, ahoy, what ship is

686
00:54:05.320 --> 00:54:08.079
that? And his heart gave a
throb of joy when he heard the United

687
00:54:08.079 --> 00:54:15.039
States cruiser Nashville. Who are you? The Spanish merchantman Maria in charge of

688
00:54:15.039 --> 00:54:19.440
a prize crew from the Unkahs.
Whether all that was heard in the roar

689
00:54:19.480 --> 00:54:22.960
of the storm, Cliff could not
tell, but he put all the power

690
00:54:22.000 --> 00:54:25.760
of his lungs in it. He
knew that the story would be investigated,

691
00:54:27.199 --> 00:54:30.320
and so he was quite prepared when
he heard the response, lay to and

692
00:54:30.400 --> 00:54:35.079
wait for a boarding party. And
quick as he could move, Cliff sprang

693
00:54:35.119 --> 00:54:38.599
to the pilot house and signaled to
stop, and the vessel swung round toward

694
00:54:38.639 --> 00:54:45.000
the stranger. The dime was cast
for good or evil. They had given

695
00:54:45.079 --> 00:54:49.760
up. For perhaps five minutes.
There was an ancient silence upon the vessel.

696
00:54:50.199 --> 00:54:53.679
Everyone was waiting anxiously while the ship
rolled in the trough of the sea

697
00:54:53.760 --> 00:54:59.239
and shook with the crashes of the
waves. Her small crew were picturing in

698
00:54:59.280 --> 00:55:04.039
their minds what was taking place out
there in the darkness, their comrades struggling

699
00:55:04.079 --> 00:55:07.079
to get a small boat out in
that heavy sea. And then they fancied

700
00:55:07.119 --> 00:55:12.800
them buffeting their way across, blinded
by the spray and half swamped by the

701
00:55:12.840 --> 00:55:17.119
heavier waves. They can't be much
longer, muttered Cliff impatiently. Ahoy,

702
00:55:17.199 --> 00:55:22.199
there a ladder. It seemed to
come from the right, underneath the lee

703
00:55:22.239 --> 00:55:25.199
of the merchantmen, and it was
shouted in a loud peremptory tone that was

704
00:55:25.280 --> 00:55:30.199
meant to be obeyed. A moment
later, the rope ladder was flung down.

705
00:55:30.760 --> 00:55:34.280
Cliff peered over the side. When
he dropped it, he could make

706
00:55:34.320 --> 00:55:37.519
out the shape of a boat tossing
about below. He could even distinguish the

707
00:55:37.559 --> 00:55:42.360
figures of the men in the boat, and then he made out a man

708
00:55:42.599 --> 00:55:46.239
was climbing hastily up. He stepped
back to wait for him. He saw

709
00:55:46.320 --> 00:55:52.000
a blue uniform as the officer clambered
up to deck, and then suddenly he

710
00:55:52.119 --> 00:55:57.559
stood erect facing Cliff. The cadet
took one glance at him and gave a

711
00:55:57.559 --> 00:56:01.280
gasp of horror. It was a
spat niche officer, and he held in

712
00:56:01.360 --> 00:56:08.280
one hand a revolver and was aiming
it straight at Cliff's head. End of

713
00:56:08.360 --> 00:56:22.159
chapter five recording by Tom Weiss Tom's
audiobooks dot com. Chapter six of a

714
00:56:22.239 --> 00:56:27.920
Prisoner of Morrow by Upton Sinclair.
This Liberbox recording is in the public domain.

715
00:56:28.440 --> 00:56:35.840
Recording by Tom Weiss, Chapter six
repelling boarders. That had been a

716
00:56:35.840 --> 00:56:40.239
cleverly managed stroke, and it left
the young officer simply paralyzed. All he

717
00:56:40.280 --> 00:56:45.679
could do was to stare into the
muzzle of that weapon. He realized,

718
00:56:45.719 --> 00:56:49.199
of course, in a flash,
how he had been duped, and he

719
00:56:49.480 --> 00:56:52.880
was in a trap. Half days
he looked and saw a Spanish sailor in

720
00:56:52.920 --> 00:56:57.719
the act of lifting himself up to
the deck to join his superior, and

721
00:56:57.880 --> 00:57:01.440
Cliff had no doubt there were half
a dozen others following. There was,

722
00:57:01.480 --> 00:57:06.360
of course, nothing that Cliff could
do. A movement on his part would

723
00:57:06.360 --> 00:57:10.239
have been sheer suicide. He thought
the case was hopeless. He had let

724
00:57:10.320 --> 00:57:15.960
himself be caught napping, But the
cadet had forgotten that there were other Americans

725
00:57:15.960 --> 00:57:21.519
on that vessel besides himself, and
there were no revolvers threatening the others.

726
00:57:22.119 --> 00:57:25.480
The rage of the Yankee tars at
what seemed to them a cowardly and sneaking

727
00:57:25.480 --> 00:57:30.599
way to capture the ship was too
great for them to control. Prudence would

728
00:57:30.639 --> 00:57:34.840
have directed surrender, for the Maria
had not a gun on board, and

729
00:57:34.920 --> 00:57:38.119
the Spaniard might blow her out of
the water, but nobody thought of that.

730
00:57:38.639 --> 00:57:44.000
The same instant, the Spanish officer
presented his weapon and disclosed his real

731
00:57:44.119 --> 00:57:47.719
nationality. There were two sharp cracks
in instant succession from the bow of the

732
00:57:47.760 --> 00:57:53.119
imperiled ship, and the officer staggered
back with a gasp. He dropped his

733
00:57:53.159 --> 00:57:58.519
weapon to the deck, reeled for
an instant, and then vanished over the

734
00:57:58.639 --> 00:58:02.199
side in the darkness. There was
a moment of horror, and then Cliff

735
00:58:02.280 --> 00:58:07.719
heard him strike with a thud on
the small boat below. At the same

736
00:58:07.760 --> 00:58:09.800
time, there was a bright flash
just in front of Cliff, and a

737
00:58:09.880 --> 00:58:15.559
bullet whistled past his ear. The
Spanish sailor, who had only half reached

738
00:58:15.559 --> 00:58:19.360
the deck, had fired at him. By that time, there was no

739
00:58:19.519 --> 00:58:23.280
longer any hesitation as to what course
to pursue. The sailors had decided it

740
00:58:23.480 --> 00:58:30.039
by their fatal shots. It was
resistance to the death, and Cliff whipped

741
00:58:30.039 --> 00:58:34.159
out his own weapons and sent the
sailor tumbling backward to follow his officer.

742
00:58:34.719 --> 00:58:38.360
Then he drew his sword and with
two slashing strokes, severed the ladder from

743
00:58:38.400 --> 00:58:43.079
the yells and confusion that followed.
There must have been quite a number clinging

744
00:58:43.119 --> 00:58:46.960
to the rope. But where they
were or what their fate was, nobody

745
00:58:47.039 --> 00:58:52.440
had any time to learn. Everything
was moving like lightning on the merchantmen.

746
00:58:52.280 --> 00:58:57.960
Cliff leaped into the pilot house and
signaled full speed. There was no further

747
00:58:58.039 --> 00:59:00.679
need of lookouts and sowed. The
two sailors rushed down into the engine room

748
00:59:00.719 --> 00:59:06.199
to see that the order was obeyed. The big vessel started slowly forward.

749
00:59:06.599 --> 00:59:09.159
The cadet sprang to the wheel,
his mind in a wild tumult as he

750
00:59:09.280 --> 00:59:14.599
strove to think what he should do. And if there were not confusion enough

751
00:59:15.039 --> 00:59:19.639
at that instant, there were several
loud reports in quick succession, followed by

752
00:59:19.679 --> 00:59:23.960
deafening crashes as shots tore through the
vessel. The Spaniards had opened fire.

753
00:59:24.519 --> 00:59:28.760
But they'll have to stop and pick
up that boat's crew, gasped Cliff.

754
00:59:29.079 --> 00:59:32.639
We must get away, and that
being the case, every minute was precious.

755
00:59:34.119 --> 00:59:37.199
The vessel had swung round, but
there was no time to turn.

756
00:59:37.519 --> 00:59:40.280
She must run as she was for
a while. And from the way the

757
00:59:40.360 --> 00:59:45.360
vessel trembled and shook, it could
be told that the irate tars down below

758
00:59:45.480 --> 00:59:50.039
were making things hum. They may
burst the boilers if they ken thought Cliff

759
00:59:50.119 --> 00:59:53.760
grimly. The new course they were
taking was south, exactly the opposite of

760
00:59:53.800 --> 00:59:58.400
the way they had been going.
But Cliff did not care about that.

761
00:59:58.920 --> 01:00:02.760
The storm will drive us faster,
he gasped, And every yard counts the

762
01:00:02.840 --> 01:00:07.480
Spanish gunboat. Nobody on the Maria, of course, knew, but what

763
01:00:07.679 --> 01:00:10.519
she was a big cruiser, fired
only about half a dozen shots at her

764
01:00:10.599 --> 01:00:15.039
daring enemy. Then the yells of
the crew of the small boat must have

765
01:00:15.079 --> 01:00:19.480
attracted her attention and forced her to
desist for a moment. And now,

766
01:00:19.519 --> 01:00:22.840
as our chance was the thought of
the Americans, they were making the most

767
01:00:22.880 --> 01:00:27.719
of it. That was certain.
They were fairly flying along with the great

768
01:00:27.760 --> 01:00:30.760
ways. Cliff himself was at the
wheel, seeing that not an inch was

769
01:00:30.840 --> 01:00:36.239
lost by steering wrongly. Will no
soon, he muttered, Very soon,

770
01:00:36.400 --> 01:00:40.039
of course, she'll chase us.
The scene at this time was intensely dramatic,

771
01:00:40.280 --> 01:00:44.760
for the big ship had glided out
into the darkness, and those on

772
01:00:44.840 --> 01:00:49.280
board of her could not see their
pursuer. They had no means of telling

773
01:00:49.400 --> 01:00:52.760
where she was, or whether they
had escaped or not. They could only

774
01:00:52.840 --> 01:00:59.079
keep on listening, anxiously, tremblingly, counting the seconds and waiting, almost

775
01:00:59.199 --> 01:01:02.920
holding their breath. They knew what
the signal would be, the signal of

776
01:01:02.960 --> 01:01:07.920
their failure. If the Spaniards succeeded
in finding them, he would open fire

777
01:01:08.000 --> 01:01:13.559
and soon let them know. Cliff
tried to guess how long it would take

778
01:01:13.599 --> 01:01:17.079
them to pick up the unfortunate occupants
of that small boat. They'll be raging

779
01:01:17.119 --> 01:01:21.480
man when they do, he thought, gory, they'll murder every one of

780
01:01:21.559 --> 01:01:24.639
us, for they would probably call
the shooting of that officer a murderer.

781
01:01:25.000 --> 01:01:30.000
It did not trouble Cliff's conscious,
for he knew that a merchant vessel has

782
01:01:30.000 --> 01:01:34.360
the same right to resist the enemy
that a warship has. It was not

783
01:01:34.440 --> 01:01:38.599
as if they had surrendered and then
imitated the example of the treacherous Ignacio.

784
01:01:39.480 --> 01:01:45.639
I wonder how Ignacio likes this anyhow, thought Cliff. But he had no

785
01:01:45.719 --> 01:01:50.639
time to inquire the spaniards views on
the struggle. Cliff was too busily waiting

786
01:01:50.719 --> 01:01:53.960
and counting the seconds. He did
not think it would be very long before

787
01:01:53.960 --> 01:01:59.960
the enemy ships would be after them
again, And yet several minutes passed before

788
01:02:00.119 --> 01:02:04.880
any sign of the pursuit was given. Cliff began to think that possibly they

789
01:02:04.880 --> 01:02:08.360
had eluded there would be captors,
but his hopes were dashed, for suddenly

790
01:02:08.360 --> 01:02:13.800
there came the dreaded warning shot,
and it was fired from so close that,

791
01:02:13.840 --> 01:02:16.360
though the Americans had been listening for
it, it made them start.

792
01:02:17.000 --> 01:02:21.639
It was evident that the enemy's vessel
had come close to do the business.

793
01:02:22.079 --> 01:02:27.159
Her first shot seemed fairly to tear
the big merchantman to pieces, and Cliff

794
01:02:27.199 --> 01:02:30.679
shut his teeth together with a snap. Wherein for it? Now, he

795
01:02:30.800 --> 01:02:35.320
muttered, that settles it. There
was no longer the last hope of escape.

796
01:02:35.719 --> 01:02:38.559
There was no longer even any use
of keeping on. There were but

797
01:02:38.679 --> 01:02:45.000
two things to be considered, sink
or surrender. There was a grim smile

798
01:02:45.119 --> 01:02:49.199
on the cadet's face as he turned
away from the wheel. Tell the two

799
01:02:49.239 --> 01:02:51.960
men to come up from below,
he said to one of the sailors,

800
01:02:52.519 --> 01:02:55.320
and then he went out on deck, staring in the direction of the pursuing

801
01:02:55.400 --> 01:03:00.400
vessel. There was no difficulty in
telling where she was, for a continuous

802
01:03:00.440 --> 01:03:07.280
flashing of her guns kept her in
view. Cliff was cool, singularly cool,

803
01:03:07.480 --> 01:03:10.679
as he stood in his exposed position. He was no longer anxious,

804
01:03:10.920 --> 01:03:15.320
for he had no longer any hope. There was nothing on board the Maria

805
01:03:15.400 --> 01:03:20.719
that could cope with the enemy's guns. There was only the inevitable to be

806
01:03:20.840 --> 01:03:24.639
faced. The cadet soon guessed the
nature of the pursuer from the way she

807
01:03:24.760 --> 01:03:30.599
behaved. Her guns were all low
down and close together. They were about

808
01:03:30.639 --> 01:03:35.320
three pounders and rapid firing. It's
a gunboat like the Uncas, He muttered,

809
01:03:35.679 --> 01:03:38.679
gory, how I wished the Uncas
would come back. But the Uncas

810
01:03:38.960 --> 01:03:45.199
was then near Havana, far from
any possibility of giving aid, and Cliff

811
01:03:45.360 --> 01:03:50.199
knew it, so he wasted no
time in vain regrets. By that time,

812
01:03:50.239 --> 01:03:53.039
the Spanish vessel had gotten the range
and her three or four guns were

813
01:03:53.079 --> 01:03:59.239
blazing away furiously. The gunboat was
alight with the flames of the quick reports,

814
01:03:59.559 --> 01:04:02.679
and the sound was continuous. They
aren't doing as well as I did,

815
01:04:02.719 --> 01:04:06.920
Cliff said, But still they'll manage
to do the work. And so

816
01:04:08.000 --> 01:04:12.480
it seemed. For shot after shot
crashed through the hull of the already battered

817
01:04:12.519 --> 01:04:16.599
vessel. The Spaniards were mad.
Evidently. There was no hail this time

818
01:04:16.760 --> 01:04:21.519
and proposal to surrender, but only
a calm setting to work to finish that

819
01:04:21.679 --> 01:04:26.719
reckless ship. The sailors came on
deck, and Cliff, when he saw

820
01:04:26.719 --> 01:04:30.599
them, turned and pointed to the
spaniard. There she is. Men look

821
01:04:30.639 --> 01:04:35.039
her over for a moment, nobody
said anything. The little group stood motionless

822
01:04:35.039 --> 01:04:39.400
on the deck. They were in
no great danger, for the firing was

823
01:04:39.440 --> 01:04:45.000
all directed at the hall. Then
suddenly Cliff began again, I guess this

824
01:04:45.159 --> 01:04:48.039
vessel is about done for, he
said, she will be either sunk or

825
01:04:48.199 --> 01:04:53.880
captured. The only question is about
us. What's to become of us?

826
01:04:54.559 --> 01:04:58.559
I leave it to you. None
of the men spoke for a moment.

827
01:04:59.159 --> 01:05:02.239
I suppose Cliff said that we can
manage to let her know we surrender if

828
01:05:02.320 --> 01:05:06.239
we choose, We can scuttle the
ship before we do it. But you

829
01:05:06.360 --> 01:05:12.719
know what we may expect after our
shooting those two men. They'll probably murder

830
01:05:12.800 --> 01:05:16.719
us or do things that are a
thousand times worse. Cliff stopped for a

831
01:05:16.760 --> 01:05:20.519
moment, and then he turned think. For instance, he said, of

832
01:05:20.679 --> 01:05:26.519
being at the mercy of that man. He was pointing toward Ignacio, who

833
01:05:26.599 --> 01:05:30.280
lay near them, glowering in his
hate. And the sailors looked and understood.

834
01:05:31.000 --> 01:05:34.559
It's better to drown, sir,
said one, And the rest thought

835
01:05:34.559 --> 01:05:40.039
so too, and declared it promptly. Very well, then was the cadet's

836
01:05:40.119 --> 01:05:45.880
quiet answer. We will stay on
board. We have faced death before that

837
01:05:45.960 --> 01:05:49.880
resolution made. There was little else
left to be determined. We can sink

838
01:05:49.880 --> 01:05:54.840
the ship, or wait and let
them sink at the cadet said, or

839
01:05:54.880 --> 01:06:00.079
else. There's one thing more.
We are headed in the right direction and

840
01:06:00.199 --> 01:06:03.360
smash her upon the rocks of the
Cuban coast. And the sailors stared at

841
01:06:03.440 --> 01:06:08.400
him for a moment eagerly. And
stand a chance of getting ashore in safety,

842
01:06:08.440 --> 01:06:13.039
they cried, at which the cadet
smiled. I'm afraid there's very little

843
01:06:13.119 --> 01:06:15.840
chance, he said, But it's
as good as anything else. We'll try

844
01:06:15.840 --> 01:06:19.239
it. Yes, sir, you
too, go down to the engine room

845
01:06:19.239 --> 01:06:24.360
again and keep things moving, and
the others stay on deck and make sure

846
01:06:24.400 --> 01:06:28.679
those Spaniards don't try to board us
again. I can handle the wheel myself.

847
01:06:29.360 --> 01:06:32.920
And with that the brave cadet turned
away and sprang toward the pilot house.

848
01:06:33.960 --> 01:06:46.320
And of Chapter six recording by Tom
Weiss Tom's audiobooks dot Com. Chapter

849
01:06:46.440 --> 01:06:53.039
seven of a Prisoner of Morrow by
Upton Sinclair. This LibriVox recording is in

850
01:06:53.079 --> 01:06:59.519
the public domain. Recording by Tom
Weiss, Chapter seven, A desperate chase.

851
01:07:00.920 --> 01:07:04.840
That was a heroic resolution those five
brave men had made, but it

852
01:07:04.960 --> 01:07:10.599
was inevitable, for they did not
mean that either they or that valuable ship

853
01:07:10.639 --> 01:07:15.920
should fall into the hands of the
enemy. And apparently the enemy knew they

854
01:07:15.960 --> 01:07:18.760
did not mean to, for they
kept battering away at the big hulk that

855
01:07:18.880 --> 01:07:25.760
loomed up in the darkness, running
close alongside and firing viciously. Every shot

856
01:07:25.840 --> 01:07:30.760
made a deafening crash as it struck
home. But the Americans did not mind

857
01:07:30.760 --> 01:07:33.719
it, Especially when a man has
made up his mind to die, he

858
01:07:33.840 --> 01:07:39.519
is not afraid of anything. And
the men on deck paced up and down

859
01:07:39.599 --> 01:07:44.639
serenely, and Cliff tugged at the
wheel with a positively light hearted recklessness.

860
01:07:45.519 --> 01:07:48.159
It would have been a cold sort
of person whose spirit did not rise to

861
01:07:48.239 --> 01:07:53.840
such an occasion as that. The
wild night and the furious cannonading, but

862
01:07:53.960 --> 01:07:58.679
above all, the prospect of taking
that huge ship and driving her forward at

863
01:07:58.679 --> 01:08:03.840
full speed until she smashed upon the
rocks with a rather inspiring one. The

864
01:08:03.920 --> 01:08:09.079
reader may have heard about the man
out west who drew an enormous crowd by

865
01:08:09.119 --> 01:08:15.440
advertising an exhibition railroad wreck. Two
empty trains crashing into each other at full

866
01:08:15.519 --> 01:08:19.880
speed. This was a similar case. It does not often happen that a

867
01:08:19.920 --> 01:08:26.640
man has occasion to drive a ship
aground on purpose. The resolution to which

868
01:08:26.680 --> 01:08:30.439
the Americans had come must have been
playing to the unfortunate Spaniards who were tied

869
01:08:30.520 --> 01:08:34.479
up on board the Maria. Their
fright was a terrible one. Anyhow,

870
01:08:35.279 --> 01:08:40.720
Cliff glanced out at them several times. Their presence was the only thing that

871
01:08:40.760 --> 01:08:45.600
made him hesitate to do what he
had resolved for. They haven't done anything,

872
01:08:45.680 --> 01:08:48.279
poor devils, he thought to himself. I wish I knew what to

873
01:08:48.359 --> 01:08:53.479
do with them. But there was
only one thing that could be done.

874
01:08:53.880 --> 01:08:57.319
That was to put them off in
a small boat. And that would be

875
01:08:57.560 --> 01:09:01.479
practically murdering them. They'll have to
stay and take chances with us, muttered

876
01:09:01.479 --> 01:09:05.920
Cliff, as if there were not
noisy enough about that time. Those men

877
01:09:06.039 --> 01:09:12.520
began to raise a terrific outcry,
yelling and shrieking in terror. But nobody

878
01:09:12.560 --> 01:09:16.199
paid any attention to them, except
that the sailors took the trouble to examine

879
01:09:16.239 --> 01:09:20.800
their bonds once more. It would
have been more dangerous to let those desperate

880
01:09:20.840 --> 01:09:26.399
fellows get loose, then, for
the Americans had enemies enough to cope with.

881
01:09:26.680 --> 01:09:31.000
As it was. All this while
the Spanish gunboat had been firing away

882
01:09:31.039 --> 01:09:35.119
with all her might and main.
She would cut across the vessel stern and

883
01:09:35.159 --> 01:09:40.039
sent her shots tearing through the whole
length of the ship. Then she would

884
01:09:40.039 --> 01:09:45.520
come up close alongside and pour a
dozen broad signs in, and nearly all

885
01:09:45.560 --> 01:09:49.800
the shots hit two. It was
evident to those on board that the merchantmen

886
01:09:49.840 --> 01:09:55.399
would not stand very much battering of
that sort. Already one of the sailors

887
01:09:55.399 --> 01:09:59.279
had come up to announce that two
of the firemen had been struck. But

888
01:09:59.439 --> 01:10:03.840
still the he toured desperately onward.
Nobody cared very much how much damage was

889
01:10:03.880 --> 01:10:08.680
done, except that they did not
want the engines to be smashed until the

890
01:10:08.720 --> 01:10:13.199
ship had reached the shore. As
well as Cliff could calculate, roughly,

891
01:10:13.520 --> 01:10:15.640
it ought not to have taken them
an hour to return to the coast,

892
01:10:16.000 --> 01:10:19.920
for they had to storm to aid
them. That they could hold out that

893
01:10:20.039 --> 01:10:26.159
long under the unceasing fire, he
did not believe. But the Spaniards may

894
01:10:26.239 --> 01:10:30.760
use up all their ammunition, he
thought to himself. That was a possibility,

895
01:10:30.199 --> 01:10:34.079
for he knew that the supply in
the possession of Spain was a small

896
01:10:34.079 --> 01:10:39.279
one, and the actual course of
events made him think that his surmise was

897
01:10:39.359 --> 01:10:44.640
true. The desperate chase kept up
for perhaps half an hour, and then,

898
01:10:44.920 --> 01:10:49.399
unaccountably, the spaniards fire began to
slacken. Cliff could hardly believe his

899
01:10:49.479 --> 01:10:53.800
ears when he heard it. What
can it mean, he gasped. But

900
01:10:53.920 --> 01:10:58.960
a moment later his surprise was made
still greater, for one of the sailors

901
01:10:58.960 --> 01:11:01.520
bounded into the pie house. She's
giving up, sir, he cried,

902
01:11:01.920 --> 01:11:05.760
giving up, Yes, sir,
How in the world do you mean she

903
01:11:06.000 --> 01:11:11.920
stopped firing, sir? And what's
more, she's dropping behind. Cliff stared

904
01:11:11.960 --> 01:11:15.640
at the man in amazement, dropping
behind, and then suddenly he sprang out

905
01:11:15.680 --> 01:11:18.800
to the deck. Take the wheel
a moment, he cried to the sailor,

906
01:11:19.319 --> 01:11:24.720
and he himself bounded down the deck
toward the stern. He stared out

907
01:11:24.760 --> 01:11:28.600
over the rail and clinging to it
tightly to prevent himself from being flung off

908
01:11:28.600 --> 01:11:32.319
his feet. He found that what
the sailor had said was literally true.

909
01:11:32.800 --> 01:11:38.479
The spaniard was now firing only an
occasional shot, and she was at least

910
01:11:38.479 --> 01:11:43.239
a hundred yards behind. What that
could mean, Cliff had not the faintest

911
01:11:43.319 --> 01:11:46.479
idea. Could it be that her
engines had met with an accident, or

912
01:11:46.520 --> 01:11:51.840
that she fancied the Merchantman was sinking. The cadet glazed down into the surging

913
01:11:51.880 --> 01:11:56.600
water below him. He could see
the white track of the big steamer and

914
01:11:56.760 --> 01:12:00.279
knew that she was fairly flying along. He took one more glance in the

915
01:12:00.319 --> 01:12:06.359
direction of the now invisible spaniard.
The firing had ceased altogether, and like

916
01:12:06.439 --> 01:12:11.239
a flash, the thought occurred to
Cliff that whatever the reason for the strange

917
01:12:11.239 --> 01:12:15.199
act might be, now was the
time to save the Merchantman. We could

918
01:12:15.239 --> 01:12:18.439
turn off to one side, he
gasped, and lose her, and with

919
01:12:18.520 --> 01:12:23.520
a bound he started for the pilot
house hard aport, he shouted to the

920
01:12:23.520 --> 01:12:27.119
man at the wheel, but before
the man had a chance to obey,

921
01:12:27.520 --> 01:12:31.359
Cliff chanced to glance out ahead into
the darkness toward which the vessel was blindly

922
01:12:31.439 --> 01:12:35.800
rushing, and the cadet staggered back
with a gasp. A light, he

923
01:12:35.880 --> 01:12:40.800
cried, A light, Yes,
there was a dim, flickering point of

924
01:12:40.880 --> 01:12:45.319
light directly in front of them.
Where it came from, Cliff could not

925
01:12:45.479 --> 01:12:50.039
tell, but He realized the significance
in an instant. At the same time,

926
01:12:50.079 --> 01:12:54.880
there was another sound that broke upon
his ear and confirmed the guests.

927
01:12:55.479 --> 01:12:59.560
It was a dull, booming roar. The man at the wheel heard it

928
01:12:59.600 --> 01:13:03.159
too. It's breakers, sir,
he shouted, Breakers ahead. They were

929
01:13:03.239 --> 01:13:09.399
nearing the land, and then the
significance of the Spaniards act became only too

930
01:13:09.479 --> 01:13:13.520
apparent. The men who were running
her had seen the light, and they

931
01:13:13.560 --> 01:13:17.359
had no idea of being led to
destruction by their eagerness to follow that reckless

932
01:13:17.359 --> 01:13:24.560
merchantman, and so they were slowing
up and keeping off the shore. There

933
01:13:24.640 --> 01:13:28.600
was a faint hope in that the
Maria might be able to steal away if

934
01:13:28.600 --> 01:13:32.159
she were quick enough and turning.
Cliff's order had been obeyed by the sailor

935
01:13:32.239 --> 01:13:35.439
the instant he heard it. Cliffs
sprang in to help him, and they

936
01:13:35.439 --> 01:13:41.119
whirled the wheel around with all their
might, but alas they were too late.

937
01:13:41.800 --> 01:13:45.039
When a steamer waits until she hears
breakers in a storm like that,

938
01:13:45.720 --> 01:13:48.000
it is all up for her,
for she must be near the shore.

939
01:13:48.119 --> 01:13:54.760
Indeed, and plunging. As the
Maria was urged on by wind and waves

940
01:13:54.800 --> 01:14:00.399
and her own powerful engines, it
was but an instant before the crisis came.

941
01:14:00.399 --> 01:14:03.920
Cliff had half braced himself for the
shock, but when it came,

942
01:14:04.000 --> 01:14:08.800
it was far greater than he had
expected. There was a crash that was

943
01:14:08.840 --> 01:14:13.520
simply deafening. The huge ship plunged
into the rocky shore with a force that

944
01:14:13.600 --> 01:14:16.960
almost indoubled her up and made her
shake from stem to stern. And she

945
01:14:17.079 --> 01:14:21.760
stopped so abruptly that Cliff was flung
through the window of the pilot house.

946
01:14:23.399 --> 01:14:30.640
The deed was done and of chapter
seven recording by Tom Weiss Tom's audiobooks dot

947
01:14:30.640 --> 01:14:43.199
com. Chapter eight of a Prisoner
of Marrow by Upton Sinclair. This LibriVox

948
01:14:43.239 --> 01:14:47.800
recording is in the public domain.
Recording by Tom Weiss, Chapter eight,

949
01:14:48.399 --> 01:14:54.760
A dash for the Shore. Strange
to say, Cliff was not much excited

950
01:14:54.800 --> 01:14:58.760
at the terrific moment. The peril
was so great that he was quite gay

951
01:14:58.760 --> 01:15:02.239
as he faced it. He had
risen to the occasion. He picked himself

952
01:15:02.319 --> 01:15:06.239
up and stepped out to the deck. There he found a scene of confusion

953
01:15:06.439 --> 01:15:11.880
indescribable. Above the noise of the
breakers on the shore and the waves that

954
01:15:11.920 --> 01:15:15.640
were flinging themselves against the exposed side
of the ship. Rang the wild shrieks

955
01:15:15.640 --> 01:15:21.319
and cries of the terrified Spanish prisoners. The vessel, after she had struck,

956
01:15:21.319 --> 01:15:26.960
had been flung around and was being
turned farther over every minute. The

957
01:15:27.079 --> 01:15:31.199
violence of the storm that was struggling
with her was quite inconceivable. The waves

958
01:15:31.199 --> 01:15:36.000
were pouring over her in great masses, sweeping everything before them, and the

959
01:15:36.039 --> 01:15:42.000
spray was leaping so high, and
the flying storm clouds driving past so low

960
01:15:42.359 --> 01:15:45.039
that there was no telling where the
surface of the sea ended and the air

961
01:15:45.119 --> 01:15:49.800
began. The big ship had landed
among rocks, and every wave was lifting

962
01:15:49.840 --> 01:15:54.880
her up and flinging her down upon
them, with dull, grinding crashes that

963
01:15:55.000 --> 01:15:59.319
could be both heard and felt.
A moment after she struck, a man

964
01:15:59.479 --> 01:16:02.119
came down up the ladder to the
deck. It was one of the sailors,

965
01:16:02.239 --> 01:16:08.079
and behind were the terrified firemen.
She's leaking in a dozen places,

966
01:16:08.239 --> 01:16:12.199
the man shouted. He clung to
railing as he spoke, and a great

967
01:16:12.239 --> 01:16:15.319
wave half drowned him, but he
managed to salute, and Cliff saw a

968
01:16:15.319 --> 01:16:19.680
look of wild delight on his face, one that just corresponded with his own

969
01:16:19.840 --> 01:16:24.399
eager mood. She'll split in about
half a minute, I fancy, the

970
01:16:24.399 --> 01:16:28.720
cadet answered, and the Spaniards are
welcome to what's left. We've done our

971
01:16:28.800 --> 01:16:31.520
duty. And with that he turned
to the pilot house, where the rest

972
01:16:31.520 --> 01:16:35.560
of the men were grouped. They
were gazing at him eagerly. Are you

973
01:16:35.680 --> 01:16:41.640
ready, boys, Cliff shouted.
Everyone knew what he meant by ready,

974
01:16:41.760 --> 01:16:45.039
Ready to make the wild attempt to
land and reach the shore through all those

975
01:16:45.119 --> 01:16:49.840
wildly surging breakers. The very thought
of it was enough to stir one's blood,

976
01:16:50.439 --> 01:16:55.680
and the answer came with a vengeance. Aye aye, sir. Then

977
01:16:55.800 --> 01:16:59.319
get out one of the boats,
shouted Cliff. As he saw the men

978
01:16:59.399 --> 01:17:02.640
struggling forward to reach the nearest rowboat, he turned suddenly on his heel.

979
01:17:03.239 --> 01:17:08.680
He had something else to attend to
for a moment. It was an errand

980
01:17:08.720 --> 01:17:13.319
of mercy. Those shrieking wretches were
all bound to the railing of the doomed

981
01:17:13.359 --> 01:17:16.279
ship, and Cliff would never have
forgiven himself if he had left them there.

982
01:17:16.880 --> 01:17:21.000
Their faces would have haunted him,
and he drew his sword and set

983
01:17:21.159 --> 01:17:25.840
swiftly to work. He cut the
captain loose and put a knife into his

984
01:17:25.920 --> 01:17:30.279
hand. Get to work, he
cried, Get to work. Cliff took

985
01:17:30.279 --> 01:17:32.760
the risk of trusting the man,
and went on leaving him with the weapon.

986
01:17:33.319 --> 01:17:39.039
The cadet believed that he would be
grateful for his release, and besides,

987
01:17:39.159 --> 01:17:44.399
they were fellow sufferers then threatened with
the same peril, and Cliff was

988
01:17:44.479 --> 01:17:48.560
not mistaken. The man set hastily
to work releasing his comrades, and in

989
01:17:48.640 --> 01:17:53.439
less time than it takes to tell
it, the terrified men were huddled together

990
01:17:53.600 --> 01:17:58.399
on the deck. The cadet wasted
no more time upon them. There are

991
01:17:58.439 --> 01:18:02.279
three boats left for you, cried, save yourselves, and with that he

992
01:18:02.319 --> 01:18:05.800
turned and made his way down to
where his own men were struggling with one

993
01:18:05.840 --> 01:18:10.199
of the small boats. There was
one other thing, which, in the

994
01:18:10.239 --> 01:18:14.920
wild confusion of that moment, Cliff
managed to remember, needed to be attended

995
01:18:14.960 --> 01:18:19.960
to. There was Ignacio. The
treacherous Spaniard had nearly been swept off,

996
01:18:20.279 --> 01:18:24.680
and he was half drowned by the
floods of water that poured over the deck,

997
01:18:25.359 --> 01:18:28.760
But his hatred of the Americans was
too great for him to shout to

998
01:18:28.800 --> 01:18:32.359
them for aid. What to do
with that murderous villain was a problem that

999
01:18:32.439 --> 01:18:38.760
worried Cliff. Undoubtedly the wisest thing
would be to kill him. Then and

1000
01:18:38.840 --> 01:18:44.279
there death was the fate he certainly
deserved, and Cliff half drew his sword,

1001
01:18:44.439 --> 01:18:47.399
but it was no use. He
could not bring himself to do such

1002
01:18:47.439 --> 01:18:53.119
an act, and he flung the
weapon back into the scabbard. To attempt

1003
01:18:53.159 --> 01:18:57.840
to carry him away was equally useless. The Americans did not expect to reach

1004
01:18:57.840 --> 01:19:01.039
the shore themselves, how lead them
to his fate. Cliff muttered, the

1005
01:19:01.159 --> 01:19:05.760
Spaniards may help him if they choose, and with that he turned toward the

1006
01:19:05.800 --> 01:19:11.560
sailors again. The men had by
that time nearly succeeded in getting the boat

1007
01:19:11.560 --> 01:19:15.520
away. They were working like trojans. Every wave that struck the ship helped

1008
01:19:15.520 --> 01:19:19.680
to fill the boat. Even before
it touched the water. The spray poured

1009
01:19:19.720 --> 01:19:24.319
down over the slanting deck upon it, and the sailors had to empty it

1010
01:19:24.399 --> 01:19:28.960
several times while they were wrestling.
Thus, the wind and water and rocks

1011
01:19:28.960 --> 01:19:32.199
had been getting in their work upon
the doomed vessel. Lower and lower she

1012
01:19:32.279 --> 01:19:38.479
sank, harder and harder she pounded, and then suddenly a great billow heaved

1013
01:19:38.520 --> 01:19:42.720
itself with a thud against the bow
and fairly hammered it around. One of

1014
01:19:42.800 --> 01:19:47.239
the sailors gave a yell, she
split, and sure enough a great seam

1015
01:19:47.279 --> 01:19:51.479
had opened amidships, and the water
surged in with a roar. The vessel

1016
01:19:51.560 --> 01:19:57.600
seemed fairly falling to pieces, and
such being the case, the sailors had

1017
01:19:57.640 --> 01:20:01.079
no time to delay. The frail
oat was lowered into the seething waters.

1018
01:20:01.359 --> 01:20:05.479
The men tumbled in and seized the
oars. Cliff made a wild leap and

1019
01:20:05.520 --> 01:20:11.119
caught the stern just as one mighty
wave raced by and whirled the boat away

1020
01:20:11.159 --> 01:20:15.479
from the vessel, and in one
instant it was lost to sight and sound.

1021
01:20:15.159 --> 01:20:18.159
What was done by the Spaniards.
No one could see a thing.

1022
01:20:18.760 --> 01:20:24.479
The Americans were fighting for their own
lives. There was but one thing for

1023
01:20:24.520 --> 01:20:28.000
them to do. Pup for the
shore. Sailors pull for the shore,

1024
01:20:28.600 --> 01:20:32.039
and the great sweeping breakers to aid
them. In fact, they were flung

1025
01:20:32.079 --> 01:20:36.760
in so fast that they could hardly
row. It was a thrilling struggle that

1026
01:20:36.920 --> 01:20:42.279
race with the giant waves. The
sailors struggled with all their might keeping the

1027
01:20:42.359 --> 01:20:45.199
frail craft straight, and Cliff,
with a bucket he had thought to bring,

1028
01:20:45.560 --> 01:20:51.439
was bailing frantically and shouting to encourage
the men in. They swept nearer

1029
01:20:51.479 --> 01:20:56.439
with the speed of a whirlwind toward
the shore. If its rocks, Heaven

1030
01:20:56.479 --> 01:21:00.960
help us, Cliff gas it seemed
an age to him that brief struggle.

1031
01:21:00.600 --> 01:21:05.439
Breathless and eager, he watched the
great whitecaps breaking, smiting against the stern,

1032
01:21:05.840 --> 01:21:10.319
struggling to turn that boat but a
few inches so that they might catch

1033
01:21:10.359 --> 01:21:14.279
it on the side and fling it
over. And meanwhile the wind and waves

1034
01:21:14.279 --> 01:21:18.119
and oars, all helping on,
swept the boat bounding over the foamy crests,

1035
01:21:18.479 --> 01:21:23.560
sinking into the great hollows, leaping
and straining, but still shooting on

1036
01:21:23.800 --> 01:21:28.000
in the darkness, And every second
was precious, for the shore was not

1037
01:21:28.159 --> 01:21:32.159
far away. The roar of the
surf grew louder louder, almost upon them.

1038
01:21:32.680 --> 01:21:39.159
And then suddenly one great seething billow
came rushing up behind. Cliff saw

1039
01:21:39.199 --> 01:21:43.079
it and shouted to the men.
In a second more, its white crest

1040
01:21:43.239 --> 01:21:46.720
towered over them. It was just
on the point of breaking in a giant

1041
01:21:46.760 --> 01:21:51.399
cataract of foam. It would have
buried the little boat and its occupants beneath

1042
01:21:51.399 --> 01:21:56.920
the tons of foaming water, but
it was just a second too late.

1043
01:21:57.399 --> 01:22:00.760
The little boat's stern shot up from
moment it was almost on end, and

1044
01:22:00.800 --> 01:22:03.800
then it rose to the top of
the wave, and a moment later,

1045
01:22:03.840 --> 01:22:09.199
as the crash came and the sweet
end toward shore began, the frail craft

1046
01:22:09.319 --> 01:22:13.840
was flung forward as if from a
catapult, and in its shot was speed

1047
01:22:13.880 --> 01:22:18.199
that simply dazed the Americans. But
it was toward shore. Towards shore,

1048
01:22:18.960 --> 01:22:24.399
they had passed the breakers, and
Cliff gave a gasp of delight as he

1049
01:22:24.439 --> 01:22:28.640
felt the wild leap forward. It
seemed but a second more before the rush

1050
01:22:28.760 --> 01:22:31.920
ended. The bow of the rowboat
struck, and the frail object was whirled

1051
01:22:32.000 --> 01:22:36.279
round and flung over, its occupants, being fairly hurled into the air.

1052
01:22:36.920 --> 01:22:41.520
When they struck the water, it
was defining themselves within a few feet of

1053
01:22:41.600 --> 01:22:45.119
dry land. They staggered to a
standing position to find that they were in

1054
01:22:45.239 --> 01:22:49.880
water only up to their waists,
and the great wave was tugging them out

1055
01:22:49.920 --> 01:22:55.159
to sea again. They struggled forward, wildly, clutching at each other.

1056
01:22:55.520 --> 01:23:00.239
A minute later, breathless, exhausted
and half drowned, but wild with joy,

1057
01:23:00.760 --> 01:23:04.199
they staggered out upon a sandy beach
and sank down to gasp for breath.

1058
01:23:04.720 --> 01:23:11.359
Were safe, panted, Cliff safe, safe, and on the island

1059
01:23:11.399 --> 01:23:15.800
of Cuba, the stronghold of their
deadly enemies. End of chapter eight.

1060
01:23:16.279 --> 01:23:28.960
Recording by Tom Weiss, Tom's Audiobooks
dot Com. Chapter nine of a Prisoner

1061
01:23:29.000 --> 01:23:33.159
of Morrow by Upton Sinclair. This
LibriVox recording is in the public domain.

1062
01:23:33.640 --> 01:23:41.079
Recording by Tom Weiss, Chapter nine, The Enemy's Country. It must have

1063
01:23:41.159 --> 01:23:45.199
been at least five minutes before those
exhausted men moved again. When at last

1064
01:23:45.199 --> 01:23:49.079
they managed to rise to their feet, it was defined themselves in the midst

1065
01:23:49.079 --> 01:23:54.359
of absolute darkness, with a wild
sea on one side of them, and

1066
01:23:54.479 --> 01:23:58.800
on the other. No one knew
what The faint point of light which they

1067
01:23:58.840 --> 01:24:01.960
had seen had now disappeared, But
they took it to mean that there were

1068
01:24:02.119 --> 01:24:06.600
Spaniards in the neighborhood, and they
did not fail to recognize the peril in

1069
01:24:06.640 --> 01:24:11.399
which they were. The firing had
probably been heard, and the wreck of

1070
01:24:11.439 --> 01:24:15.399
the merchantmen scene. If so,
the Americans could not be in a much

1071
01:24:15.479 --> 01:24:19.800
worse place. We may be right
in front of a battery, whispered Cliff.

1072
01:24:20.439 --> 01:24:25.239
The first thing the sailors did was
to see to their revolvers and cutlasses,

1073
01:24:25.680 --> 01:24:30.520
and after that they started silently down
the shore We won't try to go

1074
01:24:30.640 --> 01:24:33.560
far, Cliff said, but we
must find a hiding place. But in

1075
01:24:33.600 --> 01:24:39.039
that darkness to hiding places were themselves
hidden. The best the Americans could do

1076
01:24:39.199 --> 01:24:43.039
was to stumble down the shore for
a hundred yards or so, being careful

1077
01:24:43.079 --> 01:24:46.039
to walk where the waves would wash
out their footprints. Then they were a

1078
01:24:46.079 --> 01:24:50.399
short distance from the wreck, and
felt a trifle safer. We may as

1079
01:24:50.399 --> 01:24:55.319
well strike back in the country now, said the leader, at least until

1080
01:24:55.359 --> 01:24:59.720
we can find some bushes or something
to conceal us. That was a rather

1081
01:24:59.760 --> 01:25:03.600
more ticklish task, and the men
crouched and stole along in silence. They

1082
01:25:03.640 --> 01:25:09.399
had no idea what they might need. It was fortunate for them that they

1083
01:25:09.439 --> 01:25:14.119
were quiet, otherwise they would have
gotten into very serious trouble. Indeed,

1084
01:25:14.720 --> 01:25:17.680
they stoled up the sandy beach a
short ways, feeling their way along and

1085
01:25:17.760 --> 01:25:23.079
getting further and further away from the
sea. They were struggling through soft,

1086
01:25:23.279 --> 01:25:28.000
dry sand, and then suddenly Cliff, who was in front, saw something

1087
01:25:28.039 --> 01:25:30.960
loom up before him, a dark
line, and he put out his hand

1088
01:25:31.000 --> 01:25:35.159
to touch it. He found that
the sand rose gradually into a sort of

1089
01:25:35.239 --> 01:25:40.079
drift or bank. It was high
and seemed to reach for some distance.

1090
01:25:40.640 --> 01:25:45.680
The sailors stopped abruptly, and Cliff
crept slowly forward, feeling along with his

1091
01:25:45.800 --> 01:25:49.359
hands. Suddenly the men heard him
mutter a startled exclamation under his breath.

1092
01:25:49.840 --> 01:25:54.720
Men, he whispered, were in
a terrible fix. I ran into a

1093
01:25:54.760 --> 01:25:59.520
gun, A gun, yes,
a big one. We've struck a Spanish

1094
01:25:59.560 --> 01:26:03.039
battery, and we must be near
some town. The sailors stared at him

1095
01:26:03.039 --> 01:26:08.960
aghast, and then suddenly came a
startling interruption, one that fairly made their

1096
01:26:09.000 --> 01:26:13.279
blood grow chilled. Who goes there? It was a loud, stern hail

1097
01:26:13.399 --> 01:26:17.199
in Spanish, and it seemed to
come from almost beside them. Quick as

1098
01:26:17.199 --> 01:26:21.239
a flash, the Americans dropped,
crouching close together in the darkness. They

1099
01:26:21.279 --> 01:26:26.880
could hear the beating of each other's
hearts. There were several moments of wagonizing

1100
01:26:26.920 --> 01:26:31.279
suspense. The Spaniard who had shouted
out was evidently awaiting a reply, and

1101
01:26:31.399 --> 01:26:36.319
then suddenly he repeated his challenge,
who goes there? And a moment later

1102
01:26:36.399 --> 01:26:41.399
came a sound of hurrying footsteps.
What's the matter? Cliff heard a voice

1103
01:26:41.479 --> 01:26:45.880
demand. He was the only one
in the party who understood Spanish and knew

1104
01:26:45.920 --> 01:26:48.079
what was said, but it was
plain to the rest that it was a

1105
01:26:48.159 --> 01:26:54.159
conversation between a sentry and an officer. I heard a footstep, signor capitan,

1106
01:26:54.560 --> 01:26:58.800
cried the man Qui data, take
care, it's very near. There

1107
01:26:58.880 --> 01:27:01.640
was a moment's pause. You must
be mistaken, said the officer. I

1108
01:27:01.720 --> 01:27:05.960
am not mistaken, repeated the man
firmly. Santa Maria, My ears do

1109
01:27:06.079 --> 01:27:10.840
not deceive me. You said to
be watchful, for you have heard firing.

1110
01:27:11.640 --> 01:27:15.239
To that. The Americans had listened
in trembling silence, but the next

1111
01:27:15.279 --> 01:27:18.119
made them jump. I will light
this lantern, said the officer, and

1112
01:27:18.199 --> 01:27:21.640
the instant they heard it, Cliff
rose silently to his feet. The men

1113
01:27:21.720 --> 01:27:28.039
did likewise, and began to creep
softly off to one side. But careful

1114
01:27:28.079 --> 01:27:30.399
as they were, they could not
help the grinding sound of their footsteps in

1115
01:27:30.439 --> 01:27:34.279
the sand, and it caught the
quick ear of the Spaniard. Hear it.

1116
01:27:34.359 --> 01:27:39.680
He cried, corde us again.
Somebody is stealing upon us, And

1117
01:27:39.800 --> 01:27:43.520
an instant later the air was rent
by a sharp crack of a rifle the

1118
01:27:43.680 --> 01:27:47.800
sentry had fired. There was wild
confusion at once, and the unfortunate castaways

1119
01:27:47.840 --> 01:27:53.479
were aghast. For an instant Cliff
thought of charging the battery with four men,

1120
01:27:54.000 --> 01:27:58.319
but he realized the folly of that
quickie cried, let us hide forward.

1121
01:27:59.079 --> 01:28:02.279
Lights were flashing and men shouting and
running about behind the sand wall just

1122
01:28:02.359 --> 01:28:06.600
in front of them, but the
sailors were still unseen. They broke into

1123
01:28:06.640 --> 01:28:12.319
a run and fairly flew down the
shore. They fancied the whole Spanish company

1124
01:28:12.399 --> 01:28:15.199
was at their heels, but after
they had run for some distance, they

1125
01:28:15.239 --> 01:28:19.399
found that they had not been pursued, for the enemy were so taken by

1126
01:28:19.439 --> 01:28:25.000
surprise at the sudden alarm that they
were, if possible, more frightened than

1127
01:28:25.039 --> 01:28:29.840
the Americans. And so the men
stopped for breath. They stared at each

1128
01:28:29.840 --> 01:28:32.720
other, as if hardly able to
realize the peril into which they had so

1129
01:28:32.800 --> 01:28:38.239
suddenly been plunged. I think that
was the quickest adventure I ever had in

1130
01:28:38.319 --> 01:28:42.399
my life, muttered Cliff. The
suddenness of it made him laugh. They

1131
01:28:42.439 --> 01:28:46.319
had almost walked into a Spanish court. But it was no laughing matter,

1132
01:28:46.479 --> 01:28:51.039
certainly, it was a confounded piece
of ill luck. For they'll be watching

1133
01:28:51.039 --> 01:28:56.079
for us now, muttered Cliff.
I'm afraid that will settle us. They'll

1134
01:28:56.119 --> 01:29:00.039
follow our footsteps exclaimed one of the
sailors. That was so, and it

1135
01:29:00.159 --> 01:29:04.600
was an unpleasant prospect. It was
plain that if the Americans wished to find

1136
01:29:04.640 --> 01:29:10.720
any safety, they must get some
distance away from that battery. Will make

1137
01:29:10.800 --> 01:29:15.159
one more effort to get back into
the country, muttered Cliff at amid silence

1138
01:29:15.199 --> 01:29:19.600
and anxious suspense. They once more
started up the sloping seashore. They crept

1139
01:29:19.600 --> 01:29:24.800
along, as it seemed, by
inches, but fortunately they did not run

1140
01:29:24.800 --> 01:29:29.359
across any more guns. When they
came across an embankment, it was of

1141
01:29:29.399 --> 01:29:32.640
solid earth and marked the end of
the beach, and there were some trees

1142
01:29:32.680 --> 01:29:38.159
and bushes there. So the Americans
began to feel more comfortable. For all

1143
01:29:38.239 --> 01:29:41.159
they knew, they might, in
the darkness, have been strolling into a

1144
01:29:41.239 --> 01:29:45.800
town, but they were apparently out
in the open country. There seemed to

1145
01:29:45.840 --> 01:29:50.159
be no people and no houses near, so they started boldly forward. It

1146
01:29:50.199 --> 01:29:55.399
was then late at night, a
dark and damp and windy night, so

1147
01:29:55.520 --> 01:30:00.159
they were not likely to find many
people wandering about. What we want to

1148
01:30:00.199 --> 01:30:02.920
do, Cliff said, is to
get back in the country awhile, where

1149
01:30:02.960 --> 01:30:06.920
we can hide until morning. Then
if we can find some Cubans, will

1150
01:30:08.000 --> 01:30:12.479
be all right. Cliff was about
tired to death. He had done far

1151
01:30:12.640 --> 01:30:15.840
more work that day than any of
those sailors, but there was no time

1152
01:30:15.920 --> 01:30:20.319
for resting them. He gritted his
teeth and started. They took their bearings

1153
01:30:20.319 --> 01:30:25.079
from the sea, and then went
straight on, watching and listening carefully,

1154
01:30:25.479 --> 01:30:30.800
but meeting with no trouble at first. Their walk led through what had evidently

1155
01:30:30.960 --> 01:30:34.479
once been a cultivated country, for
it was leveled and had but a few

1156
01:30:34.520 --> 01:30:40.119
trees upon it. At present,
however, it was overgrown with weaves.

1157
01:30:40.279 --> 01:30:44.159
Once they almost ran into a house, which it may readily be believed,

1158
01:30:44.199 --> 01:30:47.680
gave them a start. It was
creepy business, anyhow, this stumbling along

1159
01:30:47.760 --> 01:30:53.479
through the enemy's country without being able
to see ten yards in front. But

1160
01:30:53.600 --> 01:30:57.760
the house seemed to be empty.
In fact, it could hardly be called

1161
01:30:57.760 --> 01:31:01.640
a house anymore, for it was
half turned down. The Americans thought that

1162
01:31:01.760 --> 01:31:05.560
it was empty, for Cliff had
stumbled and fallen with a crash over a

1163
01:31:05.640 --> 01:31:10.319
pile of dry sticks and rubbish.
But when he rose to his feet to

1164
01:31:10.359 --> 01:31:14.720
listen anxiously, there was no movement
or sign that anybody had heard him.

1165
01:31:14.800 --> 01:31:18.359
It probably belonged to some of the
reconcentrados. He muttered. He was about

1166
01:31:18.359 --> 01:31:23.960
to turn and give the word to
proceed. Then suddenly a new idea occurred

1167
01:31:23.960 --> 01:31:28.119
to him, and he gave a
pleased exclamation. This is lucky, he

1168
01:31:28.159 --> 01:31:31.399
whispered, men, what is the
matter with hiding there? That was a

1169
01:31:31.520 --> 01:31:35.960
rather startling proposition, for they could
not be at all sure but someone lived

1170
01:31:35.960 --> 01:31:40.680
there, after all, But Cliff
had come several miles by that time,

1171
01:31:40.920 --> 01:31:45.319
and he was disposed to be a
trifle desperate. A person can get so

1172
01:31:45.439 --> 01:31:49.119
tired that he will be anxious to
enter even a Spanish dungeon, in order

1173
01:31:49.159 --> 01:31:53.680
to get a chance to rest.
We will search the house, he said.

1174
01:31:54.039 --> 01:31:57.399
If we find anybody, will hold
them up and make them prisoners.

1175
01:31:57.760 --> 01:32:00.720
And if we do, we'll spend
the night there. And then, without

1176
01:32:00.760 --> 01:32:05.840
another word, he started silently forward. The sailors were right behind him.

1177
01:32:06.600 --> 01:32:11.199
What was evidently the front of the
house was the part that had been burned.

1178
01:32:11.800 --> 01:32:15.560
Cliff picked his way over the ruins
and into the rear, where there

1179
01:32:15.600 --> 01:32:18.239
was a roof still remaining. There
was a door there, half shut.

1180
01:32:18.760 --> 01:32:24.439
One may readily believe that in pushing
it open, Cliff was rather nervous,

1181
01:32:25.039 --> 01:32:29.239
But nothing occurred to startle him,
and so they went forward once more.

1182
01:32:29.760 --> 01:32:33.920
The place about him seemed deserted.
Then suddenly Cliff did a startling thing.

1183
01:32:34.640 --> 01:32:41.039
He took a deep breath and called
aloud anybody here? And then for at

1184
01:32:41.119 --> 01:32:45.039
least a minute or two the little
party stood waiting in silence, but no

1185
01:32:45.159 --> 01:32:48.840
answer was heard. I guess it's
deserted, Cliff said, Scatter and search

1186
01:32:48.880 --> 01:32:54.880
it thoroughly, and that was quickly
done. To their relief, the Americans

1187
01:32:54.920 --> 01:32:58.800
found that the place was not inhabited, and that there was no one near.

1188
01:32:59.600 --> 01:33:02.640
That made sure. It may be
believed that they wasted no more time

1189
01:33:02.760 --> 01:33:06.720
in delay. I don't think it
will be necessary for us to keep watche,

1190
01:33:06.720 --> 01:33:12.680
said, our safety lies in our
hiding. They made their way into

1191
01:33:12.760 --> 01:33:15.359
one of the smaller rooms of the
little building, one which had a key

1192
01:33:15.439 --> 01:33:19.880
to the door, and having secured
themselves as best they could from danger of

1193
01:33:19.920 --> 01:33:28.279
discovery, the wearied men sank down
upon the floor and of Chapter nine recording

1194
01:33:28.319 --> 01:33:39.920
by Tom Weis Tom's audiobooks dot Com. Chapter ten of a Prisoner of Morrow

1195
01:33:40.000 --> 01:33:45.880
by Upton Sinclair. This LibriVox recording
is in the public domain. Recording by

1196
01:33:45.039 --> 01:33:53.199
Tom Weiss, Chapter ten A startling
discovery. It may seem strange that they

1197
01:33:53.199 --> 01:33:57.359
were able to sleep in the perilous
situation they were in. But they were

1198
01:33:57.359 --> 01:34:00.399
men who were used to holding their
lives in their hands. Ends They said

1199
01:34:00.479 --> 01:34:04.680
that Napoleon could take a nap during
a lull in battle while he was waiting

1200
01:34:04.720 --> 01:34:09.880
for his reserves to be brought up. The men were cold and damp,

1201
01:34:09.920 --> 01:34:13.760
of course, but it was impossible
for them to light a fire, even

1202
01:34:13.800 --> 01:34:17.199
had they dared to take such a
risk. But the darkness was their principal

1203
01:34:17.279 --> 01:34:21.880
shield. But all the colds in
the world could not have kept Cliff awake.

1204
01:34:23.359 --> 01:34:26.920
He and the rest of the men
were soon fast asleep, hidden away

1205
01:34:26.960 --> 01:34:32.239
in the enemy's country and surrounded by
perils innumerable, yet resting as quietly as

1206
01:34:32.239 --> 01:34:35.840
if they were at home, and
none of them awakened either. As the

1207
01:34:35.920 --> 01:34:41.239
dark night wore on, the day
began to break over the mountains to the

1208
01:34:41.279 --> 01:34:45.279
eastward, and the gay sunbeams streamed
into the room to find the sailors still

1209
01:34:45.359 --> 01:34:50.079
undisturbed and unconscious. The sun had
risen and was half an hour up in

1210
01:34:50.119 --> 01:34:56.399
the sky before any of the Americans
showed signs of awakening. One of the

1211
01:34:56.399 --> 01:35:00.520
sailors turned over and then sat up
and stared about him. It was not

1212
01:35:00.720 --> 01:35:04.960
strange that the man wondered where he
was for a moment. He had been

1213
01:35:04.960 --> 01:35:10.960
through so much during the previous day. He found himself seated in a little,

1214
01:35:10.960 --> 01:35:15.840
bare apartment, half charred by fire, and having damped straw for flooring.

1215
01:35:15.479 --> 01:35:19.920
His companions, including the officer,
were stretched out upon it. They

1216
01:35:19.920 --> 01:35:26.199
seemed in blissful ignorance of the fact
that it was damped. The sailor rose

1217
01:35:26.239 --> 01:35:30.319
to his feet. He was rather
stiff and sore and somewhat hungry, but

1218
01:35:30.399 --> 01:35:32.800
he felt that he ought to be
glad to be alive, and then he

1219
01:35:32.840 --> 01:35:38.399
stole quickly over to the tiny window
to look out. Naturally enough, he

1220
01:35:38.479 --> 01:35:42.119
was a little curious to see what
sort of place it was they had hit

1221
01:35:42.199 --> 01:35:45.680
on. In the darkness. There
was light, then, plenty of it,

1222
01:35:45.039 --> 01:35:49.039
too much, in fact, so
the man thought it showed him everything,

1223
01:35:49.880 --> 01:35:55.880
and the everything must have included something
rather startling, for the sailor acted

1224
01:35:56.000 --> 01:36:00.119
in a most surprising way. He
took a single glance out of the window,

1225
01:36:00.359 --> 01:36:03.279
and then staggered back, as if
somewhat had shot him. The man's

1226
01:36:03.319 --> 01:36:09.560
face was as white as a sheet. He stood for a moment seemingly dazed,

1227
01:36:09.840 --> 01:36:14.520
his eyes staring vacantly, and then
suddenly he made a leap across the

1228
01:36:14.560 --> 01:36:17.760
room and seized Cliff by the shoulder. It was a startling way or Cliff

1229
01:36:17.800 --> 01:36:21.640
to be awakened. The face of
that man had a sort of nightmare.

1230
01:36:21.680 --> 01:36:27.479
Look what is it? Cliff gasped
quick the window, panted the sailor.

1231
01:36:27.680 --> 01:36:30.079
Look. The man, in his
excitement, had awakened the rest, and

1232
01:36:30.119 --> 01:36:33.720
they were sitting up staring at him. Cliff, meanwhile, had rushed to

1233
01:36:33.840 --> 01:36:38.880
the window, and when he looked
out, he acted just as the sailor

1234
01:36:38.920 --> 01:36:43.439
had done. It might be well
to describe in a few words what he

1235
01:36:43.479 --> 01:36:47.520
saw. There was a small clearing
around the deserted building, and beyond that

1236
01:36:47.640 --> 01:36:54.119
a heavy wood. Cliff remembered having
made his way through those woods, and

1237
01:36:54.239 --> 01:36:59.359
now somebody else had done likewise.
There was a squad of a dozen soldiers

1238
01:36:59.600 --> 01:37:04.159
stand on the clearing's edge, and
they were Spaniards. Can they have surrounded

1239
01:37:04.239 --> 01:37:09.119
us, gasped the cadet. Or
perhaps they don't know where here, whispered

1240
01:37:09.159 --> 01:37:13.640
one of the men. The full
meaning of that startling discovery was made evident

1241
01:37:13.680 --> 01:37:17.079
to them an instant later, the
officer of the Spaniards was standing to one

1242
01:37:17.159 --> 01:37:21.800
side, watching a man who,
with bowed head, was carefully scanning the

1243
01:37:21.800 --> 01:37:28.279
ground, and he was coming slowly
toward the building. They're tracking us,

1244
01:37:28.479 --> 01:37:32.600
whispered Cliff, And just then the
man raised up his head and Cliff got

1245
01:37:32.600 --> 01:37:39.079
a glimpse of his face. The
villain, He gasped. It was Ignacio.

1246
01:37:40.079 --> 01:37:45.079
Yes, it was the villainous Spanish
spy. He and his Spanish companions

1247
01:37:45.159 --> 01:37:49.199
must have succeeded in getting ashore,
and they had tracked their unsuspecting enemies to

1248
01:37:49.239 --> 01:37:54.920
their hiding place. I wish I
had killed him, Cliff muttered after himself.

1249
01:37:55.560 --> 01:37:59.000
One of the sailors heard him,
and he drew his revolver significantly.

1250
01:37:59.680 --> 01:38:02.079
It's not too late, sir,
he said, But Cliff held up his

1251
01:38:02.159 --> 01:38:08.159
hand. No, no, he
whispered, not yet, that suggestion called

1252
01:38:08.239 --> 01:38:13.479
him back to action. Not yet, because they had not yet been discovered.

1253
01:38:14.239 --> 01:38:18.119
Ignacio was apparently off the scent.
He did not know whether his victims

1254
01:38:18.119 --> 01:38:24.640
had dodged a building or had the
temerity to enter, and instantly Cliff leaped

1255
01:38:24.680 --> 01:38:28.399
forward over to the other side of
the building. If none of the enemy

1256
01:38:28.479 --> 01:38:31.039
was there, it might not be
too late for flight. If they are,

1257
01:38:31.199 --> 01:38:34.960
Cliff muttered to himself, By Jingo, they still got the building to

1258
01:38:35.039 --> 01:38:41.159
capture. Whatever was to be done
had to be done quickly, for Ignacio

1259
01:38:41.479 --> 01:38:45.800
was a cunning fellow and wouldn't be
apt to delay very long. Cliff glanced

1260
01:38:45.800 --> 01:38:50.000
out in the other direction and saw
to his delight that the thicket came close

1261
01:38:50.039 --> 01:38:55.000
to the house and there were no
Spaniards in sight. He called in a

1262
01:38:55.039 --> 01:38:59.039
low voice to the men, who
stole silently over toward him. Quick he

1263
01:38:59.119 --> 01:39:02.600
gasped, for your lives. It
was a thrilling moment, and Cliff was

1264
01:39:02.680 --> 01:39:06.600
trembling with eagerness. One by one, he watched the men crawl out of

1265
01:39:06.640 --> 01:39:12.000
the low window and gather in the
shelter of the building, and a moment

1266
01:39:12.079 --> 01:39:15.439
later he himself dropped down. The
instant he struck the ground, he started

1267
01:39:15.439 --> 01:39:19.520
forward to the woods, he whispered, and not a sound for your lives,

1268
01:39:20.000 --> 01:39:25.239
and the men sprang softly forward,
not even pausing to glance over their

1269
01:39:25.279 --> 01:39:30.600
shoulders to see if they were discovered. Cliff fancied at that instant that he

1270
01:39:30.760 --> 01:39:34.840
was safe. The building was between
him and the Spaniards, but he did

1271
01:39:34.840 --> 01:39:41.039
not know that at that moment Ignacio
had observed a footprint in the damp ground

1272
01:39:41.439 --> 01:39:45.399
that made him aware that they had
gone into the building. He rushed around

1273
01:39:45.439 --> 01:39:48.239
to the other side, just in
time to see a blue uniform vanished in

1274
01:39:48.279 --> 01:39:53.119
the thicket. The next moment,
a wild yell came from his throat.

1275
01:39:53.479 --> 01:39:58.359
Mirah, he shrieked forward. Here
they are now, end of chapter ten.

1276
01:39:58.880 --> 01:40:10.680
Recording by to Tom's audiobooks dot Com. Chapter eleven of a Prisoner of

1277
01:40:10.720 --> 01:40:15.760
Morrow Buy up in Sinclair. This
librevox recording is in the public domain.

1278
01:40:15.199 --> 01:40:23.560
Recording by Tom Weiss, Chapter eleven, A running fight. That cry seemed

1279
01:40:23.560 --> 01:40:27.279
the death knell of the Americans,
and their hearts leaped up in their throats

1280
01:40:27.279 --> 01:40:30.000
when they heard it. For a
moment, Cliff thought of stopping and giving

1281
01:40:30.039 --> 01:40:34.640
battle then and there, but he
realized the hopelessness of that. It was

1282
01:40:34.680 --> 01:40:40.880
hopeless too to run with no place
to run two but the sailors were already

1283
01:40:41.000 --> 01:40:44.680
dashing away through the woods, and
the cadets soon caught up with them and

1284
01:40:44.800 --> 01:40:48.640
urged them on. The Spaniards broke
into a run the moment they heard Ignazio's

1285
01:40:48.680 --> 01:40:53.720
cry. A minute later, they
fired a volley into the bushes, probably

1286
01:40:53.840 --> 01:40:58.079
in order to alarm the country.
It would have been hard for those five

1287
01:40:58.199 --> 01:41:01.600
fugitives to go any faster than they
did. During the first few moments of

1288
01:41:01.680 --> 01:41:06.039
that chase, they heard their enemies
banging away and yelling in their rear,

1289
01:41:06.399 --> 01:41:11.520
and they fairly flew over the ground. Keep together, handed, Cliff,

1290
01:41:11.760 --> 01:41:15.159
we may find someplace to make a
stand. The ground over which they were

1291
01:41:15.159 --> 01:41:19.439
traveling was ill adapted for speed,
or it was rough, and the bushes

1292
01:41:19.479 --> 01:41:24.960
were thick, but it was as
fair for one as the other, and

1293
01:41:25.039 --> 01:41:29.960
the Americans tore their way through and
stead on. The Spaniards in the rear

1294
01:41:30.119 --> 01:41:32.880
apparently knew of other troops in the
neighborhood from the way they kept yelling.

1295
01:41:33.399 --> 01:41:39.560
Cliff groaned as he realized the hopelessness
of their flight, for even if they

1296
01:41:39.560 --> 01:41:44.319
succeeded in shaking off their pursuers,
the whole country was alarmed and hunting for

1297
01:41:44.399 --> 01:41:48.279
them, and they had no food
and no one to guide them. But

1298
01:41:48.319 --> 01:41:54.319
the present evil was great enough for
the furious Spaniards were hot on the trail

1299
01:41:54.800 --> 01:42:00.279
surrender. Surrender. Cliff heard the
officers shouting a short way back. Chase

1300
01:42:00.359 --> 01:42:03.359
would have ended in no time had
it not been for the woods, which

1301
01:42:03.439 --> 01:42:08.680
kept the fugitives out of sight so
that they could not be shot, but

1302
01:42:08.760 --> 01:42:13.560
that was a protection that would not
last forever. Cliff gave a sudden gasp

1303
01:42:13.720 --> 01:42:17.159
as he saw a clearing ahead of
them, but it was only a small

1304
01:42:17.159 --> 01:42:21.279
one, and the Americans sped across
it at the very top of their speed.

1305
01:42:21.840 --> 01:42:26.960
They hoped to reach the woods before
their foes sighted them, and they

1306
01:42:27.039 --> 01:42:31.199
did. Then suddenly a new idea
flashed over Cliff. Stop a minute,

1307
01:42:31.239 --> 01:42:35.720
he cried. Ready, The sailors
saw him draw his revolver, and they

1308
01:42:35.800 --> 01:42:41.520
knew what it meant. They crouched
into bushes, waiting, will show them

1309
01:42:41.680 --> 01:42:45.720
it isn't all play, Cliff whispered, and a second later, half a

1310
01:42:45.760 --> 01:42:49.920
dozen Spaniards dashed out of the woods. Fire roared Cliff. There was a

1311
01:42:50.000 --> 01:42:55.319
quick folly, and then instantly the
fugitives sprang up again and sped on.

1312
01:42:55.880 --> 01:43:00.479
They left several of their enemies lying
on the ground. That unexpected move had

1313
01:43:00.560 --> 01:43:05.439
evidently disconcerted the pursuers, who hadn't
looked for a reception of that kind.

1314
01:43:06.439 --> 01:43:11.279
They were not heard on the trail
again for fully a minute while the Americans

1315
01:43:11.359 --> 01:43:15.760
made the best possible use of their
time. But the pursuers did not mean

1316
01:43:15.840 --> 01:43:18.880
to give up as easily as that, and they soon set out once more,

1317
01:43:19.199 --> 01:43:24.760
firing away as if a whole army
were in sight. Their little success

1318
01:43:24.920 --> 01:43:29.720
raised the spirits of the gallant Tars
considerably. They seemed to forget they were

1319
01:43:29.760 --> 01:43:33.920
in the enemy's country, and they
chuckled gleefully to themselves as they raced on

1320
01:43:34.119 --> 01:43:39.479
through the woods. They were a
pretty small army of invasion, but they

1321
01:43:39.560 --> 01:43:44.039
had lots of courage. But there
is a limit to what courage can do,

1322
01:43:44.479 --> 01:43:48.640
and the unfortunate sailors soon learned it. They came to a second clearing

1323
01:43:49.039 --> 01:43:55.239
abroad Savannah. This time we'll have
to run for our very lives, gasped

1324
01:43:55.279 --> 01:43:59.479
Cliff, for if they failed to
reach shelter before the Spaniards came up,

1325
01:43:59.760 --> 01:44:03.840
the former situation would be just reversed, and the Spaniards could hide and fire

1326
01:44:03.920 --> 01:44:09.680
in safety. And so the men
set out at breakneck speed, as if

1327
01:44:09.760 --> 01:44:13.399
they were in a hundred yards dash. I think we can make it,

1328
01:44:13.479 --> 01:44:17.159
thought Cliff. They seemed to be
a long ways behind. The shouts of

1329
01:44:17.199 --> 01:44:23.079
the enemy indicated it. Cliffs Volley
had seemed to deprive them of their former

1330
01:44:23.159 --> 01:44:29.640
confidence and rashness. But unfortunately they
were not the only Spaniards in Cuba.

1331
01:44:29.760 --> 01:44:34.119
The firing had not failed to attract
attention. The Americans had reached about the

1332
01:44:34.159 --> 01:44:39.039
center of the broad plain. There
was high grass and cane upon it,

1333
01:44:39.239 --> 01:44:44.000
and that made even walking hard.
But the men still plunged on bravely,

1334
01:44:44.199 --> 01:44:48.239
though they were gasping for breath.
But then something happened that made them gasp

1335
01:44:48.600 --> 01:44:55.039
still more, for the shouts of
the enemy in the rear were suddenly answered,

1336
01:44:55.560 --> 01:45:00.520
and the answer came from in front. The sailors halted and at each

1337
01:45:00.520 --> 01:45:04.279
other in consternation. Do you see
anything, cried Cliff. All that could

1338
01:45:04.319 --> 01:45:09.720
be made out was a line of
bushes and undergrowth marking the beginning of the

1339
01:45:09.760 --> 01:45:13.960
woods. But out of it came
a confused battle of shouts, as if

1340
01:45:13.960 --> 01:45:17.479
the whole army were there and had
been suddenly alarmed. They'll head us off,

1341
01:45:17.680 --> 01:45:23.000
asked the sailor. But they stood
still for only a second. Now

1342
01:45:23.279 --> 01:45:28.279
was no time to delay. The
pursuers in the rear were drawing closer every

1343
01:45:28.319 --> 01:45:31.479
instant. There was only one thing
left. They were shut off in two

1344
01:45:31.479 --> 01:45:38.039
directions, but off to each side
come gas, Cliff and the sailors whirled

1345
01:45:38.039 --> 01:45:42.000
about and followed him in the new
direction. It was a hopeless hope,

1346
01:45:42.119 --> 01:45:45.159
but it was not yet time to
give up, and so for perhaps a

1347
01:45:45.239 --> 01:45:49.319
hundred yards they raced on. They
had heard a shout behind them, and

1348
01:45:49.399 --> 01:45:54.159
saw the Spaniards running out from the
woods, both in front and behind.

1349
01:45:54.680 --> 01:45:58.880
Turn and fight them, shouted Cliff, like wild animals at bay. The

1350
01:45:58.960 --> 01:46:03.119
sailors faced about and jerked out their
revolvers again. They were on the point

1351
01:46:03.159 --> 01:46:06.880
of opening fire, when suddenly,
as if they were not in trouble enough,

1352
01:46:08.359 --> 01:46:12.279
there came a new development. There
was a yelled behind them and a

1353
01:46:12.319 --> 01:46:17.840
crashing sound. Out upon the broad
savannah galloped a whole troop of Spanish cavalry,

1354
01:46:18.199 --> 01:46:23.479
their car beings in their hands,
and at their head rode a brightly

1355
01:46:23.560 --> 01:46:29.199
uniformed captain, waving his sword and
galloping down upon the fugitives. Surrender.

1356
01:46:29.239 --> 01:46:32.680
He yelled, lay down your arms, and that was the last straw.

1357
01:46:33.319 --> 01:46:39.159
The sailors looked at Cliff, and
Cliff looked at the sailors. The troopers

1358
01:46:39.199 --> 01:46:43.359
were not a hundred yards away,
and there were fifty of them. I

1359
01:46:43.479 --> 01:46:46.399
guess we may as well give up, said Cliff grimly. We've done our

1360
01:46:46.439 --> 01:46:50.720
best, I think, and he
turned toward the galloping men, dropped his

1361
01:46:50.800 --> 01:46:56.920
sword and revolver, and then folded
his arms. We surrender, he called.

1362
01:46:57.359 --> 01:47:01.680
Come on, and a minute later
Gallant five were surrounded by the cavalrymen,

1363
01:47:02.000 --> 01:47:06.319
who stared at them eagerly. Who
are you, demanded the gruff captain,

1364
01:47:06.760 --> 01:47:12.439
an officer in the United States Navy, said Cliff promptly from the gunboat,

1365
01:47:12.600 --> 01:47:15.119
uncas, and what are you doing
here? We were wrecked on the

1366
01:47:15.159 --> 01:47:20.560
coast last night. We surrender and
we expect to be decently treated. You

1367
01:47:20.640 --> 01:47:26.560
are prisoners of war, was the
officer's stern response, and you will retreat

1368
01:47:26.600 --> 01:47:31.880
it as such. Forward March end
of chapter eleven. Recording by Tom Weiss

1369
01:47:32.199 --> 01:47:45.520
Tom's audiobooks dot Com. Chapter twelve
of a Prisoner of Morrow by Upton Sinclair.

1370
01:47:45.239 --> 01:47:50.159
This librevox recording is in the public
domain. Recording by Tom Weiss,

1371
01:47:50.880 --> 01:47:57.880
Chapter twelve, the first prisoners of
War. The command had hardly been obeyed

1372
01:47:57.920 --> 01:48:01.079
when out from the brush at the
further side of the savannah came the pursuing

1373
01:48:01.159 --> 01:48:06.520
Spaniards, and with them Ignacio.
The latter made straight for Cliff with an

1374
01:48:06.600 --> 01:48:11.760
upraised dagger and would have killed the
cadet then and there, if the commander

1375
01:48:11.760 --> 01:48:15.720
of the troop had not prevented him. Forcibly, you fool, he said,

1376
01:48:15.000 --> 01:48:19.600
don't you know the orders? What
orders from Blanco. Prisoners are to

1377
01:48:19.640 --> 01:48:24.319
be brought to Havana. If you
want to kill him, wait till you

1378
01:48:24.399 --> 01:48:29.720
get him there. And so the
furious Ignacio was compelled to lead his enemy

1379
01:48:29.840 --> 01:48:34.479
alone. He now rode along behind
the troopers, muttering curses under his breath.

1380
01:48:35.199 --> 01:48:40.479
But he knew that his time would
come later. Moreover, he had

1381
01:48:40.520 --> 01:48:44.720
not so very long to wait for. The capture had been made quite near

1382
01:48:44.800 --> 01:48:48.279
to Havana. The country through which
they were riding was broad and flat,

1383
01:48:48.640 --> 01:48:55.000
rising gradually to the blue hills at
the southward. All about them it seemed

1384
01:48:55.039 --> 01:48:59.720
as if the land had once been
under cultivation, but now it was over

1385
01:49:00.000 --> 01:49:03.600
own with rank vegetation. In the
distance could be seen the buildings of a

1386
01:49:03.640 --> 01:49:10.119
little town for which they were heading. The Spanish cavalrymen rode along merrily,

1387
01:49:10.359 --> 01:49:15.079
their accouterments jingling. They were a
dark skinned, black haired lot, and

1388
01:49:15.199 --> 01:49:19.159
most of them were small and not
very sturdily built. The Americans had heard

1389
01:49:19.159 --> 01:49:23.479
it said that they didn't get enough
to eat, and they looked it.

1390
01:49:24.399 --> 01:49:28.840
The prisoners were mounted upon spare horses
and were kept well in the middle of

1391
01:49:28.880 --> 01:49:32.279
the group. Their hands were tied
behind them, and one of their captors

1392
01:49:32.279 --> 01:49:38.239
had hold of the bridles of their
mouths. Cliffs was a jaded old nag

1393
01:49:38.520 --> 01:49:42.600
and kept stumbling and stopping, making
the task of riding a difficult one.

1394
01:49:43.079 --> 01:49:46.159
But he did not notice it very
much, for he was busily thinking.

1395
01:49:47.079 --> 01:49:54.359
His present situation was indeed a discouraging
one, and he felt its degradation keenly.

1396
01:49:55.000 --> 01:49:58.520
It was not that his conscience troubled
him, for he knew that he

1397
01:49:58.600 --> 01:50:01.920
had done all that could be expected
of him. But he was a prisoner

1398
01:50:02.000 --> 01:50:06.279
for all that, and he had
before him all the horrors of which he

1399
01:50:06.319 --> 01:50:12.199
had heard so much. Still,
there was no chance of escape, and

1400
01:50:12.319 --> 01:50:15.319
he could only bow to the inevitable. But he could not help feeling a

1401
01:50:15.359 --> 01:50:21.399
thrill of apprehension as he glanced behind
him and saw the malignant Ignazio gazing at

1402
01:50:21.479 --> 01:50:28.800
him. But Ignacio bided his time
and said nothing. Meanwhile, the troopers

1403
01:50:28.960 --> 01:50:33.880
trotted on. In about fifteen minutes. The little town drew near. Cliff

1404
01:50:34.000 --> 01:50:38.439
did not know the name of it, for he had no idea where he

1405
01:50:38.479 --> 01:50:42.960
had run ashore on the previous night, but he did not think he was

1406
01:50:43.039 --> 01:50:48.520
far from Havana. The arrival of
the soldiers created intense excitement in the town.

1407
01:50:49.119 --> 01:50:54.119
Men and women and children embarking dogs
rushed out to see them passed,

1408
01:50:54.760 --> 01:50:59.680
and when it was discovered that five
Yankees had been captured, the cavalrymen received

1409
01:51:00.000 --> 01:51:03.520
ovation, but they made straight on
to their destination. What it was,

1410
01:51:03.760 --> 01:51:09.399
Cliff had no trouble in guessing.
There was a railroad station in the town,

1411
01:51:09.760 --> 01:51:13.880
and there the troopers came to a
halt. Most of them dismounted from

1412
01:51:13.880 --> 01:51:16.840
their horses to rest, and the
captain hurried off to attend to the task

1413
01:51:17.199 --> 01:51:21.920
of getting a train to take those
prisoners to the capitol. Meanwhile, a

1414
01:51:23.039 --> 01:51:28.119
great crowd gathered about the little station. Most of them were ugly looking ragged

1415
01:51:28.159 --> 01:51:31.920
men, and they crowded around the
prisoners and stared at them curiously. There

1416
01:51:31.920 --> 01:51:36.199
were looks of hatred upon their unpleasant
faces, and their remarks, it may

1417
01:51:36.279 --> 01:51:42.159
be believed, were not complimentary.
The Yankee pigs had met their match at

1418
01:51:42.239 --> 01:51:45.960
last, snarled one tobacco stained peon
who had forced his way up close to

1419
01:51:46.039 --> 01:51:50.760
Cliff and they go to Havana as
they wanted to put in another with a

1420
01:51:50.840 --> 01:51:56.279
leer. They were boasting they get
there. There were some grins at that

1421
01:51:56.479 --> 01:52:00.479
sally, which encouraged the Spaniard to
go on. How do you like it?

1422
01:52:00.560 --> 01:52:03.319
He inquired, sent to Maria.
Couldn't you have run fast enough?

1423
01:52:03.960 --> 01:52:09.199
They won't run anymore, snarled another. They'll be put where they're safe.

1424
01:52:09.800 --> 01:52:13.920
An old woman with a haggard,
savage looking face and a heavy stick shook

1425
01:52:13.960 --> 01:52:17.600
the ladder in the Americans faces as
she cursed them in her shrills Spanish jargon,

1426
01:52:18.199 --> 01:52:21.680
and then suddenly came a loud cry
from the outskirts of the crowd.

1427
01:52:23.199 --> 01:52:27.439
Stone the pigs, kill em,
don't let him get away. Cliff could

1428
01:52:27.520 --> 01:52:31.039
not see the man who yelled that, but he knew the voice and realized

1429
01:52:31.079 --> 01:52:35.680
that Ignacio was getting in his fine
work again, and he seemed likely to

1430
01:52:35.720 --> 01:52:41.520
be successful too, for the cry
appeared to please the crowd. Yes,

1431
01:52:41.680 --> 01:52:45.920
yes, kill em swelled the muttering
shout, and a moment later, someone,

1432
01:52:45.319 --> 01:52:51.039
perhaps Ignacio himself, flung a heavy
stone at the Americans. It sailed

1433
01:52:51.079 --> 01:52:55.880
over the heads of the mob and
struck one of the sailors a glancing blow

1434
01:52:55.960 --> 01:53:00.239
on the forehead. It made it
ugly wound, and blood flowed. The

1435
01:53:00.359 --> 01:53:04.039
sight seemed to please the crowd,
Hordius, They laughed, good for them,

1436
01:53:04.279 --> 01:53:09.119
keep it up. Perhaps the sight
of blood enraged them, but at

1437
01:53:09.159 --> 01:53:14.000
any rate, their hostility became more
evident. They shook their fists and muttered

1438
01:53:14.039 --> 01:53:18.960
savagely, and all the while Ignacio's
voice chimed in, kill em, kill

1439
01:53:19.000 --> 01:53:24.720
em. The prisoners seemed about to
have a very unpleasant experience. Indeed,

1440
01:53:25.159 --> 01:53:30.119
there was no one to restrain the
crowd except the soldiers, and they sympathized

1441
01:53:30.159 --> 01:53:34.119
with the angry people, and the
crowd seemed to know that they surged nearer

1442
01:53:34.520 --> 01:53:39.840
a prisons too good for them.
They roared. The old hag was still

1443
01:53:39.840 --> 01:53:44.520
shaking her cane and yelling her maledictions. At that moment, a man snatched

1444
01:53:44.520 --> 01:53:48.039
the stick from her hand and aimed
a blow at Cliff's face. The cadet's

1445
01:53:48.079 --> 01:53:53.000
hands were tied behind him and he
was nearly helpless, but he managed to

1446
01:53:53.079 --> 01:53:57.560
turn and catch the blow upon his
shoulders, and an instant later his foot

1447
01:53:57.600 --> 01:54:02.319
shot out and caught the enraged spaniard
squarely in the stomach. The man staggered

1448
01:54:02.359 --> 01:54:08.439
back. Madre di dios. He
gasped, He's killed me. Cliff's daring

1449
01:54:08.479 --> 01:54:14.840
action set the crowd in a perfect
frenzy. Stoneham yelled Ignazio, and seemingly

1450
01:54:14.880 --> 01:54:18.119
all at once, they sprang at
the prisoners with sticks and stones and knives

1451
01:54:18.159 --> 01:54:23.159
and fists. The soldiers made a
feeble effort to stop them, but the

1452
01:54:23.159 --> 01:54:28.000
crowd saw them laughing as they did. So nobody cares about the Yankee pigs.

1453
01:54:28.079 --> 01:54:31.479
The crowd roared go for them.
It would have gone hard with the

1454
01:54:31.520 --> 01:54:36.439
Americans just then had it not been
for the fact that the captain reappeared.

1455
01:54:38.039 --> 01:54:42.199
He had no love to wasten them, but he knew his duty, and

1456
01:54:42.319 --> 01:54:46.479
he sprang forward with a stern command. Drive that crowd back quick, And

1457
01:54:46.520 --> 01:54:51.479
then the cavalrymen acted in a quite
different manner. The angry mob was forced

1458
01:54:51.479 --> 01:54:59.199
away in spite of their protests.
The sailors breathed somewhat more freely. Still,

1459
01:54:59.239 --> 01:55:01.479
it was to their leaf when they
saw an engine and a single freight

1460
01:55:01.560 --> 01:55:06.000
car coming up the track. They
knew that was for them, and that

1461
01:55:06.079 --> 01:55:11.199
they would soon be out of the
reach of that mob. But not of

1462
01:55:11.319 --> 01:55:17.680
Ignazio. Cliff grown not of Ignazio. The private car intended for the strangers

1463
01:55:17.720 --> 01:55:21.399
came to a stop in front of
the little station, and they were told

1464
01:55:21.399 --> 01:55:27.159
to dismount from the horses and enter. The crowd gave a parting geer as

1465
01:55:27.159 --> 01:55:30.600
they lost sight of them. Once
inside, the sailors were gruffly ordered to

1466
01:55:30.600 --> 01:55:35.840
sit down and their feet were tied
securely. A sergeant and three men were

1467
01:55:35.880 --> 01:55:41.680
detailed to mount guard over them,
and then everything was ready for the start.

1468
01:55:42.600 --> 01:55:46.439
Cliff watched anxiously for one thing,
he had an idea that his deadly

1469
01:55:46.600 --> 01:55:51.640
enemy might not succeed in following them
the rest of the journey, But in

1470
01:55:51.680 --> 01:55:59.319
that he soon saw that he was
mistaken. Ignacio had no idea of being

1471
01:55:59.359 --> 01:56:02.840
foiled in his vengeance. Just before
the door of the car was shut,

1472
01:56:02.880 --> 01:56:09.239
his small, crouching figure entered.
He stopped just long enough to clinch his

1473
01:56:09.319 --> 01:56:14.279
fist and shake it at Cliff,
and then he retired into a corner to

1474
01:56:14.319 --> 01:56:18.279
snarl angrily to himself. A few
moments later, there was a creaking of

1475
01:56:18.319 --> 01:56:24.560
wheels and the train had started.
The roar of the crowd died away and

1476
01:56:24.640 --> 01:56:29.399
was succeeded by the sound of the
rapid motion. The prisoners were on their

1477
01:56:29.439 --> 01:56:33.319
way to Havana, and I wish
there'd be a wreck and end us before

1478
01:56:33.399 --> 01:56:40.119
we got there, mused Cliff.
End of chapter twelve. Recording by Tom

1479
01:56:40.119 --> 01:56:51.239
Weiss Tom's audiobooks dot Com. Chapter
thirteen of a Prisoner of Morrow Buy Up

1480
01:56:51.319 --> 01:56:59.039
in Sinclair. This LibriVox recording is
in the public domain. Recording by Tom

1481
01:56:59.039 --> 01:57:06.600
Weiss, Chapter thirteen. Ignacio's plots
for Cliff Faraday had not failed to learn

1482
01:57:06.680 --> 01:57:12.840
something of what a prisoner might expect
in Havana. A classmate of his vic

1483
01:57:12.920 --> 01:57:16.239
Rollins, had spent a couple of
months there and had emerged almost a physical

1484
01:57:16.239 --> 01:57:20.800
wreck, and Cliff could not tell
how long he might have to remain.

1485
01:57:21.479 --> 01:57:26.520
The war had already been going on
long enough for him to see that it

1486
01:57:26.560 --> 01:57:30.479
would last some time, and the
amount of cruelty and starvation he had before

1487
01:57:30.600 --> 01:57:35.520
him was enough to make the cadet
tremble. He knew that the severest privation

1488
01:57:35.760 --> 01:57:41.560
would fall to his lot. Ignacio
could be trusted to see to that.

1489
01:57:42.399 --> 01:57:45.840
I don't think they'll dare to let
him kill me, the American muttered,

1490
01:57:45.119 --> 01:57:50.279
But he'll probably get his satisfaction somehow. At any rate, it was plain

1491
01:57:50.359 --> 01:57:56.880
that the vengeful Spaniard meant to try. He soon set to work that Cliff

1492
01:57:56.960 --> 01:58:00.520
understood Spanish. He was well aware, but he did not seem to mind

1493
01:58:00.560 --> 01:58:04.600
it, for he began a conversation
with the sergeant, and he did not

1494
01:58:04.800 --> 01:58:09.840
take the trouble to whisper what he
had to say, though one would have

1495
01:58:09.920 --> 01:58:13.840
thought he would not care to have
so villainous a plot known to anyone.

1496
01:58:14.520 --> 01:58:17.079
The officer in charge of the Americans
was sitting near them, with his own

1497
01:58:17.159 --> 01:58:24.119
sword lying in his lap, and
Ignacio crept over to him. Jose said

1498
01:58:24.159 --> 01:58:28.560
he, Jose, Garcia listened to
me. What is it, Jose?

1499
01:58:29.000 --> 01:58:32.399
Have you been paid your wages for
the last six months? The soldier gazed

1500
01:58:32.439 --> 01:58:38.800
at Ignacio in astonishment. Karamba,
what's that to you? Nothing, Jose,

1501
01:58:39.399 --> 01:58:43.239
except that you need money, don't
you. It was evident from the

1502
01:58:43.279 --> 01:58:46.880
look that came over the Spanish soldier's
face that the answer he made was sincere

1503
01:58:47.279 --> 01:58:51.359
sent to Maria. He cried,
yes, why would you like to make

1504
01:58:51.399 --> 01:58:58.399
some how much? Slowly, Ignacio
reached his hand inside of his shirt and

1505
01:58:58.560 --> 01:59:01.119
pulled out a little bag. He
loosened the mouth of it and took the

1506
01:59:01.199 --> 01:59:05.640
contents out. He spread them out
on the floor of the car. It

1507
01:59:05.840 --> 01:59:11.079
is American money, he said,
the money of the pigs. But it

1508
01:59:11.199 --> 01:59:14.800
is good money for all that.
How much is there? Ha ha,

1509
01:59:15.239 --> 01:59:20.159
you are interested? Are you well
well? Ignacio's dark eyes glittered as he

1510
01:59:20.319 --> 01:59:25.600
slowly went over the pile of bills. See, sergeant said he. Here

1511
01:59:25.760 --> 01:59:29.119
is a hundred dollars bill. Just
think of it, look at it.

1512
01:59:29.640 --> 01:59:33.680
Think if I should get that bill
changed into good Spanish gold. The British

1513
01:59:33.720 --> 01:59:38.239
Council would do it. Yes,
he is a friend of the Yankees.

1514
01:59:38.920 --> 01:59:43.000
Yes, he would do it for
me. And then here is fifty dollars

1515
01:59:43.039 --> 01:59:45.760
more. Look and count it.
Think of what you could do with one

1516
01:59:45.880 --> 01:59:50.119
hundred and fifty dollars of the Yankees
money. Think of what it would buy

1517
01:59:50.640 --> 01:59:55.720
food? And I know not what
what a fine dress for your sweetheart to

1518
01:59:55.800 --> 02:00:00.119
take her away from that rival of
yours. And it is all good money

1519
02:00:00.159 --> 02:00:03.520
too. How am I to know
it? Karamba? Wouldn't you take my

1520
02:00:03.600 --> 02:00:08.319
word for it? You know me, Jose and what I do for Spain?

1521
02:00:09.000 --> 02:00:12.760
Do you not know that I am
a friend of Blanco's hey, and

1522
02:00:12.920 --> 02:00:16.039
you know that he trusts me when
he trusts nobody else. And how did

1523
02:00:16.079 --> 02:00:20.359
you get that money? How did
I get it. I will tell yes,

1524
02:00:20.800 --> 02:00:25.680
poor Diaz, I will, and
those Yankee pigs may hear me too.

1525
02:00:26.199 --> 02:00:29.560
Ha ha. There was what they
called a traitor on the New York,

1526
02:00:29.800 --> 02:00:32.720
the Yankees flagship. She isn't much, but she is the best they

1527
02:00:32.760 --> 02:00:36.640
have. One of our little gunboats
could whip her, or it would be

1528
02:00:36.680 --> 02:00:43.279
men fighting pigs. The sergeant's eyes
danced, and will sink her too,

1529
02:00:43.399 --> 02:00:46.640
went on a dazio. Just wait. I saw her run away once from

1530
02:00:46.680 --> 02:00:51.000
a little gunboat. The Yankees build
their boats swifter than ours so they can

1531
02:00:51.079 --> 02:00:56.399
run away. But anyhow, as
I said, this man was working for

1532
02:00:56.439 --> 02:01:00.760
Spain, and he tried to blow
up the flagship. US, cried the

1533
02:01:00.800 --> 02:01:05.000
sergeant, like we did the main
exactly. It would have been another glorious

1534
02:01:05.000 --> 02:01:11.039
triumph for US and Jose Garcia.
Who do you think it was that prevented

1535
02:01:11.159 --> 02:01:14.680
him? The man clinched his fist. I don't know, he cried,

1536
02:01:14.720 --> 02:01:17.119
But I wish I could get hold
of him. You do, yes,

1537
02:01:17.720 --> 02:01:20.720
What would you do to him,
Santa Maria? I get him by the

1538
02:01:20.760 --> 02:01:26.119
throat, you would, yes,
And I would choke him till he was

1539
02:01:26.159 --> 02:01:30.880
dead dead, echoed Ignacio, with
a hoarse cry of triumph, and then

1540
02:01:30.920 --> 02:01:34.159
he raised one arm, trembling all
over with rage and hatred. Jose,

1541
02:01:34.520 --> 02:01:39.479
he half yelled, what is it? Suppose I should tell you? Jose?

1542
02:01:40.159 --> 02:01:45.319
Suppose I should tell you that the
villain is here? Here? Yes,

1543
02:01:45.399 --> 02:01:47.880
by Heaven, he's here, Jose, that is he. And the

1544
02:01:47.960 --> 02:01:54.319
fellow pointed straight at Cliff, while
he leaned forward and stared into the Spaniard's

1545
02:01:54.399 --> 02:01:58.800
face, eager to see what the
effect of his announcement would be. It

1546
02:01:58.880 --> 02:02:01.840
must have suited him, for he
gave a low laugh of fiendish chuckle.

1547
02:02:02.439 --> 02:02:06.239
Then he went on. And not
only that, Jose, think of what

1548
02:02:06.359 --> 02:02:11.079
else he has done? Has he
done war? Yes, poor ViOS,

1549
02:02:11.079 --> 02:02:15.319
he has. Listen, Jose,
we have in our power the worst of

1550
02:02:15.319 --> 02:02:18.760
our country's enemies. Jose. He
is a fiend, a perfect devil.

1551
02:02:19.159 --> 02:02:24.479
He has ruined nearly every plan I
tried. Do you know if it had

1552
02:02:24.560 --> 02:02:28.199
not been for him, Yes,
for him, I should have stabbed the

1553
02:02:28.239 --> 02:02:33.479
great pig, Admiral Karamba. Yes, not Samson. Yes, he the

1554
02:02:33.600 --> 02:02:39.359
villain who is blockading Havanah and destroying
our ships. I had the knife at

1555
02:02:39.359 --> 02:02:43.760
his heart, and that Yankee pig
prevented me. Do you wonder that I

1556
02:02:43.800 --> 02:02:46.960
hate him. No, I hate
him too, yes, for you are

1557
02:02:47.039 --> 02:02:51.039
a true Spaniard. But about that
money, Jose, I got it,

1558
02:02:51.079 --> 02:02:56.720
as I say, from this schwartz. For when this Yankee pig stopped him

1559
02:02:56.720 --> 02:03:00.159
from blowing up to New York,
he ran away and hid, and he

1560
02:03:00.199 --> 02:03:04.439
paid me this for helping him to
Cuba. Ignacio held up the bills before

1561
02:03:04.439 --> 02:03:09.840
the hungry eyes of the Spanish sergeant, and when he had given him time

1562
02:03:09.880 --> 02:03:14.520
to look at it and think of
what it meant for him, Ignacio suddenly

1563
02:03:14.600 --> 02:03:17.720
bent forward and got close to him. Jose, he cried, it's all

1564
02:03:17.800 --> 02:03:23.479
for you. The man stared eagerly. What for, he cried, I

1565
02:03:23.520 --> 02:03:28.479
will tell you, said Ignacio.
Once more. He slipped his hand under

1566
02:03:28.520 --> 02:03:31.399
his jacket. Look, said he, and he drew out a sharp,

1567
02:03:31.760 --> 02:03:36.239
gleaming dagger. He ran his fingers
over the edge, hissing as he did

1568
02:03:36.279 --> 02:03:41.079
so, between his teeth. It
is sharp, he muttered, haha,

1569
02:03:41.359 --> 02:03:45.920
sharp, and it will do the
work. What work? Listen, Jose,

1570
02:03:45.560 --> 02:03:49.520
there lies the fiend of a Yankee. He is in my power at

1571
02:03:49.600 --> 02:03:54.880
last. He has battled me,
ruined me. But now I have him.

1572
02:03:55.359 --> 02:04:00.199
Yes, he can't get away.
Haha. I feel merry Jose is

1573
02:04:00.239 --> 02:04:04.840
my deadliest enemy. He is your
enemy too, the enemy of our glorious

1574
02:04:04.880 --> 02:04:10.960
country. I hate him, so
must you I do. Then listen,

1575
02:04:11.359 --> 02:04:15.560
I want you to take this knife, this nice sharp knife that I have

1576
02:04:15.640 --> 02:04:18.399
been grinding for him. Haha,
Santa Maria, how sharp it is.

1577
02:04:18.800 --> 02:04:24.239
And I will put this money,
all this money, into your hands,

1578
02:04:24.279 --> 02:04:28.119
and you will turn away so as
not to see. And I will take

1579
02:04:28.119 --> 02:04:32.479
this knife in my hand so and
I will creep over toward that fellow and

1580
02:04:32.640 --> 02:04:36.680
give him. Listen, Jose,
you spoil it. He'll scream, he'll

1581
02:04:36.720 --> 02:04:41.680
turn pale and tremble like the coward
he is. But he can't get away,

1582
02:04:41.800 --> 02:04:45.640
Jose. He can't get away.
I got him, Jose. And

1583
02:04:45.680 --> 02:04:49.479
I'll unbutton his jacket, that hated
Yankee uniform, and I'll take this knife

1584
02:04:49.800 --> 02:04:54.720
and i'll put it right close to
his soft white skin. Then I will

1585
02:04:54.760 --> 02:04:59.760
press down down and you'll hear him
scream as it goes in. He'll twist

1586
02:04:59.760 --> 02:05:02.159
the back out and shriek, but
I will pin him to the floor and

1587
02:05:02.199 --> 02:05:05.800
then he will lie their, Jose, and we can watch him die.

1588
02:05:06.119 --> 02:05:11.920
Ha, Madre di dios, how
I hate him. The Spaniard's rage had

1589
02:05:11.920 --> 02:05:15.159
been such that his face grew fairly
purple, and he snatched up the knife

1590
02:05:15.239 --> 02:05:19.680
and started forward toward the cadet.
How I hate him, he panted again.

1591
02:05:20.439 --> 02:05:25.560
What were the feelings of poor Cliff
may be imagined. He was perfectly

1592
02:05:25.600 --> 02:05:30.800
helpless and could only lie still and
gaze into the eyes of his deadly foe.

1593
02:05:30.319 --> 02:05:35.119
But there was someone else to stop
Ignacio. The sergeant caught him by

1594
02:05:35.119 --> 02:05:40.720
the arm, So no, he
cried, stop, what panded Ignacio?

1595
02:05:41.159 --> 02:05:45.039
Why they would punish me? But
they need not know. The others will

1596
02:05:45.039 --> 02:05:50.359
tell nonsense, but they will.
What cannot a knife kill more than one

1597
02:05:50.399 --> 02:05:55.680
man? Karamba? I will kill
all five, but I was ordered to

1598
02:05:55.720 --> 02:06:00.640
deliver them alive. Ignacio was nearly
frenzied at those objections. Jose, he

1599
02:06:00.720 --> 02:06:04.079
yelled, you are mad. We
can fix it. I will fix it

1600
02:06:04.119 --> 02:06:08.960
with Blanco. Say they got loose, chewed the ropes and attack us.

1601
02:06:09.279 --> 02:06:12.920
I will swear they did, swear
it by all the saints. And I

1602
02:06:13.000 --> 02:06:15.800
hate that yankee so Jose that I
would cut my own flesh to make the

1603
02:06:15.920 --> 02:06:20.479
story seem more probable. I will
say we had a desperate battle. Tell

1604
02:06:20.520 --> 02:06:25.720
them how you saved my life,
and you will be promoted, Blanco,

1605
02:06:25.800 --> 02:06:30.880
will believe me, Jose. But
the Spanish soldier shook his head dubiously.

1606
02:06:30.199 --> 02:06:34.560
I dare not, he said.
The captain's last words were to deliver them

1607
02:06:34.760 --> 02:06:39.439
safely. But think of the money, Jose, think of the money.

1608
02:06:40.319 --> 02:06:45.119
Ignacio fairly ground his teeth with rage
over the delay. He was like a

1609
02:06:45.199 --> 02:06:48.359
wild man. Puttias, it cried, how can you hesitate? It is

1610
02:06:48.399 --> 02:06:56.039
the chance of your lifetime, of
your lifetime. The five unfortunate prisoners had

1611
02:06:56.079 --> 02:07:00.479
not all of them understood those words, but they had no doubt of their

1612
02:07:00.560 --> 02:07:04.880
meaning, and they lay watching Ignacio
feverishly. It was as if they had

1613
02:07:04.880 --> 02:07:11.079
been charmed by a serpent. Their
eyes followed his every motion. They realized

1614
02:07:11.119 --> 02:07:15.760
that at any moment the cunning villain
might leap at them. But the sergeant,

1615
02:07:15.840 --> 02:07:19.079
though wavering, still shook his head. The men will tell, he

1616
02:07:19.159 --> 02:07:24.640
objected, Here is another hundred for
them, gasped Ignacio. Each is all

1617
02:07:24.640 --> 02:07:28.560
I have for theeas What more?
There was at least half a minute of

1618
02:07:28.600 --> 02:07:33.279
agony after that, while the man
upon whom everything dependent wrestled with that temptation.

1619
02:07:34.000 --> 02:07:39.239
It was a great one, and
Cliff felt a cold perspiration breaking out

1620
02:07:39.319 --> 02:07:44.199
all over him as he sat and
watched. But the stolid sergeant was apparently

1621
02:07:44.319 --> 02:07:47.319
too much of a coward to take
the risk. He said no, and

1622
02:07:47.479 --> 02:07:51.920
Cliff gave a gas wait and see
Blanco. He said, I do not

1623
02:07:53.119 --> 02:07:58.399
dare to let you do it.
And though Ignacio blustered and swore and pranced

1624
02:07:58.399 --> 02:08:03.119
about like a madman, the soldier
was obdurate. The risk is too great,

1625
02:08:03.239 --> 02:08:09.319
he reiterated, I dare not.
And so Ignacio once more slunk back

1626
02:08:09.359 --> 02:08:13.239
into a dark corner of a car
and fell snarling to himself. But I'll

1627
02:08:13.239 --> 02:08:16.439
have him yet, Cliff hurt him. Hiss, I'll have him yet.

1628
02:08:16.880 --> 02:08:22.560
Just wait till we get to Havana. End of chapter thirteen. Recording by

1629
02:08:22.680 --> 02:08:35.119
Tom Weiss Tom's audiobooks dot Com.
Chapter fourteen of a Prisoner of Morrow Buy

1630
02:08:35.199 --> 02:08:41.199
Up in Sinclair. This LibriVox recording
is in the public domain. Recording by

1631
02:08:41.359 --> 02:08:48.039
Tom Weiss, Chapter fourteen, Bessie
Stewart. The event to which Ignacio was

1632
02:08:48.079 --> 02:08:54.159
looking forward with so much pleasure was
not long in taking place. The trip

1633
02:08:54.199 --> 02:08:58.520
by the railroad lasted about half an
hour, only Ignacio would hardly have had

1634
02:08:58.600 --> 02:09:03.560
more than time to carry out his
dastardly purpose before the train arrived. The

1635
02:09:03.680 --> 02:09:07.720
car came slowly to a stop,
and the sergeant got up and opened the

1636
02:09:07.720 --> 02:09:13.359
door. Here we are, said
he, and I am glad. Ignacio

1637
02:09:13.560 --> 02:09:18.119
was apparently glad too, since he
had failed in his first plan. He

1638
02:09:18.159 --> 02:09:22.680
sprang up eagerly and watched the removal
of the prisoners. The sergeant untied the

1639
02:09:22.720 --> 02:09:28.159
American's feet and gruffly ordered them to
march with the soldiers before and behind.

1640
02:09:28.479 --> 02:09:33.640
They were led rapidly through the streets
of Havana. If the arrival of those

1641
02:09:33.640 --> 02:09:39.520
prisoners in a small town created excitement, one may well imagine that the big

1642
02:09:39.560 --> 02:09:43.359
capital turn out a crowd to watch
them. But there was almost no demonstration

1643
02:09:43.439 --> 02:09:50.039
against them. For the party hurried
along rapidly, and Ignacio did not try

1644
02:09:50.079 --> 02:09:54.279
any of his tricks. He knew
that his chance would soon come, and

1645
02:09:54.359 --> 02:09:58.439
he waited patiently. Cliff gazed about
as he walked. He was listless and

1646
02:09:58.479 --> 02:10:03.359
hopeless, but he could not help
feeling an interest in the city he had

1647
02:10:03.399 --> 02:10:07.239
heard so much of, and which
he had been so busily helping to blockade.

1648
02:10:07.960 --> 02:10:11.520
But he had little chance to look
about. He was marching down a

1649
02:10:11.600 --> 02:10:16.680
long street crowded with Spaniards of all
sizes and shades, and then suddenly,

1650
02:10:16.720 --> 02:10:20.760
before a dark, heavy looking building, the guards came to a halt.

1651
02:10:22.600 --> 02:10:26.840
There was a heavy iron door in
front of it that opened slowly. March

1652
02:10:26.960 --> 02:10:31.159
in, said the sergeant, and
the prisoners, with bayonets at their backs,

1653
02:10:31.239 --> 02:10:35.840
were forced up steps and into the
building. The door shut again with

1654
02:10:35.920 --> 02:10:41.319
a dull iron clang that sounded like
a death knell to the cliff. Ignazio

1655
02:10:41.680 --> 02:10:45.800
entered two. He seemed to have
the privilege of going where he chose.

1656
02:10:46.359 --> 02:10:50.960
The sentries who were guarding that door
asked him no questions. It was apparently

1657
02:10:52.000 --> 02:10:56.199
some sort of a military jail to
which they had been taken down a long

1658
02:10:56.319 --> 02:11:00.399
stone corridor. They were marched and
then hauled it in front of a door.

1659
02:11:01.079 --> 02:11:05.600
The sergeant entered, an Ignacio after
him. The rest waited outside.

1660
02:11:05.640 --> 02:11:11.640
It must have been at least fifteen
minutes before anything more occurred than the sergeant

1661
02:11:11.680 --> 02:11:16.119
came out and ordered the prisoners to
enter. Cliff As the officer entered first,

1662
02:11:16.399 --> 02:11:22.359
and he found himself facing a tall, military looking Spaniard with a resplendent

1663
02:11:22.479 --> 02:11:26.600
uniform and an air of authority.
Who he was. Cliff had no idea,

1664
02:11:26.680 --> 02:11:31.159
but he was evidently in command of
the place. He was a dark,

1665
02:11:31.239 --> 02:11:35.159
savage looking man, and his brows
were drawn down as he frowned upon

1666
02:11:35.199 --> 02:11:41.039
the prisoners, and Cliff was not
surprised. He's had Ignacio to tell him

1667
02:11:41.079 --> 02:11:46.439
about us, he thought to himself. Ignacio was standing just behind the officer.

1668
02:11:46.920 --> 02:11:50.880
There was a grin on his face
and a look of delight. He

1669
02:11:50.000 --> 02:11:56.279
rubbed his hands gleefully as he watched
what transpired. The Spanish officer glared at

1670
02:11:56.319 --> 02:12:03.000
his prisoners sternly. Cliff's bearing was
quiet and dignified. So you are the

1671
02:12:03.039 --> 02:12:07.960
officer who commanded the Yankee pigs,
growled the man. I am an American

1672
02:12:07.039 --> 02:12:13.000
naval cadet, was the response.
The spaniard said nothing more for a moment,

1673
02:12:13.159 --> 02:12:16.079
but continued his piercing look. You
put on a bold front, he

1674
02:12:16.159 --> 02:12:20.159
said. At last, you must
have looked differently when you were running away.

1675
02:12:22.000 --> 02:12:26.920
The remark required no answer and got
none. Cliff did not mean to

1676
02:12:26.000 --> 02:12:30.720
bandy words with the officer. If
he wanted to taunt him, he was

1677
02:12:30.760 --> 02:12:35.159
welcome to do so. We treat
our officers more politely, he thought,

1678
02:12:35.399 --> 02:12:39.359
But I suppose this is the Spanish
way. Meanwhile, the officer went on,

1679
02:12:39.960 --> 02:12:43.920
you will be less impotent. Later
on, he snarled, when you

1680
02:12:43.119 --> 02:12:48.640
learn what is in store for you, you've no idea. I presume I

1681
02:12:48.720 --> 02:12:52.399
understood that I was a prisoner of
war, was the americans quiet answer.

1682
02:12:52.760 --> 02:12:58.840
And I understood that Spain considered itself
a civilized nation, the Spaniard laughed softly.

1683
02:12:58.319 --> 02:13:01.840
A prisoner of war, he chuckled, So you really expect to be

1684
02:13:01.880 --> 02:13:07.479
treated as such? And after what
you have done? What have I done?

1685
02:13:07.640 --> 02:13:11.439
Asked Cliff. Ignacio's eyes began to
dance at that, for the officer

1686
02:13:11.520 --> 02:13:16.640
turned toward him. This gentleman said, the officer is one of our trusted

1687
02:13:16.680 --> 02:13:22.560
agents, and I have learned from
him of your villany. Cliff was not

1688
02:13:22.720 --> 02:13:26.560
in the least surprised at that.
It was just what he had looked for.

1689
02:13:26.239 --> 02:13:28.880
I should be pleased to learn,
also, if I may, what

1690
02:13:30.000 --> 02:13:33.199
has this trusted agent told you?
As he said that, he turned toward

1691
02:13:33.279 --> 02:13:39.640
the grinning Ignacio. But it was
the officer who continued speaking. I suppose

1692
02:13:39.720 --> 02:13:43.199
you wish to deny everything, said
he, But I assure you I will

1693
02:13:43.239 --> 02:13:48.640
do not the least good in the
world, I presume not escaped Cliff's lips.

1694
02:13:48.239 --> 02:13:52.359
The Spaniard frowned. Angrily, but
he went on without a change of

1695
02:13:52.439 --> 02:13:56.479
tone. You are captured, if
I understand it, truly from a merchantman,

1696
02:13:56.560 --> 02:14:01.039
which you ran upon the rocks in
order to prevent one of our vessels

1697
02:14:01.039 --> 02:14:05.960
from recapturing her. That is true, Cliff said, And you must have

1698
02:14:05.960 --> 02:14:09.960
thought it quite a smart trick.
But according to this man here, you

1699
02:14:09.159 --> 02:14:13.399
previously had some fighting with our vessel. Would you mind telling me about it?

1700
02:14:15.199 --> 02:14:18.680
I would not, said Cliff.
We were steaming toward Key West,

1701
02:14:18.840 --> 02:14:22.279
myself and these four men, being
a prize crew from the gunboat Uncas,

1702
02:14:22.760 --> 02:14:26.760
we were hailed from the darkness by
another vessel. Ah, and what was

1703
02:14:26.800 --> 02:14:31.720
the name of the vessel? I
do not know, did you not ask?

1704
02:14:31.199 --> 02:14:35.520
I did, But she answered falsely. She pretended to be an American

1705
02:14:35.600 --> 02:14:39.880
vessel. The spaniard gave a sneer. So that is a yarn you mean

1706
02:14:39.960 --> 02:14:45.359
to tell, he laughed. That
is what occurred, said Cliff quickly.

1707
02:14:45.680 --> 02:14:48.600
If you have heard otherwise, you
have been told a lie, and my

1708
02:14:48.680 --> 02:14:52.600
men will bear me out in the
statement. Indeed, I do not doubt

1709
02:14:52.640 --> 02:14:58.079
it. There was fine sarcasm in
that tone, but Cliff did not heed

1710
02:14:58.119 --> 02:15:01.319
it. Would you mind telling me
what this fellow, Ignacio has said,

1711
02:15:01.560 --> 02:15:07.520
he inquired, he says, responded
the other that the vessel announced herself as

1712
02:15:07.520 --> 02:15:11.880
a Spaniard and called on you to
surrender. You did sell, and then

1713
02:15:11.920 --> 02:15:15.800
when the boat's crew came aboard,
you shot two of them and steamed away.

1714
02:15:16.399 --> 02:15:20.479
Is that so, Ignacio? It
is, snarled the agent. I

1715
02:15:20.520 --> 02:15:24.159
will take my oath upon it.
It was, of course a lie,

1716
02:15:24.600 --> 02:15:30.319
and it made Cliff's blood boil.
The Spanish vessel had deceived them and tried

1717
02:15:30.359 --> 02:15:33.800
to capture them by stealth. The
men of the Spanish boat's crew had been

1718
02:15:33.840 --> 02:15:39.560
shot while trying to hold up the
American. But Cliff had expected that Ignacio

1719
02:15:39.760 --> 02:15:43.560
would tell such a tale, and
so he was not surprised. The offense

1720
02:15:43.600 --> 02:15:48.000
with which the lad found himself charged
was a terrible one, and he realized

1721
02:15:48.079 --> 02:15:52.359
that he could be hanged for it. Yet what was he to do?

1722
02:15:52.960 --> 02:15:56.199
I fear, He said to the
Spaniard that it will do me a little

1723
02:15:56.239 --> 02:15:58.840
good to deny this story. That
is true, said the other problem,

1724
02:16:00.479 --> 02:16:03.760
and his cruel eyes gleamed as he
watched the prisoner. Did you deny the

1725
02:16:03.800 --> 02:16:09.560
shooting? He demanded? No,
said Cliff, I do not you find

1726
02:16:09.600 --> 02:16:13.039
it easier to say that the men
pretended to be Americans. I find it

1727
02:16:13.119 --> 02:16:18.359
easier because it is truer, was
the cadet's answer. And then there were

1728
02:16:18.399 --> 02:16:24.039
several moments of silence while the three
actors of this little drama watched each other

1729
02:16:24.039 --> 02:16:28.800
eagerly. Ignazio was fairly beside himself
with triumph. He could scarcely keep himself

1730
02:16:28.880 --> 02:16:35.559
quiet, and under his bushy eyebrows, his dark eyes gleamed triumphantly. He

1731
02:16:35.639 --> 02:16:39.079
had played his trump card, and
he had his victim where he wanted him

1732
02:16:39.159 --> 02:16:43.639
at last. To watch him under
the torture of his present position was almost

1733
02:16:43.680 --> 02:16:48.840
as good as to watch him under
the torture of the knife. For what

1734
02:16:48.920 --> 02:16:52.600
could he do. He might bluster
and protest, all to Ignacio's glee,

1735
02:16:52.959 --> 02:16:58.319
but nobody would believe him. For
Ignacio knew that the Spanish officer was glad

1736
02:16:58.399 --> 02:17:03.000
enough to believe the story the spy
told him. His prejudice and his hatred

1737
02:17:03.040 --> 02:17:07.559
of Americans would turn the scale,
and it would be fine to punish a

1738
02:17:07.639 --> 02:17:13.319
Yankee pig for such a crime as
this. As for Cliff, he was

1739
02:17:13.360 --> 02:17:16.239
filled with a kind of dull despair. He knew the odds against him,

1740
02:17:16.440 --> 02:17:20.920
and realized that his struggles would be
those of a caged animal. He had

1741
02:17:20.959 --> 02:17:26.120
done nothing but his duty, and
the law of nations would have justified him.

1742
02:17:26.600 --> 02:17:31.680
But ignacios lie upon that one small
point of what the Spanish gunboat had

1743
02:17:31.680 --> 02:17:37.239
done was enough to make him liable
to death. The officers seemed to realize

1744
02:17:37.280 --> 02:17:41.239
the smallness of difference, for he
turned to Ignacio, are you perfectly sure?

1745
02:17:41.360 --> 02:17:46.239
He demanded that you heard our vessel
announce her identity. I am signor,

1746
02:17:46.760 --> 02:17:52.520
and what was her name? Cliff's
eyes brightened at that. He thought

1747
02:17:52.559 --> 02:17:58.200
Ignacio would be caught there, but
the cunning fellow was prepared and answered instantly.

1748
02:17:58.520 --> 02:18:03.040
The regina had chosen the name of
a Spanish gunboat he knew to be

1749
02:18:03.159 --> 02:18:07.600
at sea, and the ruse worked. What more can you expect? Demanded

1750
02:18:07.639 --> 02:18:11.319
the officer of Cliff, And then
the cadet looked up to make the last

1751
02:18:11.360 --> 02:18:15.159
effort for his life. As I
have told you, he said, this

1752
02:18:15.239 --> 02:18:18.879
fellow's story is false, and now
I will tell you why he has done

1753
02:18:18.879 --> 02:18:22.840
it. He has long been an
enemy of mine, and he is making

1754
02:18:22.879 --> 02:18:26.680
an effort to ruin me. I
foiled him. If you are going to

1755
02:18:26.719 --> 02:18:30.879
tell me about that, attempt of
his to kill your yankee, Admiral,

1756
02:18:31.040 --> 02:18:35.319
interrupted the officer. I know it
already, ed Ignacio, gave a chuckle

1757
02:18:35.440 --> 02:18:39.840
of glee. In fact, the
officer added, I have learned of all

1758
02:18:39.840 --> 02:18:43.280
your adventurous young men, and I
have no doubt you consider yourself quite a

1759
02:18:43.360 --> 02:18:48.879
hero after what you have done against
Spain. But you will live to regret

1760
02:18:48.879 --> 02:18:52.920
it, I think. And Cliff
saw that he had nothing to gain by

1761
02:18:52.959 --> 02:18:56.799
pursuing that tact any further. He
was silent, or he knew nothing more

1762
02:18:56.840 --> 02:19:01.719
to do. The spaniard went on. I know also of another affair of

1763
02:19:01.760 --> 02:19:05.959
yours. He added, it seems
that your pig government sent a naval officer

1764
02:19:07.000 --> 02:19:11.239
over to see that bendit Robbert Gomez, and our friend here, Ignacio,

1765
02:19:11.239 --> 02:19:15.639
was leading him into our camp.
I believe that was it. Was it,

1766
02:19:15.760 --> 02:19:20.399
not Ignacio, it was Signor.
And this yankee here met us and

1767
02:19:20.559 --> 02:19:24.399
wounded you and rescued the officer with
the aid of some of the robber's men.

1768
02:19:24.799 --> 02:19:28.639
And that girl you told me about
exactly, said Ignacio. What was

1769
02:19:28.680 --> 02:19:33.639
her name? The other continued Stewart. I think we will soon manage to

1770
02:19:33.639 --> 02:19:39.200
stop her tricks. I fancy Cliff
had been listening to their conversation without any

1771
02:19:39.239 --> 02:19:43.000
particular interest. But suddenly, as
he heard that last speech, his face

1772
02:19:43.120 --> 02:19:48.559
flushed. Crimson and he half staggered
back. Bessie Stewart, he gasped under

1773
02:19:48.559 --> 02:19:52.040
his breath. The Spanish officer was
looking at him, and he laughed as

1774
02:19:52.040 --> 02:19:56.920
he saw the American's thunderstruck expression.
Ha ha, he chuckled, So you

1775
02:19:58.000 --> 02:20:01.639
are interested in her? Are you
a sweetheart? Perhaps? Eh? Cliff

1776
02:20:01.760 --> 02:20:07.239
did not answer that. He was
staring at the man in horror. Stop

1777
02:20:07.280 --> 02:20:11.360
her. What in the world could
he mean? What could he know about

1778
02:20:11.479 --> 02:20:15.479
Bessie Stewart. The girl was a
dear friend of Cliffs who had come to

1779
02:20:15.520 --> 02:20:18.600
Cuba to hunt for a relative of
hers. Cliff had left her under the

1780
02:20:18.680 --> 02:20:22.559
protection of Gomez, and that was
the last he had heard of her.

1781
02:20:24.120 --> 02:20:28.079
And here was the brutal spaniard mentioning
her. How had he and how had

1782
02:20:28.120 --> 02:20:35.120
the villainous Ignacio learned about her?
It was small wonder that Cliffs started back.

1783
02:20:35.600 --> 02:20:39.680
Bessie Stewart was the dearest friend he
had. Meanwhile, the spaniard was

1784
02:20:39.760 --> 02:20:45.000
leering at him. The Yankee pig
seems worried, he said, if that

1785
02:20:45.120 --> 02:20:48.000
girl is his sweetheart. He did
not do wisely to leave her with the

1786
02:20:48.079 --> 02:20:54.280
band at Gomez, did he Ignacio
no Signor was that person's grinning response,

1787
02:20:54.719 --> 02:21:00.719
For she will soon be somebody else's
sweetheart, chuckled the other. That was

1788
02:21:00.760 --> 02:21:05.399
too much. Cliff had held himself
back, for he did not wish those

1789
02:21:05.399 --> 02:21:09.719
cruel men to know he could torment
him. But at the last remark,

1790
02:21:09.079 --> 02:21:15.000
he could no longer restrain his anxiety. He sprang toward the Spanish captain with

1791
02:21:15.040 --> 02:21:18.479
a pleading look on his face.
Tell me, he cried, Tell me

1792
02:21:18.520 --> 02:21:22.719
where is she? The other's lip
curled sneeringly as he stared at him.

1793
02:21:22.120 --> 02:21:26.360
You are very interested, said he. Well, to be sure, the

1794
02:21:26.440 --> 02:21:31.559
girl is pretty pretty as I ever
saw. Unfortunately for her, but you

1795
02:21:31.639 --> 02:21:35.000
may see her again. I expect
she is likely to be in the same

1796
02:21:35.040 --> 02:21:41.760
prison with you. Every drop of
blood left Cliff's face at those terrible words.

1797
02:21:41.319 --> 02:21:48.440
Bessy Stewart in prison. Merciful providence, he gasped, and then once

1798
02:21:48.479 --> 02:21:52.440
more he sprang toward the Spaniard a
look in his face, a look of

1799
02:21:52.479 --> 02:21:56.040
agony that would have touched a heart
of stone. For Heaven's sake, sir,

1800
02:21:56.120 --> 02:22:00.920
he gasped, Tell me tell you
what is she in Havana. The

1801
02:22:01.040 --> 02:22:05.399
spaniard laughed softly. Then he nodded
toward Ignacio, ask him, He said,

1802
02:22:05.760 --> 02:22:09.479
he keeps track of such people for
us. She has been here for

1803
02:22:09.559 --> 02:22:13.959
some time now, and people who
get into our prisons don't ha, they

1804
02:22:13.959 --> 02:22:18.159
don't get out in a hurry.
To them, Ignacio, no signor.

1805
02:22:18.879 --> 02:22:22.680
And then she is very pretty too, added the officer, with a laugh

1806
02:22:24.159 --> 02:22:28.319
to the agony those remarks were raising
in the mind of poor Cliff. Those

1807
02:22:28.360 --> 02:22:33.319
two brutal men seemed quite insensible,
or perhaps they were teasing him. But

1808
02:22:33.440 --> 02:22:37.680
if so, the officer had enough
then, for he turned upon his heel

1809
02:22:37.799 --> 02:22:43.120
impatiently. Enough of this nonsense,
he said, you need not worry about

1810
02:22:43.159 --> 02:22:46.719
your sweetheart, for you will probably
be dead by tomorrow. And the man

1811
02:22:46.760 --> 02:22:50.639
turned to the soldiers. Those four
prisoners, he said, pointing to the

1812
02:22:50.680 --> 02:22:56.159
sailors, will be kept here for
the present. They will probably be exchanged

1813
02:22:56.280 --> 02:23:00.399
in a few days. We do
not blame them for the crime this officer

1814
02:23:00.479 --> 02:23:03.760
here committed. As for him,
he will probably be sent over to morrow

1815
02:23:03.840 --> 02:23:09.079
Castle tonight. And then the file
of soldiers closed about the day's cadet and

1816
02:23:09.239 --> 02:23:13.639
led him out of the room.
He was scarcely able to walk by himself.

1817
02:23:15.399 --> 02:23:18.159
The last sound that he heard as
he left the room was the fiendish

1818
02:23:18.239 --> 02:23:26.319
chuckle of the triumphant Ignacio end of
chapter fourteen. Recording by Tom Weiss Tom's

1819
02:23:26.319 --> 02:23:39.399
audiobooks dot Com. Chapter fifteen of
a Prisoner of Morrow by Upton Sinclair.

1820
02:23:39.079 --> 02:23:46.040
This Librivots recording is in the public
domain. Recording by Tom Weiss, Chapter

1821
02:23:46.319 --> 02:23:52.799
fifteen in Morrow Castle. That certainly
was a day of triumph for the vindictive

1822
02:23:52.879 --> 02:23:58.159
spaniard. Not only Cliff Faraday was
made wretched, but there was his friend

1823
02:23:58.239 --> 02:24:03.479
too, and each a thousand times
more unhappy because of the misfortune of the

1824
02:24:03.520 --> 02:24:07.760
other. Cliff as he went out
of that room was almost dazed. He

1825
02:24:07.799 --> 02:24:13.760
could think of nothing. He scarcely
heard the sailors sadly bidding him goodbye,

1826
02:24:13.239 --> 02:24:16.920
nor did he notice anything else until
he heard the clang of a door behind

1827
02:24:18.000 --> 02:24:22.120
him. He realized then, from
the darkness and silence about him, that

1828
02:24:22.280 --> 02:24:26.319
he was alone in one of the
cells of the prison. It was not

1829
02:24:26.399 --> 02:24:30.879
for himself that the poor cadet feared. He could have marched out without flinching

1830
02:24:30.879 --> 02:24:35.280
and faced a dozen rifles aimed at
his heart, but it was for Bessy

1831
02:24:35.399 --> 02:24:39.559
Stewart fallen into the hands of these
brutal men. The fate that was before

1832
02:24:39.639 --> 02:24:45.479
her was enough to make Cliff wish
her dead. He racked his brains trying

1833
02:24:45.520 --> 02:24:48.920
to think of how she could have
come to Havana, could she have been

1834
02:24:48.959 --> 02:24:52.079
captured in a battle, and what
had Ignacio to do with it? But

1835
02:24:52.159 --> 02:24:56.399
poor Cliff knew nothing and could think
of nothing except that she was here,

1836
02:24:56.799 --> 02:25:01.959
and he powerless to aid her.
His own fate was terrible enough, though

1837
02:25:01.959 --> 02:25:07.639
he hardly thought of that he was
to be sent at night tomorrow. Many,

1838
02:25:07.719 --> 02:25:11.239
indeed, were the unfortunates who had
come to take that sea trip in

1839
02:25:11.319 --> 02:25:18.159
the darkness and never come back,
and sometimes not reached their destination either.

1840
02:25:18.799 --> 02:25:22.639
It was a terrible journey, that
short ride across Havana Bay. But the

1841
02:25:22.639 --> 02:25:28.280
cadet did not even stop to realize
that he had but one thought, and

1842
02:25:28.399 --> 02:25:31.719
that he kept repeating over and over
to himself in a state of confusion and

1843
02:25:31.840 --> 02:25:37.520
despair. He never moved from his
one position on the floor, and the

1844
02:25:37.600 --> 02:25:41.159
hours flew by unheeded. Once,
and once only the heavy door of the

1845
02:25:41.200 --> 02:25:45.760
cell was opened, and that by
a man who shoved in a pitcher of

1846
02:25:45.760 --> 02:25:50.440
water and a dish of food.
He must have thought the prisoner was asleep,

1847
02:25:50.360 --> 02:25:56.120
and as a fact, Cliff was
half unconscious. He was two dazed

1848
02:25:56.120 --> 02:26:00.120
to think of anything. He had
no hope and no chance of life,

1849
02:26:00.520 --> 02:26:05.559
had nothing to think of except that
Bessie Stewart was captured, and he could

1850
02:26:05.559 --> 02:26:09.959
not aid her. So the long
day wore by. It was as a

1851
02:26:09.000 --> 02:26:13.840
man waking from a deep sleep that
the wretched American looked up. When the

1852
02:26:13.879 --> 02:26:18.120
door of that cell was opened again, He found that the hours had flown

1853
02:26:18.200 --> 02:26:22.680
by, and that time for the
trip tomorrow had come. If Cliff had

1854
02:26:22.719 --> 02:26:26.840
cared about anything, then he would
have shivered with horror at that moment,

1855
02:26:28.120 --> 02:26:31.959
for it was surely gruesome and uncanny
enough. Three men there were, dark,

1856
02:26:33.040 --> 02:26:37.399
silent, shadowy figures who entered the
damp cell. The only light they

1857
02:26:37.440 --> 02:26:41.559
had was from a dark lantern,
which they flashed upon the solitary prisoner.

1858
02:26:41.200 --> 02:26:45.600
They found him still lying on the
floor, but he raised up to look

1859
02:26:45.600 --> 02:26:48.399
at them, his haggard, tortured
face shining white in the rays of the

1860
02:26:48.479 --> 02:26:52.559
lantern. Yet up commanded one of
the men, in a low muffled voice,

1861
02:26:52.959 --> 02:26:58.719
get up the face of the speaker
was shrouded in darkness, but Cliff

1862
02:26:58.840 --> 02:27:03.319
recognized the voice, and a cold
chill shot over him. Ignacio again he

1863
02:27:03.360 --> 02:27:09.520
gasped yes, and Cliff thought that
this was the last that Ignacio had gained

1864
02:27:09.520 --> 02:27:15.239
his purpose. The task of murder
was left to him, but there was

1865
02:27:15.360 --> 02:27:20.159
no chance of resistance. Cliff felt
the cold muzzle of a revolver pressed to

1866
02:27:20.239 --> 02:27:24.200
his head, and so he put
the thought away. One of the men

1867
02:27:24.280 --> 02:27:26.920
snapped a pair of handcuffs about his
wrist, as if to make sure in

1868
02:27:26.959 --> 02:27:31.079
case the ropes were not strong enough, and then one of them seized him

1869
02:27:31.079 --> 02:27:37.840
by each arm, and Ignacio stepped
behind with the lantern, and so out

1870
02:27:37.879 --> 02:27:41.000
of the cell they marched and down
the long corridor and out of the building

1871
02:27:41.159 --> 02:27:46.639
into the open air. Cliff had
a chance four but one deep breath of

1872
02:27:46.680 --> 02:27:50.639
it. A moment later he was
shoved into a wagon that was in front

1873
02:27:50.639 --> 02:27:54.799
of the door. There he was
seated between one of the men and the

1874
02:27:54.879 --> 02:27:58.840
chuckling Ignacio. The other man was
driving, and they rattled off down the

1875
02:28:00.120 --> 02:28:05.399
street where they were going. The
unfortunate victim had no idea, perhaps to

1876
02:28:05.520 --> 02:28:11.040
some lonely spot where Ignazio could torture
him to his fiendish heart's content. But

1877
02:28:11.079 --> 02:28:15.920
there was no use in making an
outcry, and Cliff realized it and sat

1878
02:28:16.159 --> 02:28:20.319
perfectly still. He would give his
enemies no more satisfaction than he could help.

1879
02:28:20.680 --> 02:28:24.680
Cliff did not think that it could
be the trip to Morrow that was

1880
02:28:24.760 --> 02:28:28.360
before him. It was too early
for such a deed of darkness. If

1881
02:28:28.360 --> 02:28:33.159
he were dropped overboard upon the way, someone might see it. But as

1882
02:28:33.200 --> 02:28:39.840
it actually happened, Morrow was his
destination, and he really reached Morrow too.

1883
02:28:39.399 --> 02:28:43.440
Perhaps the city jail was not considered
strong enough for such a villain.

1884
02:28:43.479 --> 02:28:48.479
As he and the carriage stopped at
a wharf, a small launch was waiting

1885
02:28:48.520 --> 02:28:52.360
there, and the party boarded her
and were swept across to the other side

1886
02:28:52.479 --> 02:28:58.239
in a very short while. So
in a little while the walls of Havana's

1887
02:28:58.280 --> 02:29:03.559
strongest dungeon shut upon Cliff Faraday.
He was a prisoner in Morrow, famous

1888
02:29:03.639 --> 02:29:09.399
or infamous for its deeds of horror. For it was in this place,

1889
02:29:09.440 --> 02:29:13.280
as Cliff knew, that all the
torture and cruelty of the Spanish nature had

1890
02:29:13.319 --> 02:29:18.959
been wreaked upon the unfortunate Cubans or
Americans who fell into the hands of whaler

1891
02:29:20.479 --> 02:29:24.120
it was here that Ruiz had been
murdered at hundreds of wretches, besides their

1892
02:29:24.200 --> 02:29:30.760
name and fate being hidden forever by
the walls of that horrible place. And

1893
02:29:30.840 --> 02:29:35.000
Cliff was going then under the guidance
of Ignacio. It was plain that the

1894
02:29:35.040 --> 02:29:39.959
fiendish man had secured his purpose,
for he was in command of the little

1895
02:29:41.000 --> 02:29:45.520
party, and it was his to
decide what was to be done with Cliff.

1896
02:29:46.280 --> 02:29:50.559
How the man had secured that privilege
from the authorities, Cliff could not

1897
02:29:50.639 --> 02:29:54.159
hope to know that he had gotten
it as a reward for some deed of

1898
02:29:54.239 --> 02:30:00.479
darkness, he did not doubt.
Perhaps it was for capturing Bessie's Stuart,

1899
02:30:00.520 --> 02:30:03.799
was the thought that flashed over the
lad again. When the black, silent

1900
02:30:03.840 --> 02:30:09.120
walls of moral loomed up before them
and the great gate opened. Nobody asked

1901
02:30:09.159 --> 02:30:13.920
any questions of Ignacio. He showed
a note and had passed him from century

1902
02:30:13.920 --> 02:30:18.000
to century, and the party passed
down a flight of stairs into a cold,

1903
02:30:18.360 --> 02:30:24.200
damp stone corridor, black as night. Poor Cliff could not help but

1904
02:30:24.360 --> 02:30:28.520
think of his own fate. Then. Ignacio's cruelty and hatred were such that

1905
02:30:28.600 --> 02:30:33.520
no torture would be terrible enough for
him, and he seemed to have his

1906
02:30:33.600 --> 02:30:39.120
prisoner entirely to his own discretion.
The great vault through which they were going

1907
02:30:39.280 --> 02:30:43.760
echoed dimly to the footsteps of the
party. They seemed to be down in

1908
02:30:43.760 --> 02:30:48.360
a sort of cellar, and they
were winding their way through secret passages in

1909
02:30:48.479 --> 02:30:54.159
almost absolute darkness. But Ignacio knew
the way. Probably the fellow had been

1910
02:30:54.239 --> 02:31:00.360
in those gloomy dungeons before. He
stopped suddenly and flashed the lantern upon a

1911
02:31:00.440 --> 02:31:05.120
rusty iron door. It was solid
and heavy, but Ignazio took a key

1912
02:31:05.159 --> 02:31:09.360
from his pocket and unlocked it.
It swung back, creaking dismally upon its

1913
02:31:09.440 --> 02:31:15.520
hinges, and Ignacio flashed the light
of his lantern in. He staggered back,

1914
02:31:15.680 --> 02:31:18.079
quite white with fright as he did
so, for there was a series

1915
02:31:18.079 --> 02:31:22.200
of thumping, shuffling sounds, and
a shrill noise that made his blood run

1916
02:31:22.239 --> 02:31:28.120
cold. But in a moment he
again stepped forward, laughing under his breath.

1917
02:31:28.520 --> 02:31:33.040
Cordeus, he exclaimed the rats,
they must be hungry, and he

1918
02:31:33.120 --> 02:31:37.680
stepped into the room. His foot
splashed into a small puddle of water on

1919
02:31:37.719 --> 02:31:41.639
the reeking earthen floor, but he
pressed on, flashing his lantern about the

1920
02:31:41.680 --> 02:31:46.479
granite walls. It was a tiny
black cavern into which he had come.

1921
02:31:48.280 --> 02:31:52.120
There was a stone bench at one
side of the horrible place, and in

1922
02:31:52.200 --> 02:31:56.159
the wall by it a heavy ring
and a thick iron chain. It was

1923
02:31:56.280 --> 02:32:01.520
but a minute more before Cliff's ankles
were locked fur in the ring, and

1924
02:32:01.559 --> 02:32:05.840
then he was utterly helpless for but
a moment. Ignacio stood looking at him,

1925
02:32:07.200 --> 02:32:11.840
flashing the lantern full in his face. And then he turned and motioned

1926
02:32:11.840 --> 02:32:16.000
to the two men. Without a
word, they faced about and stole away.

1927
02:32:16.399 --> 02:32:20.239
They went out of the door,
and Ignacio, trembling all over with

1928
02:32:20.319 --> 02:32:24.639
his fiendish eagerness, shut the great
iron barrier and locked it. And then

1929
02:32:24.719 --> 02:32:30.879
with a hoarse cry of rage,
he faced about. Cliff Faraday was alone

1930
02:32:30.959 --> 02:32:37.879
with his deadly and merciless foe and
the chapter fifteen recording by Tom Weiss Tom's

1931
02:32:37.920 --> 02:32:48.879
audiobooks dot Com. Chapter sixteen of
a Prisoner of Varl buy up in Sinclair.

1932
02:32:50.600 --> 02:32:54.760
This LibriVox recording is in the public
domain. Recording by Tom Weise,

1933
02:32:56.559 --> 02:33:05.200
Chapter sixteen in the Dungeon Vaults.
Ignacio was a horrible object to contemplate at

1934
02:33:05.239 --> 02:33:09.600
that moment, and it was but
little wonder that Cliff turned sick and faint

1935
02:33:09.639 --> 02:33:13.879
as he watched him. The man
seemed fairly turned into a devil. Then

1936
02:33:13.360 --> 02:33:20.040
he seemed insane. He was alone, absolutely alone with his victim, and

1937
02:33:20.200 --> 02:33:24.799
no one under heaven could stop him. He had the key himself, and

1938
02:33:24.879 --> 02:33:28.959
he had his prisoner iron bound and
helpless. For several moments, the man

1939
02:33:30.079 --> 02:33:33.120
fairly danced about the place, yelling
as if to prove to his hated foe

1940
02:33:33.319 --> 02:33:37.639
that there was no care for anything
anymore. And then suddenly he made a

1941
02:33:37.719 --> 02:33:43.000
leap at him. He crouched in
front of him until his gleaming eyes shone

1942
02:33:43.040 --> 02:33:46.639
into his face, and his hot
breath could be felt his clawlike fingers.

1943
02:33:46.680 --> 02:33:52.479
He seemed scarcely able to keep away
from Cliff. Yankee, he hissed in

1944
02:33:52.479 --> 02:33:56.079
a wild voice, Yankee, do
you know where you are? The fiendish

1945
02:33:56.120 --> 02:34:01.239
man saw the white look on his
victim's face, and he laughed. You

1946
02:34:01.319 --> 02:34:05.000
do know, he cried, You
do know, ha, You are in

1947
02:34:05.159 --> 02:34:09.239
Morrow, deep in the lowest vault, and no soul can come near you.

1948
02:34:09.799 --> 02:34:13.079
Near you, hear me. He
struck him in the face as if

1949
02:34:13.120 --> 02:34:18.680
to draw his attention. Listen,
yes, stare at me. I don't

1950
02:34:18.719 --> 02:34:22.680
wonder you quake. You have defied
me, ha ha, you have ruined

1951
02:34:22.719 --> 02:34:26.959
all my plans. But I've got
you now, And oh how I will

1952
02:34:26.040 --> 02:34:30.799
pay you back. How I will
twist you and tear you. You shall

1953
02:34:30.840 --> 02:34:35.440
pay for everything, and you may
shriek and scream, and no one will

1954
02:34:35.479 --> 02:34:39.959
know it more than if you did
not listen. And again from sure Bravado,

1955
02:34:41.440 --> 02:34:46.159
Ignacio raised his voice and shouted the
sound died in the grave like cell

1956
02:34:46.479 --> 02:34:52.159
the granite and iron shut it in. You see, handed Ignacio, not

1957
02:34:52.280 --> 02:34:54.920
a soul heard, and you are
mine. Ah, they hate you,

1958
02:34:54.959 --> 02:34:58.520
and they like me, for I
told them about that girl. Ha.

1959
02:35:01.079 --> 02:35:05.079
Ignacio's face was almost touching cliffs as
he hissed that you can't get away,

1960
02:35:05.280 --> 02:35:09.079
he yelled, And oh the things
that I shall do to you. I've

1961
02:35:09.079 --> 02:35:13.000
got instruments upstairs to tear you,
to pieces, burn your eyes out,

1962
02:35:13.440 --> 02:35:18.040
but never kill you. Oh no, And all night you will scream,

1963
02:35:18.600 --> 02:35:22.680
and all tomorrow if I choose,
and I will watch you, I and

1964
02:35:22.799 --> 02:35:26.000
the rats, and the rats will
eat you too. As if to add

1965
02:35:26.079 --> 02:35:31.719
horror to the devil's gleeful statement,
a huge, slimy rat ran across Cliff's

1966
02:35:31.719 --> 02:35:35.479
body. Just then. It made
him shiver all over, and Ignacio danced

1967
02:35:35.520 --> 02:35:39.200
about as he saw him. Ah, he cried, you begin, but

1968
02:35:39.319 --> 02:35:43.760
wait till I start, Wait till
you begin to feel some agony, till

1969
02:35:43.799 --> 02:35:48.479
I begin to tear your eyes out. Then will you yell? When I

1970
02:35:48.520 --> 02:35:52.239
get through with you? Hai,
When you are dead, perhaps weeks from

1971
02:35:52.239 --> 02:35:56.399
now, you won't mind the rats
anymore. You may stay in here,

1972
02:35:56.600 --> 02:36:00.520
in this grave, for the Yankees
to find if they capture morrow as they

1973
02:36:00.600 --> 02:36:03.840
say they will. Oh, I
will make it a sight for them.

1974
02:36:03.840 --> 02:36:09.399
Cliff could not have stood strain of
that horrible ordeal much longer. He would

1975
02:36:09.440 --> 02:36:13.600
have faded away. But then the
fiendish spaniard's impatience got the better of him,

1976
02:36:13.639 --> 02:36:18.120
and he turned and crept toward the
door again. I will get the

1977
02:36:18.239 --> 02:36:22.239
instruments, he whispered, hoarsely,
the torture instruments sent to Maria. What

1978
02:36:22.360 --> 02:36:28.319
things they are? And how you
will shriek. A moment later he turned

1979
02:36:28.360 --> 02:36:31.000
the key and stepped out. He
shut the door and locked it, and

1980
02:36:31.159 --> 02:36:35.360
Cliff was left alone in all the
blackness and horror of that slimy place.

1981
02:36:37.239 --> 02:36:39.600
Never, as long as he lives, will he forgive the agony of that

1982
02:36:39.719 --> 02:36:45.159
long wait. He sat straining his
ears and listening for the first sign of

1983
02:36:45.239 --> 02:36:48.879
the fiend's return. He knew that
he might come back any instant and begin

1984
02:36:50.000 --> 02:36:54.280
his horrible, merciless tormenting. Cliff
knew that man for a devil incarnate,

1985
02:36:54.680 --> 02:37:00.280
he would sooner have looked for mercy
in a Hyaena. For Ignacio was of

1986
02:37:00.319 --> 02:37:03.840
the race of the Inquisition, and
of the horrors of the inquisition. This

1987
02:37:05.040 --> 02:37:09.520
was a fair sample. The wretched
American knew that he was alone, and

1988
02:37:09.600 --> 02:37:13.399
that he could look for no rescue. He was buried in the very center

1989
02:37:13.440 --> 02:37:18.120
of the earth, or the center
of hades, and his cries would be

1990
02:37:18.200 --> 02:37:24.440
heard only by Ignacio. Cliff knew
also that the frenzied villain would make haste,

1991
02:37:24.680 --> 02:37:28.440
that he would come back, panting
and eager, appalled. Half days

1992
02:37:28.479 --> 02:37:33.520
he sat and listened. The first
thing he would hear would be the grating

1993
02:37:33.520 --> 02:37:39.280
of the key, and then would
come horrors inconceivable seconds were years. At

1994
02:37:39.319 --> 02:37:43.239
that time. Cliff thought that his
hair would turn white from the suspense.

1995
02:37:43.799 --> 02:37:48.040
And then suddenly he gave a guess. There he was. Yes, the

1996
02:37:48.120 --> 02:37:52.600
key was sliding in, and now
it was turning, and then slowly the

1997
02:37:52.639 --> 02:37:58.200
door was opened, groaning and creaking, Cliff imagined the dark crouching figure he

1998
02:37:58.319 --> 02:38:01.319
had left the landard behind. While
the deeds of darkness went on, the

1999
02:38:01.440 --> 02:38:05.799
tomb like cell was absolutely light,
and Cliff could not see one thing.

2000
02:38:07.440 --> 02:38:11.319
But he heard the door shut,
heard the key turned. He shivered as

2001
02:38:11.360 --> 02:38:16.639
in an a goof fit above the
noise of the scampering rats. He heard

2002
02:38:16.639 --> 02:38:20.920
a soft, stealthy footstep as the
man crept across the floor, and then

2003
02:38:20.959 --> 02:38:26.840
came the scratching sound of a hand
running along the wall. He was feeling

2004
02:38:26.879 --> 02:38:31.840
for him, and a moment later
Cliff gave an involuntary cry as he felt

2005
02:38:31.840 --> 02:38:37.840
the hand touch his face. Perfectly
motionless and paralyzed, he sat and fancied

2006
02:38:37.879 --> 02:38:41.520
what might be going on in the
blackness. After that, he felt the

2007
02:38:41.639 --> 02:38:46.200
hand passed downward along his body,
felt it fumbling at the manacles that bound

2008
02:38:46.239 --> 02:38:50.200
his ankles to the wall of the
cell. Then, to his surprise his

2009
02:38:50.319 --> 02:38:56.600
consternation, he heard a key softly
turned. What happened then almost took away

2010
02:38:56.719 --> 02:39:01.399
his breath. The iron fell off. He was loose. Can he be

2011
02:39:01.479 --> 02:39:07.360
going to take me elsewhere? Cliff
gasped, but he nerved himself for one

2012
02:39:07.440 --> 02:39:11.639
thing, gathered his muscles for it. Before Ignacio secured him again, he

2013
02:39:11.639 --> 02:39:16.879
would get a kick, one that
would almost kill him. Eagerly, Cliff

2014
02:39:16.920 --> 02:39:20.920
waited to see what would happen next. But what did happen was more startling

2015
02:39:20.959 --> 02:39:26.360
and incredible. Yet he could scarcely
believe his senses, for he felt the

2016
02:39:26.440 --> 02:39:30.120
hands running down his arm. They
fumbled at his wrists for an instant,

2017
02:39:30.520 --> 02:39:35.079
and then, with a clatter,
the handcuffs dropped to the ground. Merciful,

2018
02:39:35.120 --> 02:39:39.360
heavens, Cliff thought to himself,
Can he be insane? For a

2019
02:39:39.399 --> 02:39:43.799
moment? He actually thought so.
Then it flashed over him that perhaps the

2020
02:39:43.879 --> 02:39:48.559
fiend was torturing him with the most
horrible of all tortures. Hope he'll wish

2021
02:39:48.600 --> 02:39:54.280
he hadn't, Cliff gasped as he
braced his muscles. But that was not

2022
02:39:54.479 --> 02:39:58.000
the true solution of the mystery.
There were stranger things yet, stranger and

2023
02:39:58.120 --> 02:40:03.920
stranger. The only things that bound
Cliff now were the ropes that had held

2024
02:40:03.959 --> 02:40:07.000
his wrists. At first, he
tugged at them, but in vain.

2025
02:40:07.600 --> 02:40:11.120
There was a moment's silent pause,
and then, to Cliff's unutterable consternation,

2026
02:40:11.600 --> 02:40:18.159
he heard another sound, a sound
from across the room, a low grating

2027
02:40:18.200 --> 02:40:22.639
sound. It left him breathless.
Some one else was coming into the cell,

2028
02:40:24.319 --> 02:40:26.840
and with one rush, the true
state of affairs swept over Cliff.

2029
02:40:28.520 --> 02:40:33.479
This isn't Ignacio, he padded,
And a moment later he received proof positive

2030
02:40:33.559 --> 02:40:37.079
of that fact. For again the
hand stole down his arms, and there

2031
02:40:37.079 --> 02:40:41.000
came a couple of quick slashing cuts
that hurt his wrists more than the ropes,

2032
02:40:41.520 --> 02:40:45.840
but seconds were precious. Then in
one of them, Cliff's hands were

2033
02:40:45.879 --> 02:40:48.879
free, and his pulses leaped as
he felt the knife thrust into his palm.

2034
02:40:50.360 --> 02:40:54.600
He clutched it, and he heard
one word whispered in English. Fight.

2035
02:40:56.559 --> 02:40:58.799
And then the dark figure stole swiftly
over to the other side of the

2036
02:41:00.040 --> 02:41:03.319
cell. It was at the same
instant that the door was opened and the

2037
02:41:03.440 --> 02:41:11.319
light of a lantern flashed in.
It was Ignacio returning. End of chapter

2038
02:41:11.399 --> 02:41:22.760
sixteen. Recording by Tom Weiss Tom's
audiobooks dot Com. Chapter seventeen of a

2039
02:41:22.799 --> 02:41:28.920
Prisoner of Morrow by Upton Sinclair.
This libre box recording is in the public

2040
02:41:28.959 --> 02:41:35.520
domain. Recording by Tom Weiss,
Chapter seventeen, Out of the Dungeon.

2041
02:41:35.440 --> 02:41:41.159
The furious Spaniard came in like some
wild beasts, fairly gnashing his teeth and

2042
02:41:41.319 --> 02:41:45.559
snarling to himself in his rage.
Cliff had but a moment, but he

2043
02:41:45.600 --> 02:41:48.440
was quick to think. He sprang
back to his old position, slipping his

2044
02:41:48.520 --> 02:41:54.559
feet into the iron ring and putting
his hands behind him, and Ignacio never

2045
02:41:54.600 --> 02:41:58.840
noticed any difference. In fact,
he did not look at Cliff until he

2046
02:41:58.879 --> 02:42:01.559
had set down the lantern and shut
the heavy door. He turned the key

2047
02:42:01.600 --> 02:42:07.959
again and then faced about, touching
low and muttering to himself. He stole

2048
02:42:07.280 --> 02:42:13.440
swiftly across the floor, and his
gleaming eyes flashed in the Cliff's face.

2049
02:42:13.959 --> 02:42:16.440
Yankee, He hissed, I am
back, do you hear me? Ha

2050
02:42:16.559 --> 02:42:20.280
ha? As if to make sure
that he had hurt him, he struck

2051
02:42:20.360 --> 02:42:24.399
him once more across the face.
Listen. He cried, ha ha,

2052
02:42:24.719 --> 02:42:31.200
and trembled. Cliff's blood rose at
that blow, but he held himself back

2053
02:42:31.319 --> 02:42:35.319
and watched and waited. That was
a moment of peril for the treacherous spaniard.

2054
02:42:35.840 --> 02:42:41.079
What would have been his terror may
be imagined had he known the victim

2055
02:42:41.159 --> 02:42:45.719
into whose eyes he was glaring,
was clutching in one hand a sharp knife,

2056
02:42:46.200 --> 02:42:50.280
ready at any instant to plunge it. Into him, But the fellow

2057
02:42:50.360 --> 02:42:54.040
had no idea of his peril.
He was at the very height of his

2058
02:42:54.120 --> 02:42:58.639
triumph, and his dark, beady
eyes gleamed ferociously out of the shadows of

2059
02:42:58.639 --> 02:43:01.559
that damp and silent vaul. But
he must have noticed that some of the

2060
02:43:01.600 --> 02:43:05.760
color had come back in the Cliff's
face. You are still defiant, he

2061
02:43:05.840 --> 02:43:11.440
cried, You still do not tremble. But wait, wait till you begin

2062
02:43:11.520 --> 02:43:15.159
to feel what I have for you. Did you see those iron things I

2063
02:43:15.239 --> 02:43:18.479
brought in? Hah, there is
one. I will fasten about your forehead

2064
02:43:18.879 --> 02:43:22.600
and draw it tight till your very
brain verse, and then you will like

2065
02:43:22.719 --> 02:43:26.680
it. Hey? Will you turn
pale? Then will you scream? Ha

2066
02:43:26.799 --> 02:43:31.239
ha? And I shall dance around
you and watch you. Will you be

2067
02:43:31.360 --> 02:43:35.760
sorry you interfered with me? Then? Ignacio might have taunted his victim that

2068
02:43:35.840 --> 02:43:41.079
way for hours, but he was
too eager and impatient. He whirled about

2069
02:43:41.120 --> 02:43:45.200
and sprang toward the door Santa Maria. He panted, I will get it.

2070
02:43:45.239 --> 02:43:48.200
I will begin, I must hear
him yelling, and he snatched up

2071
02:43:48.239 --> 02:43:52.600
something from the floor, and,
taking the lanyard in his other hand,

2072
02:43:52.040 --> 02:43:56.639
bounded back toward cliff. Are you
ready, he exclaimed, Yankee pig begin

2073
02:43:56.680 --> 02:44:01.000
to scream, and he flashed the
lanyard light upon him. That was the

2074
02:44:01.040 --> 02:44:05.559
crisis of the situation, for as
the Spaniard looked, he made the appalling

2075
02:44:05.639 --> 02:44:11.079
discovery that his victim's feet were untied, and he staggered back, dazed.

2076
02:44:11.360 --> 02:44:18.920
Pardius, he guessed, and that
exclamation was his last sound. Cliff had

2077
02:44:18.959 --> 02:44:22.159
nerved himself for the spring, for
he knew that Ignacio might have a revolver,

2078
02:44:22.280 --> 02:44:26.559
and that no risk could be taken. But at that instant, a

2079
02:44:26.639 --> 02:44:31.040
dark, shadowy form rose up behind
Ignacio, and one of his iron instruments

2080
02:44:31.120 --> 02:44:35.159
was raised above his head. It
came down with a hissing sound and then

2081
02:44:35.200 --> 02:44:41.920
a heavy thud, and Ignazio dropped
without a groan, without even a quiver.

2082
02:44:41.559 --> 02:44:48.479
He lay perfectly motionless. His villainy
was at an end. Cliff had

2083
02:44:48.479 --> 02:44:50.440
sprung up as he saw that,
and he gave a gasp of joy.

2084
02:44:50.959 --> 02:44:56.959
Then he sprang toward his deliverer.
The shadowy stranger took no notice of him

2085
02:44:56.000 --> 02:45:00.520
at first, but stooped and picked
up the lantern, turning the light of

2086
02:45:00.520 --> 02:45:05.040
it upon Ignacio. The villain's face
was fixed in a look of horror.

2087
02:45:05.399 --> 02:45:09.159
It made both Cliff and the stranger
shudder. The latter regarded it for a

2088
02:45:09.200 --> 02:45:13.840
moment silently. The cadet could not
see, but he was fingering a knife,

2089
02:45:15.079 --> 02:45:20.440
as if undecided what to do.
Who his mysterious deliverer was. Cliff

2090
02:45:20.520 --> 02:45:24.719
had no idea. The single ray
from the lantern did not furnish light enough

2091
02:45:24.719 --> 02:45:28.760
for him to see anything, and
the person had spoken but one word fight,

2092
02:45:30.559 --> 02:45:33.680
But the Cadet's heart was full of
gratitude. He sprang toward the stranger.

2093
02:45:33.959 --> 02:45:37.520
Who are you? He cried,
I owe my life to you.

2094
02:45:37.680 --> 02:45:41.719
Let me thank you. But the
other motioned him back, and then for

2095
02:45:41.799 --> 02:45:46.840
a few moments there was a silence
while both stared at Ignacio's silent form.

2096
02:45:46.680 --> 02:45:50.120
When the stranger moved, it was
to point toward the door. Go,

2097
02:45:50.840 --> 02:45:54.680
he said to Cliff, in a
low whispering voice, Go, we will

2098
02:45:54.760 --> 02:46:00.520
leave him here. And with that, the mysterious person unlocked the gray iron

2099
02:46:00.520 --> 02:46:05.719
barrier and followed Cliff out. The
door clanged upon that ghastly scene, and

2100
02:46:05.879 --> 02:46:09.719
Cliff Faraday gave a sigh of relief. Yet there was so much before him

2101
02:46:09.719 --> 02:46:15.040
that he soon forgot that hideous nightmare. For where was he going, and

2102
02:46:15.159 --> 02:46:20.000
who was this stranger? And why
had he rescued him? And what did

2103
02:46:20.040 --> 02:46:24.040
he mean to do to Cliff?
Nothing could be learned in that dark corridor,

2104
02:46:24.319 --> 02:46:28.760
for Cliff could see no more there
than inside of the room. But

2105
02:46:28.879 --> 02:46:33.879
the stranger stumbled on and Cliff followed. They came to an iron ladder leading

2106
02:46:33.959 --> 02:46:37.879
up to the floor above. Up
that the man went, the cadet following

2107
02:46:37.239 --> 02:46:41.959
That took them to another long stone
passage. Dark as ever on they went,

2108
02:46:43.200 --> 02:46:46.799
turning and winding about, but still
not hesitating, and then suddenly the

2109
02:46:46.799 --> 02:46:50.840
man halted in front of a grated
door. The key was in the lock,

2110
02:46:52.200 --> 02:46:56.159
and the door opened promptly as he
turned it enter, said he.

2111
02:46:56.760 --> 02:47:00.360
Cliff went in, and he heard
the door shut behind him. It lashed

2112
02:47:00.360 --> 02:47:03.879
over him, then that he had
only been taken to another cell. But

2113
02:47:03.920 --> 02:47:07.639
when he whirled about, he saw
that the stranger had entered two. The

2114
02:47:07.760 --> 02:47:11.879
dark figure brushed past him and went
across the room. A moment afterward,

2115
02:47:11.959 --> 02:47:16.239
Cliff hurt him in the act of
striking a match, and then the light

2116
02:47:16.280 --> 02:47:20.000
of a lamp lit up the little
room. By it, the eager cadet

2117
02:47:20.120 --> 02:47:26.719
could see his rescuer, and he
stared anxiously. Further secrecy seemed not intended.

2118
02:47:26.280 --> 02:47:31.040
The stranger faced about, and each
looked at the other steadfastly. What

2119
02:47:31.200 --> 02:47:37.360
the mysterious man saw was a tall, handsome American in a blue uniform,

2120
02:47:37.879 --> 02:47:41.200
his face rather pale. Cliff,
in turn, saw also a man in

2121
02:47:41.239 --> 02:47:46.239
a blue uniform. He had to
take but one glance to see that he

2122
02:47:46.319 --> 02:47:50.120
was a lieutenant in the Spanish army. He was a tall, finely proportioned

2123
02:47:50.120 --> 02:47:54.319
man, rather young, and with
a slight dark mustache. He had the

2124
02:47:54.399 --> 02:47:58.399
dark skin and the features of a
Spaniard, but Cliff thought he had never

2125
02:47:58.440 --> 02:48:03.159
seen a finer looking military man.
For a moment, Cliff gazed at him

2126
02:48:03.159 --> 02:48:07.959
in silence. Then he stepped toward
him. Tell me, sir, he

2127
02:48:07.040 --> 02:48:11.920
said, why have you done this? The officer answered, in a low,

2128
02:48:11.040 --> 02:48:15.920
quiet voice. You will soon know, said he. Do not be

2129
02:48:16.079 --> 02:48:18.879
impatient. You have saved me from
a horrible fate, said the cadet,

2130
02:48:20.159 --> 02:48:22.840
his voice choking. I do not
know how to thank you. Do not

2131
02:48:24.000 --> 02:48:28.760
try, answered the other. You
have someone else to think, and then

2132
02:48:28.799 --> 02:48:33.399
he became silent again, watching Cliff. He seemed to be very much interested

2133
02:48:33.399 --> 02:48:37.000
in him, from the way he
studied the American's face, and once he

2134
02:48:37.040 --> 02:48:41.559
gave a slight sigh. Cliff looked
at him in surprise, but the man

2135
02:48:41.680 --> 02:48:46.159
turned away and he went toward the
door. I will return soon, said

2136
02:48:46.200 --> 02:48:50.040
he again, in that quiet,
firm voice. Wait here. There was

2137
02:48:50.120 --> 02:48:54.040
nothing for Cliff to do but wait
for When the door shut, he was

2138
02:48:54.120 --> 02:48:58.920
locked in the cell. That man's
action was a mysterious one. Indeed,

2139
02:49:00.479 --> 02:49:03.879
it left the cadet plenty to think
of. He saw now where he got

2140
02:49:03.879 --> 02:49:09.200
the keys. He was evidently one
of the officers in charge of the castle.

2141
02:49:09.799 --> 02:49:13.440
But why had he done it?
Cliff was utterly baffled before that question.

2142
02:49:15.159 --> 02:49:18.440
But it was not for very long, he soon learned, and in

2143
02:49:18.479 --> 02:49:24.479
a startling and unexpected way. Cliff
had not noticed it. But there was

2144
02:49:24.520 --> 02:49:28.600
another door to that cell. It
was behind him, leading to a small

2145
02:49:28.680 --> 02:49:31.760
room in the rear. While he
stood there, motionless and lost in thought,

2146
02:49:31.959 --> 02:49:37.600
waiting for the spaniard's return, that
door was silently opened, and a

2147
02:49:37.680 --> 02:49:41.719
figure stood watching him. And then
suddenly it stepped out and came across the

2148
02:49:41.840 --> 02:49:46.559
room. The cadet heard it them
and whirled about. He took one glance,

2149
02:49:48.000 --> 02:49:52.959
and then he staggered back with a
cry of consternation. It was Bessie

2150
02:49:52.079 --> 02:49:56.040
Stewart. For one instant, the
two stood and stared at each other,

2151
02:49:56.399 --> 02:50:01.239
as if to make sure that their
eyes did not see them, And then,

2152
02:50:01.280 --> 02:50:03.959
with a cry of delight that came
from his very soul, Cliff sprang

2153
02:50:05.079 --> 02:50:09.280
toward the girl. Bessie Stewart looked
as if she had been through some terrible

2154
02:50:09.479 --> 02:50:13.399
ordeal, for her face was pale. The emotion of meeting Cliff almost overcame

2155
02:50:13.440 --> 02:50:18.879
her, and she burst into tears
upon his shoulder. Cliff himself was so

2156
02:50:18.959 --> 02:50:22.399
dazed that he hardly knew what to
think. He caught the girl in his

2157
02:50:22.559 --> 02:50:26.399
arms to keep her from falling.
Bessie, he cried, how on earth

2158
02:50:26.440 --> 02:50:30.760
did you get here? The Cadet's
brain was in a whirl at that moment

2159
02:50:31.000 --> 02:50:33.879
he began to see what the spaniard
meant when he said it was for some

2160
02:50:33.959 --> 02:50:39.200
other person's sake that he had rescued
Cliff. It was for her sake,

2161
02:50:39.719 --> 02:50:43.639
and it must have been by some
terrible sacrifice that she had saved him from

2162
02:50:43.639 --> 02:50:50.639
the torture. Bessie, he cried, tell me that officer what the girl

2163
02:50:50.719 --> 02:50:54.760
looked up Through her tears, she
exclaimed, it is all right. Wait,

2164
02:50:56.639 --> 02:51:01.079
And at that instant Cliff heard a
key turn in the door and knew

2165
02:51:01.120 --> 02:51:05.639
that it was the man returning.
Cliff gazed into the girl's face, and

2166
02:51:05.719 --> 02:51:09.840
he saw a look of joy upon
it that partially reassured him. Then he

2167
02:51:09.920 --> 02:51:13.559
looked up and saw that the Spanish
lieutenant had entered and was watching them.

2168
02:51:15.319 --> 02:51:18.920
In his quiet way. He studied
the faces of the two. He saw

2169
02:51:18.959 --> 02:51:22.879
the look of happiness on Bessie Stewart's
face, and he must have known that

2170
02:51:22.920 --> 02:51:26.920
it was because she had met the
cadet again. Cliff saw him press his

2171
02:51:26.000 --> 02:51:31.360
lips together resolutely. The cadet was
watching him with the intensest anxiety, for

2172
02:51:31.520 --> 02:51:35.719
he hoped in that man's actions to
read the meaning of this mystery. But

2173
02:51:35.840 --> 02:51:41.040
the spaniard's handsome face showed little emotion, though his chest heaved and fell as

2174
02:51:41.040 --> 02:51:46.879
he stood there. And then suddenly
he stepped forward toward the two. I

2175
02:51:46.959 --> 02:51:50.239
have brought it, miss Stewart,
he said, with a dignified bow.

2176
02:51:50.959 --> 02:51:54.040
He held out a heavy cloth cape, which the girl flung over her shoulders.

2177
02:51:54.479 --> 02:52:00.479
Then, leaning on Cliff's arm,
she stepped toward the door. Ready,

2178
02:52:00.719 --> 02:52:03.959
she said, and without another word, the officer turned and led the

2179
02:52:03.959 --> 02:52:09.280
way out of the cell. He
shut the door and locked it behind him,

2180
02:52:09.479 --> 02:52:13.600
and then went on down the corridor. Cliff was mystified beyond expression,

2181
02:52:15.120 --> 02:52:20.680
but he asked no questions. The
three went on silently. Bessie Stuart was

2182
02:52:20.719 --> 02:52:24.319
so weak that she had to be
half carried. They had gone but a

2183
02:52:24.360 --> 02:52:28.639
short way down the long passage before
they met a sentry with a gun upon

2184
02:52:28.639 --> 02:52:33.159
his shoulder. He glanced at them
inquiringly, but the lieutenant was not one

2185
02:52:33.280 --> 02:52:39.000
who could be asked for explanations,
and the soldier saluted and passed on.

2186
02:52:39.680 --> 02:52:43.479
They passed through two heavily grated doors, each guarded in a similar way,

2187
02:52:43.600 --> 02:52:50.239
but still not a word was spoken, and then suddenly saw the passage broaden

2188
02:52:50.399 --> 02:52:54.120
out into a wide hall, and
a moment later he came to what he

2189
02:52:54.200 --> 02:52:58.319
knew to be the great door by
which he had first entered. There were

2190
02:52:58.319 --> 02:53:03.959
two men standing on guardened either sentries
or jailers. Cliff could not see which.

2191
02:53:03.520 --> 02:53:07.840
The party came to a halt.
Garcia said the lieutenant, these are

2192
02:53:07.840 --> 02:53:13.159
two prisoners Americans whom I have been
directed to take across the bay. The

2193
02:53:13.200 --> 02:53:18.680
man saluted and bowed respectfully. Have
you the order? He inquired, I

2194
02:53:18.799 --> 02:53:22.360
have none. The commander had no
time to give me one. There is

2195
02:53:22.520 --> 02:53:26.879
some hurry in the matter. I
believe it is somewhat irregular, Lieutenant.

2196
02:53:26.200 --> 02:53:31.200
I will assume full responsibility, said
the other quietly. The man scanned the

2197
02:53:31.239 --> 02:53:35.840
two prisoners closely. They are not
even bound, he objected. I will

2198
02:53:35.879 --> 02:53:41.319
assume full responsibility, said the officer
again. He spoke rather sharply, and

2199
02:53:41.479 --> 02:53:46.239
without another word. The man hastened
to swing back the door, and the

2200
02:53:46.280 --> 02:53:50.639
three stepped out of that black prison
into the open air and under the broad

2201
02:53:50.719 --> 02:53:54.600
sky of heaven. And the lieutenant
turned toward the two Americans. You are

2202
02:53:54.639 --> 02:54:01.520
free, he said, quietly.
Fly for your lives and of Chapter seventeen,

2203
02:54:01.000 --> 02:54:13.079
recording by Tom Weiss Tom's audiobooks dot
Com. Chapter eighteen of a Prisoner

2204
02:54:13.120 --> 02:54:18.319
of Morrow by Upton Sinclair. This
LibriVox recording is in the public domain.

2205
02:54:18.799 --> 02:54:26.879
Recording by Tom Weis, Chapter eighteen, Cliff Faraday's sacrifice. It is needless

2206
02:54:26.879 --> 02:54:31.639
to say that Cliff stared at the
man in amazement, but an instant before

2207
02:54:31.799 --> 02:54:35.639
he had heard him state that he
was willing to assume responsibility for them as

2208
02:54:35.680 --> 02:54:41.159
prisoners, and now he was saying
that they were free, but there was

2209
02:54:41.200 --> 02:54:45.920
no time to ask any questions.
Bessy Stewart was clinging to Cliff's arm and

2210
02:54:46.079 --> 02:54:50.280
urging him on, Have you got
some place to hide us? She inquired

2211
02:54:50.319 --> 02:54:54.719
anxiously of the officer. It is
hardly likely that I would lead you here,

2212
02:54:54.959 --> 02:54:58.959
was the other's quiet answer. Come. He led them away from the

2213
02:54:58.000 --> 02:55:03.079
prison. Short distance off there was
standing a small closed carriage. Here,

2214
02:55:03.079 --> 02:55:09.079
it is, said the spaniard Stepan. Cliff helped the girl inside and then

2215
02:55:09.280 --> 02:55:11.920
entered himself. He expected the officer
to follow, but he did not.

2216
02:55:13.600 --> 02:55:18.079
He clambered up with the driver,
and the carriage rattled off down the road.

2217
02:55:18.879 --> 02:55:22.360
Cliff saw his chance. Then he
turned eagerly toward the girl, Bessy.

2218
02:55:22.479 --> 02:55:26.639
He cried, for Heaven's sake,
tell me what this all means.

2219
02:55:26.040 --> 02:55:30.920
Who is this man? And why
is he setting us at liberty? The

2220
02:55:31.040 --> 02:55:35.000
girl sank back weakly in the seat. I will tell you the story,

2221
02:55:35.040 --> 02:55:37.799
Cliff, she said. There is
plenty of time, for we have a

2222
02:55:37.879 --> 02:55:43.479
long ways to go. He is
ruining himself for us, Cliff exclaimed,

2223
02:55:43.680 --> 02:55:46.399
for you, why he will be
court martialed and shot if he lets us

2224
02:55:46.399 --> 02:55:50.120
get away. I know it,
groaned the girl choking down a sob.

2225
02:55:50.399 --> 02:55:54.079
I know it. We talked it
all over beforehand, but it was a

2226
02:55:54.200 --> 02:55:58.680
question of his life or mine.
Are you sure he is not tricking us

2227
02:55:58.760 --> 02:56:03.920
yet? Us Cliff kidnapping us?
The girl smiled, sadly, you do

2228
02:56:05.040 --> 02:56:09.799
not understand the circumstances, she said, Wait and let me tell you.

2229
02:56:09.600 --> 02:56:13.799
Cliff missed in his friend the old, self reliant manner that she had always

2230
02:56:13.879 --> 02:56:18.600
had. She was nervous and weak, and it was plain that she was

2231
02:56:18.719 --> 02:56:22.319
not well, and Cliff was trembling
all over with anxiety as he watched her

2232
02:56:22.680 --> 02:56:26.680
go on. He cried, tell
me, how did you get here in

2233
02:56:26.719 --> 02:56:30.559
the first place? You left me
with, Gomez, began the girl,

2234
02:56:30.639 --> 02:56:33.399
taking a deep breath. I did
not stay very long, for he was

2235
02:56:33.479 --> 02:56:37.639
marching about and I could not stand
the strain. He wanted me to go

2236
02:56:37.719 --> 02:56:41.280
to one of the Cuban villages in
the interior, where his family was,

2237
02:56:41.719 --> 02:56:46.440
but I was anxious to get back
to the United States, and so I

2238
02:56:46.559 --> 02:56:50.920
came here to Havannah. To Havannah, yes, for I thought no one

2239
02:56:50.959 --> 02:56:54.399
would know me, and Ignacio saw
you, yes, and recognized me.

2240
02:56:54.840 --> 02:57:00.680
But that was only the other day
where where you Meanwhile, I had a

2241
02:57:00.760 --> 02:57:03.239
letter to the British Council, and
I stayed at his home. There was

2242
02:57:03.280 --> 02:57:07.000
so much suffering in this city that
I couldn't stay idle. I used to

2243
02:57:07.040 --> 02:57:11.799
go to hospitals to take care of
the poor people, the Cubans, and

2244
02:57:11.959 --> 02:57:16.559
that was how I met Lieutenant Hernandez. Who is he? He is the

2245
02:57:16.639 --> 02:57:20.239
man who has rescued us. He
had been hurt in the Mantauz's bombardment and

2246
02:57:20.399 --> 02:57:24.159
one of his arms was terribly cut. I took care of him. He

2247
02:57:24.319 --> 02:57:30.680
was there because the military hospitals were
crowded, and Cliff, I I,

2248
02:57:30.680 --> 02:57:33.719
I guess he fell in love with
me. The girl flushed as she said

2249
02:57:33.760 --> 02:57:39.319
that I should not tell. Perhaps
she went on hastily, but it is

2250
02:57:39.360 --> 02:57:43.200
your right to know this, and
you would not understand if I didn't tell

2251
02:57:43.280 --> 02:57:48.159
you. Cliff, he asked me
to marry him. Cliff started and turned

2252
02:57:48.200 --> 02:57:52.040
pale. Bessy, Bessy, he
exclaimed, in horror. The thought of

2253
02:57:52.079 --> 02:57:58.280
that girl's marrying the Spanish officer was
terrible. It flashed over him that that

2254
02:57:58.600 --> 02:58:01.879
was the reason why the rest you
had been attempted. Oh, Bessy,

2255
02:58:01.040 --> 02:58:05.360
he cried again. Cliff had never
breathed a word of love to her in

2256
02:58:05.440 --> 02:58:11.280
his life, but all through their
trying journey through Cuba, he had protected

2257
02:58:11.280 --> 02:58:15.959
her, fairly worshiped her, and
he had thought she understood his feelings.

2258
02:58:16.559 --> 02:58:20.120
And now he thought that he had
lost her. She had promised to be

2259
02:58:20.319 --> 02:58:24.079
that officer's wife. It was no
wonder that he felt his hands grow icy.

2260
02:58:24.879 --> 02:58:28.559
His heart fairly stood still as he
waited for the girl to go on.

2261
02:58:30.440 --> 02:58:33.920
I will tell you, said Bessy. You must know in the first

2262
02:58:33.959 --> 02:58:37.200
place that this man is a gentleman, a hero. In fact, you

2263
02:58:37.239 --> 02:58:41.399
will understand it when I tell you
what he has done. Go on.

2264
02:58:43.239 --> 02:58:46.719
When he left the hospital, as
I say, he begged me to marry

2265
02:58:46.799 --> 02:58:50.799
him, declared that he would resign
from the army if I would. The

2266
02:58:50.879 --> 02:58:54.399
girl was breathing hard as she continued. It was evident that the subject pained

2267
02:58:54.399 --> 02:58:58.079
her. I felt so sorry for
him, she said, in a low

2268
02:58:58.120 --> 02:59:03.559
trembling voice, for I think it
has nearly broken his heart. I refused

2269
02:59:03.639 --> 02:59:07.399
him. I told him that I
liked him, but I did not I

2270
02:59:07.440 --> 02:59:11.040
could not marry him. I had
been kind to him because he was ill.

2271
02:59:11.559 --> 02:59:15.559
He swore that he would die for
me and Cliff. I think he

2272
02:59:15.600 --> 02:59:20.360
has nearly carried out his promise.
Bessy Stewart choked down a sob I refused

2273
02:59:20.440 --> 02:59:24.920
him, she said again, and
then came the horrible Ignacio. He saw

2274
02:59:24.959 --> 02:59:30.000
me on the street. That was
three days ago, and that same day

2275
02:59:30.079 --> 02:59:35.840
I was placed under arrest. What
for why Ignacio knew that I had been

2276
02:59:35.840 --> 02:59:39.559
fighting with Gomez. You know,
we had a fight with some Spaniards when

2277
02:59:39.559 --> 02:59:43.399
he was along, and so there
was no chance for me. The British

2278
02:59:43.440 --> 02:59:46.280
counsel did all he could for me, but there was no hope. I

2279
02:59:46.360 --> 02:59:50.799
could not deny the charges. And
oh, Cliff, I have had a

2280
02:59:50.920 --> 02:59:54.520
frightful time. I was taken over
to those horrible dungeons in Morrow, and

2281
02:59:54.639 --> 02:59:58.079
I was sentenced to death. I
was to be taken out and shot to

2282
02:59:58.120 --> 03:00:03.559
Morrow. The girl stopped for a
few moments to recover her composure. And

2283
03:00:03.719 --> 03:00:07.719
how did you find out about me? Asked Cliff. I will tell you,

2284
03:00:07.799 --> 03:00:13.000
said Bessy, but first I must
go on about this Lieutenant Hernandez.

2285
03:00:13.479 --> 03:00:16.840
I did not know it, but
he was stationed over here, and when

2286
03:00:16.840 --> 03:00:20.479
he found out what had happened to
me, he managed to come in to

2287
03:00:20.520 --> 03:00:24.600
see me. And then Cliff felt
able to complete that story. I suppose

2288
03:00:24.680 --> 03:00:30.120
said he that he offered to free
you if you would marry him. Bessy

2289
03:00:30.200 --> 03:00:33.639
Stewart smiled, sadly, you do
not know the man, she said,

2290
03:00:35.040 --> 03:00:39.440
I will tell you what he did
say. I can almost hear him saying

2291
03:00:39.479 --> 03:00:45.200
it. What Miss Stewart, he
said, you have said you do not

2292
03:00:45.360 --> 03:00:48.920
love me, and I think you
love some one else. I do not

2293
03:00:48.120 --> 03:00:52.479
know whom. But I will not
make you unhappy by urging you any more.

2294
03:00:54.120 --> 03:00:56.559
I might take advantage of your present
position to get you to promise to

2295
03:00:56.600 --> 03:01:01.239
marry me, but I will not. If you will be ready to night,

2296
03:01:01.399 --> 03:01:05.040
I will help you to escape and
prove what I said about dying for

2297
03:01:05.159 --> 03:01:11.040
you. The girl stopped and sat
silent, too much moved to speak,

2298
03:01:11.600 --> 03:01:16.799
and Cliff was too astonished. That
was indeed the act of a noble nature.

2299
03:01:16.399 --> 03:01:20.159
The cadet saw it all then,
why the man had freed them,

2300
03:01:20.200 --> 03:01:26.520
and why he and the girl were
both so quiet and sad. Lieutenant Hernandez

2301
03:01:26.600 --> 03:01:31.879
had given his life for hers.
It was fully a moment before anything more

2302
03:01:31.079 --> 03:01:37.040
was said. Then Bessy Stewart began
again, in a low voice, about

2303
03:01:37.079 --> 03:01:41.559
you. She said, it was
the lieutenant who told me quite by accident.

2304
03:01:41.959 --> 03:01:46.319
He said there were five Americans captured, one a cadet, and that

2305
03:01:46.479 --> 03:01:48.520
he was to be killed. When
I asked the name, and he told

2306
03:01:48.520 --> 03:01:52.920
me, I fainted dead away,
And I think that hurt the lieutenant more

2307
03:01:52.959 --> 03:01:58.520
than anything. Why I told him
the story how you had twice rescued me

2308
03:01:58.600 --> 03:02:03.040
from this spaniards And he asked,
He asked if you were his rival.

2309
03:02:03.799 --> 03:02:09.239
The girl stopped abruptly, and you
said that I was, I hope,

2310
03:02:09.479 --> 03:02:13.280
said Cliff quietly. Most women would
have been embarrassed by a question such as

2311
03:02:13.319 --> 03:02:18.920
that, but Bessy Stewart was not. There was some of the old time

2312
03:02:18.000 --> 03:02:22.479
self possession in her voice. As
she responded. She turned and looked fairly

2313
03:02:22.520 --> 03:02:26.520
into Cliff's eyes. I knew you
well enough to speak my mind, she

2314
03:02:26.639 --> 03:02:31.360
said, yes, I told him
that you were, And then the two

2315
03:02:31.440 --> 03:02:37.559
sat perfectly silently, looking at each
other. It was a very few words

2316
03:02:37.600 --> 03:02:41.520
they had said, but they covered
a lifetime of feeling. In that quiet

2317
03:02:41.559 --> 03:02:46.760
way, and under those strange circumstances, Cliff had unboosomed his heart, and

2318
03:02:46.920 --> 03:02:52.239
Bessie Stewart had done the same.
It was the first word that Cliff had

2319
03:02:52.239 --> 03:02:56.239
ever said to indicate how he felt
toward her. For the two sat in

2320
03:02:56.319 --> 03:03:01.959
silence for a minute or so,
and then Cliff went on, You told

2321
03:03:01.959 --> 03:03:05.840
this officer that I was his rival, said he that you loved me,

2322
03:03:05.200 --> 03:03:09.399
and that I was the only barrier
to his hopes. I did, said

2323
03:03:09.399 --> 03:03:13.959
the girl, And he still was
willing to save my life. You see

2324
03:03:13.959 --> 03:03:18.319
what he has done, answered the
other. He said that he loved me,

2325
03:03:18.680 --> 03:03:22.440
that he would risk his life to
make me happy. And here we

2326
03:03:22.479 --> 03:03:26.399
are, but not happy, Cliff
added, half under his breath. Then

2327
03:03:26.440 --> 03:03:31.079
again there was a long silence.
One cannot say much when one feels as

2328
03:03:31.120 --> 03:03:37.440
deeply as those two felt. Then
Cliff thought of the heroism of that quiet

2329
03:03:37.479 --> 03:03:41.959
Spanish officer, and his heart went
out toward him. He fancied what the

2330
03:03:41.000 --> 03:03:48.440
man's own feelings must be, the
loneliness and the desolation he had ruined himself,

2331
03:03:48.920 --> 03:03:54.479
accepted voluntary disgrace and a shameful death, and all in order that a

2332
03:03:54.559 --> 03:04:00.159
woman who had been kind to him
might be set free and made happy the

2333
03:04:00.239 --> 03:04:03.360
death. There could be no doubt
when that officer was caught he would have

2334
03:04:03.440 --> 03:04:09.000
it to face, and he would
face it for the sake of Bessie Stewart.

2335
03:04:09.680 --> 03:04:13.479
And moreover, he was aiding Cliff, his rival, the one who

2336
03:04:13.559 --> 03:04:16.440
was robbing him of his heart's desire. He was helping him to freedom so

2337
03:04:16.559 --> 03:04:20.799
that the cadet, when his work
in the war was done, might claim

2338
03:04:20.879 --> 03:04:26.200
the woman he loved as his reward. That was heroism, Not the noisy

2339
03:04:26.280 --> 03:04:31.120
kind in the battle, which everyone
sees and applauds, but the quiet kind

2340
03:04:31.200 --> 03:04:35.840
that knows it is right and cares
for no one else. Cliff felt that

2341
03:04:35.920 --> 03:04:41.120
he could worship such a man as
that, And it is needless to say

2342
03:04:41.239 --> 03:04:46.959
that his conscience troubled him. What
right had he to accept such a sacrifice.

2343
03:04:46.680 --> 03:04:52.200
But the alternative was a terrible one. The lieutenant might flee with them

2344
03:04:52.239 --> 03:04:56.600
to the United States, And then
Cliff could not finish the thought. It

2345
03:04:56.719 --> 03:05:01.879
made him shudder. Just then Bessie
Stewart spoke again, Cliff. She said,

2346
03:05:03.479 --> 03:05:05.840
I have something to say to you, and I shall speak plainly,

2347
03:05:05.879 --> 03:05:09.879
for there is no time to hesitate. I have told you how I feel

2348
03:05:09.959 --> 03:05:15.520
toward you. I have told you
that I loved you. Neither of us

2349
03:05:15.520 --> 03:05:18.559
would have declared our feelings, I
suppose if it had not been for this

2350
03:05:18.600 --> 03:05:24.319
situation. But I have been with
you for months and I have never known

2351
03:05:24.360 --> 03:05:28.319
you to do anything I could not
admire. And mine is no childish fancy,

2352
03:05:28.399 --> 03:05:31.520
Cliff, for we have been doing
the work of men, you and

2353
03:05:31.600 --> 03:05:37.799
I Cliff. The girl choked back
a sob and then went on, we

2354
03:05:37.879 --> 03:05:41.719
must stop, She said, stop
where we are. Cliff knew what was

2355
03:05:41.760 --> 03:05:46.879
coming, and he felt his blood
surging. Bessy Stuart's hand was in his,

2356
03:05:48.520 --> 03:05:50.879
and it was trembling. For a
moment, she could not speak,

2357
03:05:52.319 --> 03:05:56.680
the words would not come. But
then with that terrible self command she sometimes

2358
03:05:56.680 --> 03:06:03.959
displayed, she mastered her and turned
to look into her companion's face. Cliff.

2359
03:06:03.000 --> 03:06:07.200
She said, you know what I
mean. You must let me marry

2360
03:06:07.280 --> 03:06:11.959
this officer. Cliff had known,
and so he did not move when he

2361
03:06:13.040 --> 03:06:18.479
heard those awful words. He sat
perfectly, motionless, almost frozen. He

2362
03:06:18.600 --> 03:06:22.879
felt the girl's hand turned cold in
his. The carriage rolled on, and

2363
03:06:24.000 --> 03:06:26.959
for at least one long, long
minute, there was not a sound.

2364
03:06:28.719 --> 03:06:31.959
The girl was listening, trembling again, and Cliff, half dazed, was

2365
03:06:33.040 --> 03:06:39.120
thinking to himself, thinking again and
again of that death knell. You must

2366
03:06:39.200 --> 03:06:45.079
let me marry this officer, And
it was true. Cliff knew it.

2367
03:06:45.079 --> 03:06:48.719
It was his duty, and the
feeling lingered in his mind that if he

2368
03:06:48.760 --> 03:06:54.479
had half the heroism of that Spaniard, he would have said so long ago.

2369
03:06:54.360 --> 03:06:58.120
At last he spoke. His mouth
was dry and his voice husky,

2370
03:06:58.600 --> 03:07:03.120
but he forced the words out,
and they were the right ones. Yes,

2371
03:07:03.360 --> 03:07:07.879
said he You must marry him,
and we must never meet again.

2372
03:07:09.879 --> 03:07:15.120
And then once more came the terrible
silence. Bessie Steward heard him choke down

2373
03:07:15.120 --> 03:07:18.639
a sob, and her heart was
ready to break, for this Cadet was

2374
03:07:18.680 --> 03:07:24.120
the dearest friend she had. She
had been through terrible dangers with him,

2375
03:07:24.159 --> 03:07:28.200
coming to love him more every day
as she saw the brave man's daring,

2376
03:07:28.680 --> 03:07:33.040
and no one could ever know now
how she felt toward him. But there

2377
03:07:33.200 --> 03:07:37.280
was her duty, and though she
was nearly ready to faint, she sat

2378
03:07:37.399 --> 03:07:41.239
perfectly motionless by his side. And
so for two or three minutes they rode

2379
03:07:41.239 --> 03:07:46.879
on in silence. Then suddenly they
heard the driver of the carriage stopping his

2380
03:07:46.959 --> 03:07:50.440
horses. We are there, said
Cliff in a husky voice. He turned

2381
03:07:50.479 --> 03:07:54.920
to look at the girl once more. He found that she was gazing at

2382
03:07:54.000 --> 03:07:58.319
him, and their eyes met.
There was anguish in both of their faces.

2383
03:07:58.680 --> 03:08:03.440
Miss Stewart could scarcely see for her
tears, but Cliff took her hands

2384
03:08:03.440 --> 03:08:09.719
in his all the emotion of his
lifetime seemed crowded into that moment. He

2385
03:08:09.840 --> 03:08:13.600
bent toward her, and their lips
met in one trembling kiss, And then,

2386
03:08:13.600 --> 03:08:18.239
with a set look on his face, the cadet rose from his seat

2387
03:08:18.280 --> 03:08:22.280
and opened the door of the carriage, which had stopped and of Chapter eighteen

2388
03:08:22.959 --> 03:08:35.200
recording by Tom Weiss Tom's audiobooks dot
com. Chapter nineteen of A Prisoner of

2389
03:08:35.280 --> 03:08:41.319
Morrow by Upton Sinclair. This LibriVox
recording is in the public domain. Recording

2390
03:08:41.360 --> 03:08:50.280
by Tom Weiss. Chapter nineteen a
farewell, Cliff found Lieutenant Hernandez waiting for

2391
03:08:50.319 --> 03:08:54.600
them to come out. Both he
and the driver had descended from the carriage.

2392
03:08:54.120 --> 03:08:58.280
It was quite dark where they were, apparently surrounded by a lonely woods,

2393
03:08:58.680 --> 03:09:03.879
but by such light as there was. Cliff looked at the officer anxiously.

2394
03:09:03.719 --> 03:09:07.399
Now since he had heard that story, he was more than anxious to

2395
03:09:07.440 --> 03:09:13.920
study his face to see what manner
of man this was. The lieutenant still

2396
03:09:13.959 --> 03:09:18.079
wore the calm, quiet look.
He seemed almost inspired. If you will

2397
03:09:18.120 --> 03:09:22.959
follow me a short distance, he
said, we shall reach a place where

2398
03:09:22.040 --> 03:09:28.680
we can remain concealed until morning.
He started across the country after a few

2399
03:09:28.719 --> 03:09:31.920
words with the driver of the carriage. They had not gone very far before

2400
03:09:31.959 --> 03:09:37.200
the faint roaring of the breakers on
the beach became audible. You see,

2401
03:09:37.239 --> 03:09:41.120
said the Spaniard. We are near
the sea. We are only about four

2402
03:09:41.159 --> 03:09:45.399
miles from Havana Harbor, and you
may make an effort to reach the blockading

2403
03:09:45.479 --> 03:09:48.879
fleet in the morning. Obviously,
it would not do to try it in

2404
03:09:48.920 --> 03:09:52.520
the darkness. They might be run
down or lost, or fired on,

2405
03:09:52.920 --> 03:09:58.000
or swept out to sea. But
it will be daylight in a few hours,

2406
03:09:58.159 --> 03:10:01.319
said the lieutenant. And then the
three went on in silence until suddenly

2407
03:10:01.319 --> 03:10:05.920
a small hut loomed up in the
darkness. It is deserted, said their

2408
03:10:07.000 --> 03:10:11.239
guide. We can conceal ourselves there. And accordingly they crept through the low

2409
03:10:11.280 --> 03:10:16.719
doorway, and, finding the place
covered with straw inside, sat down to

2410
03:10:16.799 --> 03:10:20.520
wait. There was no conversation among
them, for each one of the trio

2411
03:10:20.680 --> 03:10:26.520
was wrapped in his own sad thoughts. The place was in absolute darkness,

2412
03:10:26.799 --> 03:10:31.239
and so they could not see each
other. But Cliff was revolving a plan

2413
03:10:31.360 --> 03:10:35.239
over in his thoughts, and it
was not very many minutes before he made

2414
03:10:35.319 --> 03:10:39.280
up his mind. He rose to
his feet again. Excuse me for a

2415
03:10:39.319 --> 03:10:43.360
while, he said, I will
return, and with that he hurried out

2416
03:10:43.360 --> 03:10:48.000
of the hut. Bessy Stewart knew
why he had gone, and after a

2417
03:10:48.040 --> 03:10:52.440
moment's silence, she turned toward the
lieutenant. My friend has left, she

2418
03:10:52.559 --> 03:10:54.399
said, in order that I may
have a chance to talk to you.

2419
03:10:56.239 --> 03:11:01.719
The officer answered nothing. The girl
went on slowly. Lieutenant Hernandez, she

2420
03:11:01.879 --> 03:11:05.399
said, will you answer me a
question? What is it? What do

2421
03:11:05.479 --> 03:11:09.440
you intend to do? How do
you mean? I mean that you will

2422
03:11:09.479 --> 03:11:13.399
be court martialed if you return to
Havana, Yes, said the other,

2423
03:11:13.440 --> 03:11:18.959
I know that. Do you mean
to return there? Such are my plans

2424
03:11:18.000 --> 03:11:22.680
at present? Was the quiet response. Miss Stewart thought a moment before she

2425
03:11:22.760 --> 03:11:28.239
began again. Lieutenant Hernandez, She
said, at last, you have been

2426
03:11:28.239 --> 03:11:31.799
a hero to day. I have
done my best, said the man.

2427
03:11:31.520 --> 03:11:35.520
You have done what few men would
have. You have given your life for

2428
03:11:35.719 --> 03:11:41.360
our safety. Yes, answered he
I have. But there are other heroes,

2429
03:11:41.440 --> 03:11:46.200
Lieutenant Hernandez said the girl, you
have inspired us too. That is

2430
03:11:46.200 --> 03:11:50.760
what I wish to speak to you
about. I have a better plan than

2431
03:11:50.799 --> 03:11:54.520
your return to Havanah, what is
it? Come to America with us?

2432
03:11:54.920 --> 03:12:00.639
And then then I will do my
best to repay your favor. I will

2433
03:12:00.680 --> 03:12:03.840
do as you have asked me.
You mean, I mean that I will

2434
03:12:03.959 --> 03:12:09.040
marry you the day that we arrive. The girl said those words in a

2435
03:12:09.079 --> 03:12:13.079
low, earnest tone. She saw
the officer give a start. She even

2436
03:12:13.120 --> 03:12:18.239
fancied she heard his heart begin to
beat louder, but he said nothing.

2437
03:12:18.879 --> 03:12:22.440
The two sat as they were in
silence. The spaniard was having his struggle.

2438
03:12:22.479 --> 03:12:28.040
Then the pause continued for at least
five minutes. It was broken only

2439
03:12:28.079 --> 03:12:33.000
once. Does Cadet Faraday know of
this, asked the officer. He does,

2440
03:12:33.280 --> 03:12:35.879
said the girl. We talked it
over in the carriage, and he

2441
03:12:35.920 --> 03:12:39.959
said that he was willing to give
you up. He did. I am

2442
03:12:41.000 --> 03:12:45.159
glad that I saved him, muttered
the man. Bessy Stuart was a little

2443
03:12:45.200 --> 03:12:48.319
puzzled to catch the drift of that
last remark, but she soon saw what

2444
03:12:48.440 --> 03:12:52.760
it meant. She was quite startled
by the decision to which the spaniard came,

2445
03:12:54.600 --> 03:12:58.440
Miss Stewart. He began, in
a low trembling voice, this is

2446
03:12:58.520 --> 03:13:01.079
indeed a reward for my help helping
you. I cannot tell you how much

2447
03:13:01.120 --> 03:13:05.799
I appreciated. It shows me that
those I helped were worth helping, and

2448
03:13:05.959 --> 03:13:11.600
it makes me all the more sorry. Sorry, yes, sorry, that

2449
03:13:11.680 --> 03:13:18.440
it cannot be. The girl gave
a slight guess what cannot be. I

2450
03:13:18.479 --> 03:13:22.040
cannot marry you. I will not. The officer paused for a moment,

2451
03:13:22.120 --> 03:13:26.920
then he went on. It is
plain to me, he said, that

2452
03:13:26.959 --> 03:13:30.680
you have worshiped this cadet. I
do not blame you after what I have

2453
03:13:30.760 --> 03:13:33.399
just seen of him. I have
heard of his bravery too, and he

2454
03:13:33.520 --> 03:13:37.280
is worthy of you more so than
I am. As I say, Miss

2455
03:13:37.360 --> 03:13:41.319
Stewart, you love him and you
do not love me. You make this

2456
03:13:41.440 --> 03:13:46.719
proposal to me from a sense of
duty, and I cannot think of accepting

2457
03:13:46.760 --> 03:13:50.159
it. You would never be happy
again. The girl started to protest,

2458
03:13:50.399 --> 03:13:54.719
but the lieutenant held up his hand
to stop her. No, he said,

2459
03:13:54.040 --> 03:13:58.319
there are more reasons, even stronger
ones. I could not think of

2460
03:13:58.360 --> 03:14:01.159
going to the United States. I
could not think of turning traitor to my

2461
03:14:01.239 --> 03:14:05.000
country. You forget, since I
have helped you that I am still a

2462
03:14:05.040 --> 03:14:09.799
Spaniard, and while this war continues, I shall remain with my countrymen.

2463
03:14:11.079 --> 03:14:13.399
But they will kill you. They
may do what they please with me.

2464
03:14:13.799 --> 03:14:18.639
It is not for me to say
I have done my duty. I will

2465
03:14:18.719 --> 03:14:24.319
not become a traitor. The officer
was silent for a moment, sadly staring

2466
03:14:24.360 --> 03:14:30.159
ahead in the darkness. You Americans
forget how we Spaniards feel, he began

2467
03:14:30.239 --> 03:14:33.399
slowly. You think us foolish to
fight for a dying country. I know

2468
03:14:33.680 --> 03:14:37.000
that it is dying, for I
am not one of those who blind their

2469
03:14:37.000 --> 03:14:41.120
eyes than boast. I know that
we are bankrupt and disorganized, our men

2470
03:14:41.239 --> 03:14:46.000
dying, and our enemies closing in
on us. We cannot keep up with

2471
03:14:46.159 --> 03:14:50.239
modern nations. But Misstewart, it
is still Spain, my native land.

2472
03:14:50.680 --> 03:14:56.559
My friends are there, my memories
are there, and Spain's enemies are mine.

2473
03:14:56.479 --> 03:15:00.840
There was a gleam in the proud
Castilian's eye as he said that,

2474
03:15:01.280 --> 03:15:05.239
but then he sank back again with
a sigh. It is useless, he

2475
03:15:05.319 --> 03:15:09.000
said. Foolish if you will,
and I am tired of the struggle,

2476
03:15:09.319 --> 03:15:13.920
tired of weeping at my country's trials
for follies. I shall be glad to

2477
03:15:13.000 --> 03:15:16.959
leave. I can die without a
murmur. When I go back to Havana,

2478
03:15:18.319 --> 03:15:20.479
I shall have no one to care
about me, and it will soon

2479
03:15:20.559 --> 03:15:24.799
be over. The man stopped abruptly. I am through, he said.

2480
03:15:26.639 --> 03:15:28.239
You say you have no one to
care for you, said the girl,

2481
03:15:28.559 --> 03:15:33.559
I will care for you, but
the officer only shook his head. I

2482
03:15:33.559 --> 03:15:35.799
should ruin your hopes, he said. You must not think of me at

2483
03:15:35.840 --> 03:15:39.120
all. If I came, I
should have no way of taking care of

2484
03:15:39.159 --> 03:15:43.559
you. I will stay in Cuba, and remember that I have done this

2485
03:15:43.719 --> 03:15:48.000
to make you happy, because I
love you. If I leave you unhappy,

2486
03:15:48.079 --> 03:15:52.879
I shall know that I have died
for nothing. And there the matter

2487
03:15:52.000 --> 03:15:56.280
ended. The calm officer only shook
his head to all of Bessie's arguments.

2488
03:15:56.719 --> 03:16:03.479
He had his mind made up as
firm as adamant. It seems strange that

2489
03:16:03.479 --> 03:16:05.799
the girl should be trying to persuade
him to marry her, but in her

2490
03:16:05.799 --> 03:16:11.920
earnestness she never thought of that.
The man's sacrifice quite appalled her. She

2491
03:16:11.079 --> 03:16:15.680
felt that she was not worth it, and she did all she could to

2492
03:16:15.719 --> 03:16:20.799
persuade him of her sincerity, But
Lieutenant Hernandez was unmoved. I know that

2493
03:16:20.840 --> 03:16:24.840
you love him, he said,
and I know that your heart is ready

2494
03:16:24.879 --> 03:16:28.280
to break at the thought of leaving
him. I can see it in the

2495
03:16:28.319 --> 03:16:31.920
way you look at him. I
knew it when you fainted when I spoke

2496
03:16:31.959 --> 03:16:35.440
of his danger. And I do
not blame you, for he is a

2497
03:16:35.440 --> 03:16:39.959
braver man than I. But I
will not be coward enough to separate you.

2498
03:16:39.959 --> 03:16:43.520
You would hate me, hate you, yes, and every decent American

2499
03:16:43.559 --> 03:16:48.600
too. What else has any man
for a traitor? I should kill myself

2500
03:16:48.600 --> 03:16:52.879
for shame. No. No,
And the girl realized, to her despair

2501
03:16:52.000 --> 03:16:56.840
what he said was true. But
oh how her heart went out to that

2502
03:16:56.879 --> 03:17:00.760
man. The officer rose to his
feet just then, as if to close

2503
03:17:00.799 --> 03:17:05.600
the painful discussion. Bessy Stewart rose
too, and she held out her hand

2504
03:17:05.600 --> 03:17:09.280
to him. She took and kissed
it reverently. Then, his face still

2505
03:17:09.319 --> 03:17:13.559
calm and dignified, he stepped to
the door. It is best, he

2506
03:17:13.639 --> 03:17:18.239
said, that I should go.
Can you not wait to see us start?

2507
03:17:18.639 --> 03:17:20.959
Asked the girl. You will find
a boat on the shore just in

2508
03:17:22.000 --> 03:17:24.200
front of you, began the other, And you had best start as soon

2509
03:17:24.360 --> 03:17:28.760
as it is light. But there
is nobody about here, and you are

2510
03:17:28.799 --> 03:17:31.959
not in any danger. As to
my staying, I will watch you from

2511
03:17:33.000 --> 03:17:35.959
the woods a short ways back.
It would not be well for me to

2512
03:17:37.000 --> 03:17:41.520
stay here, or I am human. The man paused for a moment as

2513
03:17:41.520 --> 03:17:45.680
he gazed into the girl's beautiful face. I am very weak, he said,

2514
03:17:45.719 --> 03:17:50.479
with a sad smile, I might
accept the reward you offer, and

2515
03:17:50.600 --> 03:17:54.719
with that he bowed, then turned
resolutely on his heel and strode away into

2516
03:17:54.760 --> 03:18:00.360
the darkness. As he did so, he passed Cliff, and Cliff as

2517
03:18:00.360 --> 03:18:03.000
he saw him leave, rush toward
the dark figure that stood in the doorway

2518
03:18:03.040 --> 03:18:07.440
of the hut. What had been
Cliff's agony of mind may be imagined.

2519
03:18:07.920 --> 03:18:11.639
When he saw the lieutenant going away, it had flashed over him that perhaps

2520
03:18:11.719 --> 03:18:16.319
he refused the act of treason implied
in his going to America, and Cliff's

2521
03:18:16.360 --> 03:18:20.200
heart began to throb once more with
a wild hope he had tried so hard

2522
03:18:20.239 --> 03:18:24.879
to suppress. Bessie. He panted, Bessie, what did he say?

2523
03:18:26.000 --> 03:18:30.520
He has gone back to Havana,
was the answer. For an instant,

2524
03:18:30.520 --> 03:18:33.840
the two stood staring at each other, their hearts throbbing with an emotion they

2525
03:18:33.840 --> 03:18:39.559
were ashamed to call joy. Cliffs
saw the girl's slender figure trembling, and

2526
03:18:39.639 --> 03:18:43.799
he sprang forward and caught her in
his arms. Just as she fainted dead

2527
03:18:43.799 --> 03:18:50.840
away end of chapter nineteen. Recording
by Tom Weiss Tom's audiobooks dot Com.

2528
03:18:56.959 --> 03:19:01.760
Chapter twenty of a Prisoner of Marrow
buy up to in Sinclair. This LibriVox

2529
03:19:01.840 --> 03:19:07.680
recording is in the public domain.
Recording by Tom Weiss, Chapter twenty An

2530
03:19:07.760 --> 03:19:13.920
Unexpected Peril. How the long hours
between then and sunrise passed away? Those

2531
03:19:13.959 --> 03:19:20.639
two hardly knew. Bessie Stewart,
exhausted by her long nervous strain, sank

2532
03:19:20.719 --> 03:19:24.319
into a restless slumber, and Cliff
sat with his eyes fixed on the gradually

2533
03:19:24.399 --> 03:19:30.399
lightening doorway. Cliff wanted to feel
happy, but he scarcely dared, for

2534
03:19:30.559 --> 03:19:35.760
he had before his mind the thought
of that lonely Spanish officer waiting somewhere in

2535
03:19:35.760 --> 03:19:39.280
the distance to see them depart and
leave him to his fate. It was

2536
03:19:39.280 --> 03:19:43.520
a solemn thought, and it made
Cliff tremble. He almost wished that the

2537
03:19:43.600 --> 03:19:48.719
man had not rescued him. But
then again he thought of Ignacio and his

2538
03:19:48.799 --> 03:19:52.959
frenzied cruelty, and he felt that
he would have died himself to save any

2539
03:19:52.000 --> 03:19:56.159
man from such a fate as that. And now it was done, and

2540
03:19:56.239 --> 03:20:01.280
there was no undoing it. There
was no way of aiding the lieutenant,

2541
03:20:01.600 --> 03:20:05.680
no way of persuading him, nothing
but death for him to face. But

2542
03:20:05.760 --> 03:20:09.000
as Cliff sat there through the early
hours of the morning and gazed upon that

2543
03:20:09.159 --> 03:20:13.040
silent figure by his side, he
felt that his love for that girl was

2544
03:20:13.120 --> 03:20:18.520
consecrated by that hero's sacrifice. There
was a light of high purpose in the

2545
03:20:18.520 --> 03:20:24.440
brave man's eyes. He was accepting
his life and hers at the cost of

2546
03:20:24.479 --> 03:20:28.440
another's, and the terms were such
as made him feel the meaning of his

2547
03:20:28.520 --> 03:20:33.799
existence. It was to be no
child's play, no blind hunt or pleasure,

2548
03:20:33.040 --> 03:20:37.559
or wealth or fame, but a
life with a purpose and meaning,

2549
03:20:37.040 --> 03:20:41.920
a struggle for the right. I
think his face will always be watching me,

2550
03:20:43.239 --> 03:20:46.159
but Cliff and there were moments in
his after life when the thought that

2551
03:20:46.159 --> 03:20:50.959
that quiet Spaniard's eyes were watching made
him shrink from the base things of light.

2552
03:20:52.079 --> 03:20:56.159
The light that shone in from the
eastern sky gradually grew brighter and brighter,

2553
03:20:56.399 --> 03:21:01.559
and Cliff awakened from his solemn reverie
to the duty that lay before him.

2554
03:21:01.559 --> 03:21:05.239
Then he had Bessie Stewart to protect
and to lead. From that position

2555
03:21:05.360 --> 03:21:09.920
of Harold. It would indeed be
a frightful calamity. He thought, if

2556
03:21:09.959 --> 03:21:16.920
that sacrifice of Lieutenant Hernandez should avail
nothing, if that girl should fall once

2557
03:21:16.959 --> 03:21:22.120
more into the clutches of the Spaniards. For they are not all like that

2558
03:21:22.239 --> 03:21:26.520
man, thought the lad And so
he weighed nervously until the light was bright

2559
03:21:26.639 --> 03:21:31.000
enough, and then very gently he
awakened her and assisted her to rise.

2560
03:21:31.799 --> 03:21:35.840
The girl was weak and exhausted,
but she gathered her strength for this last

2561
03:21:35.920 --> 03:21:39.799
final effort. We have not far
to go, Cliff said, and we

2562
03:21:39.879 --> 03:21:43.040
will soon be saved. The two
haulted for a moment at the doorway of

2563
03:21:43.079 --> 03:21:46.920
the hut and gazed out in a
faint gray light. They could not make

2564
03:21:46.959 --> 03:21:50.200
out the line of the shore beyond, but they heard the noise of the

2565
03:21:50.239 --> 03:21:56.239
breakers and knew that it was not
far away, and so, half carrying

2566
03:21:56.280 --> 03:22:01.200
his friend, Cliff set out in
the direction of the sound once. Only

2567
03:22:01.360 --> 03:22:05.159
he turned again, that was to
take a parting look in the direction he

2568
03:22:05.239 --> 03:22:09.959
knew Lieutenant Hernandez to be. But
he could make out only a dim line

2569
03:22:09.959 --> 03:22:13.680
of woods behind him. No one
could be seen, and the place was

2570
03:22:13.760 --> 03:22:18.239
lonely and silent and grave. But
Cliff fancied those quiet eyes were watching him

2571
03:22:18.280 --> 03:22:22.559
from the distance. There was no
time to be lost, however, for

2572
03:22:22.680 --> 03:22:26.239
no one knew when they might chance
to meet with some of the enemy.

2573
03:22:26.600 --> 03:22:30.760
They were in the midst of a
thickly settled country, and so they made

2574
03:22:30.799 --> 03:22:35.399
their way swiftly down to the shore. There they found a row boat drawn

2575
03:22:35.520 --> 03:22:37.879
up on the beach a little beyond
them. Cliff was startled to see a

2576
03:22:37.920 --> 03:22:41.959
figure standing by it, but it
proved to be only a boy, and

2577
03:22:43.040 --> 03:22:46.920
he hailed them, and then disappeared. Cliff knew that he had been sent

2578
03:22:46.959 --> 03:22:52.280
there to guard the boat. It
was more of the lieutenant's thoughtfulness. The

2579
03:22:52.399 --> 03:22:56.879
sight of that guarantee of safety revived
Bessy Stuart's spirits considerably. Her step grew

2580
03:22:56.959 --> 03:23:01.520
quicker, and in a few moments
they reached the spot. There were a

2581
03:23:01.559 --> 03:23:03.959
pair of oars in the boat,
which was a small one. Without a

2582
03:23:05.000 --> 03:23:07.440
word, Cliff set to work to
put it off from the shore. That

2583
03:23:07.600 --> 03:23:11.079
was as hard a task as could
have been given him, for great waves

2584
03:23:11.120 --> 03:23:16.520
were rolling upon the beach. But
Cliff was an athlete and a sailor besides,

2585
03:23:16.879 --> 03:23:20.120
and the realization of their danger nerved
his arm. He seated the girl

2586
03:23:20.159 --> 03:23:24.159
in the bow and ran the boat
out with a rush, he caught a

2587
03:23:24.200 --> 03:23:28.120
favorable moment. He plunged on until
the water was up to his waist,

2588
03:23:28.159 --> 03:23:31.680
and then he leaped into the boat
and seized the oars, just as another

2589
03:23:31.719 --> 03:23:35.280
great wave swept them in towards shore
again. But Cliff pulled for his life

2590
03:23:35.280 --> 03:23:39.200
and held his own, and when
the current set out again, he breasted

2591
03:23:39.200 --> 03:23:46.280
the line of breakers and reached the
sea beyond. Bessie Stewart sat perfectly motionless,

2592
03:23:46.600 --> 03:23:50.600
grasping the gunwale until she saw that
they were safe. Then she gave

2593
03:23:50.639 --> 03:23:54.799
a slight gasp and closed her eyes
wearily. Cliff had but one object,

2594
03:23:56.000 --> 03:23:58.079
and that was to get as far
from the coast of Cuba as he could.

2595
03:24:00.040 --> 03:24:03.920
Stroke that he rode put him further
away from that dreaded shore, and

2596
03:24:03.040 --> 03:24:07.399
he knew, though he could not
see them, that far out to sea

2597
03:24:07.479 --> 03:24:11.760
lay the vessels of the blockading squadron
once inside of them, and the anxious

2598
03:24:11.760 --> 03:24:16.559
fugitives were safe. And so Cliff
put every ounce of muscle he had into

2599
03:24:16.600 --> 03:24:20.680
that task. Not a word more
was spoken, but the man's lips were

2600
03:24:20.719 --> 03:24:24.559
set in a desperate resolve, and
as broad back heaved as he caught his

2601
03:24:24.639 --> 03:24:28.959
way on, there was a heavy
sea, and progress was frightfully slow.

2602
03:24:30.600 --> 03:24:33.959
Now that they were so near to
safety, to be recaptured would be frightful,

2603
03:24:35.040 --> 03:24:39.680
indeed, But yet the cadet knew
that Spanish soldiers on the shore might

2604
03:24:39.799 --> 03:24:43.280
catch sight of them at any moment
and come rushing down the beach to open

2605
03:24:43.360 --> 03:24:46.280
fire. Cliff had rescued one man
from just such a plight as that,

2606
03:24:46.680 --> 03:24:52.840
and so as he rode he glanced
nervously along the shore, but he saw

2607
03:24:52.879 --> 03:24:56.040
no one, and no one saw
him. The light brightened until he could

2608
03:24:56.120 --> 03:25:01.440
make out everything along the coast,
but there was no sign of anyone's having

2609
03:25:01.479 --> 03:25:05.040
noticed them, And so, with
his heart growing lighter at every moment,

2610
03:25:05.040 --> 03:25:09.239
Cliff tugged at the oars and forced
the frail boat ahead through the waves.

2611
03:25:09.840 --> 03:25:13.200
It was but natural that his relief
should be great, for his adventures upon

2612
03:25:13.280 --> 03:25:18.879
that island had been terrible ones.
Indeed, a warship is far from a

2613
03:25:18.920 --> 03:25:24.120
safe place of residence, especially in
war time. But Cliff felt that if

2614
03:25:24.159 --> 03:25:28.280
he once got under the American flag
again, all his worry would be at

2615
03:25:28.280 --> 03:25:33.280
an end, and so every stroke
nearer was a cause for joy. For

2616
03:25:33.319 --> 03:25:37.799
perhaps five minutes he rode on in
silence, by that time he was some

2617
03:25:37.920 --> 03:25:41.559
distance from shore, though their progress
was slow in the heavy sea, but

2618
03:25:41.680 --> 03:25:46.959
they felt that they were safe.
They felt that there was no longer anything

2619
03:25:46.000 --> 03:25:50.520
to be feared, and there was
a silent prayer of thanksgiving in Cliff Faraday's

2620
03:25:50.600 --> 03:25:56.719
heart. And such being his feelings, the reader may imagine the horror and

2621
03:25:56.879 --> 03:26:01.239
consternation that swept over him a moment
later, for an appalling discovery was made,

2622
03:26:01.760 --> 03:26:07.399
one that seemed fairly to freeze Cliff's
blood. He was struggling with his

2623
03:26:07.479 --> 03:26:11.360
back toward Bessy Stewart, and the
joy that was in his heart was turned

2624
03:26:11.360 --> 03:26:16.040
to horror by hearing the girl give
a shrill scream. The cadet whirled about.

2625
03:26:16.479 --> 03:26:18.760
He saw the girl, her face
transfixed and white as a sheet,

2626
03:26:20.120 --> 03:26:24.879
pointing with a trembling finger off to
starboard. Cliff followed the direction of her

2627
03:26:24.879 --> 03:26:28.639
gaze. What he saw made his
brain reel, made him almost totter backward

2628
03:26:28.680 --> 03:26:33.840
into the boat. Not half a
mile away, coming straight down the coast

2629
03:26:33.159 --> 03:26:37.799
and bearing down upon them at full
speed was a vessel, a low gun

2630
03:26:37.840 --> 03:26:45.239
boat, and high above her bow
was floating a Spanish flag. Cliff stared

2631
03:26:45.280 --> 03:26:48.920
at the frightful apparition, as if
he had seen a ghost. What it

2632
03:26:48.959 --> 03:26:52.559
meant to him may be imagined the
failure of all their hosts, their capture

2633
03:26:52.680 --> 03:26:58.760
and death, and there was not
the slightest possibility of escape. Perfectly wild

2634
03:26:58.799 --> 03:27:03.120
with terror, the agonized cadet whirled
about, gazing seaward, with a faint

2635
03:27:03.120 --> 03:27:07.360
hope of the possibility of their being
seen by some American vessel. But the

2636
03:27:07.440 --> 03:27:11.399
great horizon was not light enough for
them to be sighted, and all hope

2637
03:27:11.520 --> 03:27:16.440
was gone. Bessie Stewart continued pointing
to the vessel as if she were paralyzed

2638
03:27:16.479 --> 03:27:22.520
by fright row row. She shrieked
and Cliff seized the oars frantically, but

2639
03:27:22.639 --> 03:27:28.639
he knew it was utterly useless.
The gunboat was coming on like a racehorse,

2640
03:27:28.239 --> 03:27:33.040
and scarcely had he taken two strokes
before the matter was settled finally,

2641
03:27:33.360 --> 03:27:37.159
for there came a puff of white
smoke from the Spaniards bow, and almost

2642
03:27:37.200 --> 03:27:41.120
at the same instant, with a
deafening, blinding crash, a solid shot

2643
03:27:41.280 --> 03:27:45.799
struck the tiny rowboat. It plunged
through, almost tearing the frail craft and

2644
03:27:45.920 --> 03:27:52.760
half hurling splinters about and sending the
two horrified occupants tumbling into the water and

2645
03:27:52.959 --> 03:28:05.280
of chapter twenty recording by Tom Weiss
Tom's audiobooks dot Com. Chapter twenty one

2646
03:28:05.479 --> 03:28:09.680
of a Prisoner of Marrow by Upton
Sinclair. This LibriVox recording is in the

2647
03:28:09.680 --> 03:28:18.120
public domain. Recording by Tom Weiss, Chapter twenty one Recaptured by the enemy.

2648
03:28:18.120 --> 03:28:22.239
Cliff was so broken hearted at that
sudden ending of all his hopes that

2649
03:28:22.360 --> 03:28:26.840
he scarcely cared whether he was drowned
or not. But he saw Bessy Stuart

2650
03:28:26.879 --> 03:28:31.719
struggling in the seething waters, and
toward her he struck out desperately. It

2651
03:28:31.840 --> 03:28:35.479
took the cadet but a moment to
reach her side. The shattered wreck of

2652
03:28:35.520 --> 03:28:39.200
the wooden boat was floating near,
and to that he struggled, helping her

2653
03:28:39.239 --> 03:28:43.520
on, and they reached it in
what sounds like mockery to call safety.

2654
03:28:45.000 --> 03:28:48.040
The girl scarcely knew whether it were
best to hold on or to drown,

2655
03:28:48.559 --> 03:28:52.840
but instinctively she clung to the side
as the great ways swept over them,

2656
03:28:54.120 --> 03:28:58.959
and the two fixed their eyes upon
the approaching vessel. She came on swiftly,

2657
03:28:58.200 --> 03:29:01.879
shearing the water with her sharp bow, and Cliff could see half a

2658
03:29:01.879 --> 03:29:07.360
dozen men standing in the bow watching
them. Perhaps they have heard of our

2659
03:29:07.479 --> 03:29:11.399
escape, he growled, and come
after us. The vessel was not coming

2660
03:29:11.440 --> 03:29:15.239
from Havana, but the cadet knew
that a telegram might have sent it out.

2661
03:29:15.639 --> 03:29:18.479
At any rate, they were recaptured, and the horrors of Morrow were

2662
03:29:18.479 --> 03:29:24.120
before them again. Steadily the gunboat
drew nearer. The two half drowned Americans

2663
03:29:24.120 --> 03:29:28.559
were reached in a minute or two, and the vessel slowed up, and

2664
03:29:28.600 --> 03:29:31.840
a rope was thrown to them.
Cliff, desperate from despair, seized it

2665
03:29:31.879 --> 03:29:37.319
and drew himself close. A couple
of Spanish sailors leaned down from the low

2666
03:29:37.399 --> 03:29:41.079
side and lifted first a half unconscious
girl, and then the cadet up to

2667
03:29:41.159 --> 03:29:46.600
the deck. And then, weak
and pale and dripping wet, they confronted

2668
03:29:46.600 --> 03:29:50.399
a tall, ugly looking Spaniard with
an officer's chevrons. He stared at them

2669
03:29:50.399 --> 03:29:56.399
curiously. Who are you, he
demanded, and Cliff, grim with desperation,

2670
03:29:56.559 --> 03:30:00.399
looked him in the eye and answered
boldly, we are a merry Perkins

2671
03:30:00.520 --> 03:30:07.600
said he prisoners. Yes, from
where Morrow Castle? The spaniard looked the

2672
03:30:07.639 --> 03:30:11.799
amazement he felt, Moral castle,
He echoed, humph, how did you

2673
03:30:11.840 --> 03:30:15.879
get out? Take us back there
and you'll find out, was Cliff's defiant

2674
03:30:15.959 --> 03:30:18.799
answer, and with that he turned
toward the girl to wipe her dripping hair

2675
03:30:18.959 --> 03:30:24.639
from her face. He expected that
the man would continue questioning them, but

2676
03:30:24.760 --> 03:30:28.559
he was mistaken. The Spanish gunboat
had done a risky thing running out as

2677
03:30:28.600 --> 03:30:33.959
it had, and her officers were
anxious to get back. The man turned

2678
03:30:33.000 --> 03:30:37.000
away and hurried off. A sailor
with a pair of handcuffs approached Cliff,

2679
03:30:37.360 --> 03:30:43.719
and the cadet quietly allowed his wrist
to be secured. Bessy Stewart was fortunately

2680
03:30:43.840 --> 03:30:48.559
spared that indignity. The sailor gruffly
ordered them to go below. The vessel

2681
03:30:48.719 --> 03:30:52.639
meanwhile, had resumed her trip.
She had been running along close to the

2682
03:30:52.719 --> 03:30:56.760
coast under cover of the darkness of
the previous night, and now she turned

2683
03:30:56.760 --> 03:31:01.920
to steal back. Cliff's heart was
heavy, and he was miserable beyond description,

2684
03:31:03.520 --> 03:31:07.280
but he turned and silently followed the
sailor to the companionway. They did

2685
03:31:07.280 --> 03:31:11.559
not go below at once, however, for just then something occurred that made

2686
03:31:11.559 --> 03:31:16.440
the sailor stop the man, who
at first spoke to Cliff. The captain

2687
03:31:16.479 --> 03:31:20.799
apparently had been sweeping the shore with
his glass, and just then he gave

2688
03:31:20.840 --> 03:31:24.879
a startled exclamation. Everybody heard him, and the Spanish sailor stopped and turned

2689
03:31:24.879 --> 03:31:30.559
to look. Cliff was so listless
and despairing that he did not take the

2690
03:31:30.600 --> 03:31:33.399
trouble to do likewise, But when
he heard the exclamations of the men,

2691
03:31:33.680 --> 03:31:37.600
he felt his heart gave a leap. They were staring at a man on

2692
03:31:37.680 --> 03:31:41.840
the shore. What in the world
can be the matter with that, fellow,

2693
03:31:43.000 --> 03:31:46.920
cried the captain, Santa Maria.
He is calling to us, exclaimed

2694
03:31:46.959 --> 03:31:50.680
another. He must be crazy,
declared a third. The captain, with

2695
03:31:50.760 --> 03:31:54.280
his glass could see more plainly than
the others, and his astonishment grew greater.

2696
03:31:54.680 --> 03:31:58.959
Why he's a Spanish officer or lieutenant, I think, and he is

2697
03:31:58.959 --> 03:32:03.200
trying to hail us. What can
it mean? Perhaps he's got despatches,

2698
03:32:03.440 --> 03:32:07.760
suggested some one. It flashed over
Cliff in an instant what that meant?

2699
03:32:07.000 --> 03:32:11.680
And Bessy Stewart heard him give a
muffled exclamation of delight, for he could

2700
03:32:11.760 --> 03:32:16.719
see a blue uniformed figure running down
the shore and waving its arms wildly.

2701
03:32:18.399 --> 03:32:22.399
Its lieutenant Hernandez. He panted,
and there was a wild gleam of hope

2702
03:32:22.399 --> 03:32:26.200
in his eyes as he realized what
that meant he might rescue them again.

2703
03:32:28.079 --> 03:32:31.879
Feverishly, Cliff watched to see what
the gunboat would do. The captain continued

2704
03:32:31.920 --> 03:32:37.159
staring and muttering exclamations of astonishment.
I wonder if he does want us,

2705
03:32:37.159 --> 03:32:41.319
he cried, hordeus, I do
think that's it, And a second later

2706
03:32:41.399 --> 03:32:46.920
he made up his mind and whirled
about hard aport. He roared, and

2707
03:32:46.040 --> 03:32:50.280
Cliff's heart leaped with joy as he
heard that order. The sailor was so

2708
03:32:50.360 --> 03:32:54.600
much interested in that strange incident that
he let his prisoners remain on deck while

2709
03:32:54.639 --> 03:33:01.200
he stood and stared. The Spanish
vessel raced swiftly in toward shore, and

2710
03:33:01.280 --> 03:33:05.680
the stranger, as soon as he
saw that, stopped his frantic gesticulating and

2711
03:33:05.799 --> 03:33:09.680
stood still to wait. The captain
ran in as close as he dared,

2712
03:33:09.719 --> 03:33:13.360
and then stopped. He stepped into
the bow. What do you want,

2713
03:33:13.639 --> 03:33:16.239
he roared, Send a boat,
The man shouted back, I must come

2714
03:33:16.239 --> 03:33:22.799
aboard quickly. The captain muttered an
exclamation of astonishment under his breath, but

2715
03:33:22.920 --> 03:33:26.840
his curiosity alone would have been sufficient
to move him. The gunboat's wary boat

2716
03:33:28.000 --> 03:33:31.920
was quickly gotten away as for Cliff, he was simply wild with delight,

2717
03:33:33.319 --> 03:33:37.440
for he could see that it was
Lieutenant Hernandez. After all. Bessy Stewart

2718
03:33:37.520 --> 03:33:41.879
was so overcome by the sudden shock
of the discovery that she was scarcely able

2719
03:33:41.920 --> 03:33:48.040
to stand breathlessly. The two watched
the rowboat speeding in. The lieutenant waited

2720
03:33:48.040 --> 03:33:50.920
out as far as he could,
and when the boat reached him, he

2721
03:33:52.000 --> 03:33:56.319
climbed into the bow. In a
few moments he was speeding back to the

2722
03:33:56.319 --> 03:34:00.479
gunboat, and when he stepped on
board, he found the captain staring at

2723
03:34:00.559 --> 03:34:03.639
him. Lieutenant Hernandez. He gasped, yes, said the other with a

2724
03:34:03.719 --> 03:34:07.840
bow, but he scarcely glanced at
the man until his eager eyes had sought

2725
03:34:07.879 --> 03:34:13.440
out Cliff and Bessie. When he
saw them alive and unhurt, a look

2726
03:34:13.479 --> 03:34:16.120
of relief swept over his face,
and then he turned to the captain.

2727
03:34:16.680 --> 03:34:20.120
What in the world is the matter, the man cried. The other nodded

2728
03:34:20.239 --> 03:34:24.920
toward the two Americans. It is
about them, he said, What about

2729
03:34:24.959 --> 03:34:28.559
them? Why did you stop them? Stop them? Why? They are

2730
03:34:28.600 --> 03:34:31.280
Americans? And they were prisoners in
morrow. I know that, said the

2731
03:34:31.319 --> 03:34:35.600
officer, But they were released.
What yes? And I was charged with

2732
03:34:35.639 --> 03:34:41.440
the duty of seeing them safe on
board the American ships. The Spanish captain

2733
03:34:41.680 --> 03:34:45.280
stared in amazement. Karamba, he
muttered, why didn't they say so?

2734
03:34:46.040 --> 03:34:48.719
I don't see that you gave them
a chance, said the other. You

2735
03:34:48.879 --> 03:34:52.520
fired on them too soon. But
I had no idea of this, cried

2736
03:34:52.559 --> 03:34:56.959
the other. To doubt that story
never once entered his head. He seemed

2737
03:34:56.000 --> 03:35:00.520
to know who the lieutenant was.
What in the world world am I to

2738
03:35:00.559 --> 03:35:03.520
do, he asked, after a
moment. I don't see that. There

2739
03:35:03.680 --> 03:35:07.360
is but one thing, said the
other. Take them back to Havanah and

2740
03:35:07.440 --> 03:35:09.879
let them be sent from there,
asked the captain. No, said the

2741
03:35:09.920 --> 03:35:15.559
lieutenant quietly. That will not do, for the government has pledged its word

2742
03:35:15.639 --> 03:35:18.319
that they shall be on the ships
by daybreak. To make haste is very

2743
03:35:18.399 --> 03:35:24.479
important. But what else? Give
them your small boat? Karamba. I

2744
03:35:24.559 --> 03:35:28.360
haven't got but one, and how
will I ever get it back? The

2745
03:35:28.399 --> 03:35:31.680
lieutenant was puzzled for a moment,
but suddenly he hit on a daring scheme.

2746
03:35:33.200 --> 03:35:37.559
Captain, he said, my orders
are from General Blanco himself. He

2747
03:35:37.719 --> 03:35:41.479
charged me, above all things to
see these people safe at once, even

2748
03:35:41.559 --> 03:35:43.600
if I had to go out to
the ships with them. I don't see

2749
03:35:43.639 --> 03:35:48.600
that. There is but one thing
we can do. What is that we

2750
03:35:48.680 --> 03:35:52.399
will have to hoist a flag of
truce and take them out on this vessel.

2751
03:35:52.079 --> 03:35:56.360
The captain started, Can we trust
the Americans? He gasped. They

2752
03:35:56.440 --> 03:36:01.280
are expecting us, said the lieutenant, And then for a minute the captain

2753
03:36:01.360 --> 03:36:05.639
was silent. When he spoke,
it was to the man at the wheel,

2754
03:36:05.040 --> 03:36:07.920
steer us out to the Yankee fleet, he said, it will have

2755
03:36:09.000 --> 03:36:13.760
to be done, and run up
that white flag. Perhaps ten minutes after

2756
03:36:13.840 --> 03:36:18.719
that, the blockading squadron sighted a
Spanish gunboat coming toward them with a flag

2757
03:36:18.760 --> 03:36:22.760
of truce. The New York steamed
to meet it, and the vessel came

2758
03:36:22.760 --> 03:36:26.559
alongside, and without a word of
explanation, the two prisoners were sent aboard.

2759
03:36:28.239 --> 03:36:31.879
Cliff and Bessie both glazed longingly at
the noble hearted lieutenant as he stood

2760
03:36:31.879 --> 03:36:37.799
on the deck and watched them leave. Their look said plainer than words come

2761
03:36:37.879 --> 03:36:41.440
with us. But he only shook
his head. And when he saw the

2762
03:36:41.479 --> 03:36:45.719
two disappear upon the deck of the
big cruiser, and when the gunboat was

2763
03:36:45.799 --> 03:36:48.760
well on her way back to shore, he turned with a slight groan and

2764
03:36:48.920 --> 03:36:54.479
went below. Cliff and Bessie wondered
with anxiety and sorrow what would be his

2765
03:36:54.600 --> 03:37:00.239
fate. They dreaded for him the
worst tortures of Castle Morrow, But the

2766
03:37:00.239 --> 03:37:05.680
heroic Spaniard escaped that in a way
that Cliff learned a few days later.

2767
03:37:05.520 --> 03:37:11.200
End of chapter twenty one. Recording
by Tom Weiss Tom's audiobooks dot Com.

2768
03:37:18.200 --> 03:37:22.920
Chapter twenty two of a Prisoner of
Morrow by Upton Sinclair. This LibriVox recording

2769
03:37:24.000 --> 03:37:28.959
is in the public domain. Recording
by Tom Weiss, Chapter twenty two,

2770
03:37:28.600 --> 03:37:35.079
petting a cable. The Cadet's report
was soon made. Under ordinary circumstances,

2771
03:37:35.159 --> 03:37:39.680
he would have been ordered to report
back to the Unca's, but that staunch

2772
03:37:39.799 --> 03:37:45.079
little gunboat was then miles beyond the
western horizon. Moreover, the Admiral had

2773
03:37:45.200 --> 03:37:48.559
other work for the cadet. As
to Miss Stewart, there was a parting

2774
03:37:48.600 --> 03:37:52.680
between her and Cliff that was such
as should have been acknowledged lovers. But

2775
03:37:52.799 --> 03:37:58.000
it was a parting of the most
decided kind, for his duty lay in

2776
03:37:58.040 --> 03:38:01.639
the war hers on land. She
was sent to Key West on a cruiser

2777
03:38:01.680 --> 03:38:07.360
that was then leaving the squadron to
recall what the young man and the girl

2778
03:38:07.440 --> 03:38:11.159
said to each other, cannot concern
us here, for we have now to

2779
03:38:11.200 --> 03:38:15.879
do with Faraday's experience as a sailor. His love affair had to await the

2780
03:38:15.879 --> 03:38:20.040
events of war, and so may
the story of it. Cliff's next service

2781
03:38:20.079 --> 03:38:24.520
began on the morning following his escape. A small boat left the flagship and

2782
03:38:24.639 --> 03:38:30.399
headed for Point Rubolkava on the Cuban
coast. It was bent upon a dangerous

2783
03:38:30.440 --> 03:38:35.079
mission, so hazardous in fact,
that volunteers had been called for to man

2784
03:38:35.159 --> 03:38:39.799
the boat. The first one to
offer his services had been Cliff Faraday.

2785
03:38:39.239 --> 03:38:45.520
There was no lack of followers among
the brave American tards. Fifty offered themselves.

2786
03:38:45.520 --> 03:38:48.200
A moment after the cadets stepped forward, and the task was to select

2787
03:38:48.200 --> 03:38:54.040
from them twelve men to form the
boat's crew. It is necessary to cut

2788
03:38:54.079 --> 03:38:58.040
the cable as a war measure,
said Rear Admiral Sampson, when the selection

2789
03:38:58.120 --> 03:39:03.360
had been made. You will proceed
cautiously towards shore and grapple for the cable.

2790
03:39:03.799 --> 03:39:05.920
If you find it, cut it. If not, you must go

2791
03:39:07.000 --> 03:39:09.840
ashore and locate the landing place of
the wire. Are you ready for the

2792
03:39:09.879 --> 03:39:16.840
service? Ie, sir? Came
the ready response. Rear Admiral Sampson looked

2793
03:39:16.879 --> 03:39:20.200
upon the brave, eager faces of
the men for a moment with evident satisfaction.

2794
03:39:20.879 --> 03:39:26.159
There is danger of discovery an attack
from the shore batteries, he asked.

2795
03:39:26.520 --> 03:39:31.360
Success will depend upon your quickness and
skill. The men well knew the

2796
03:39:31.479 --> 03:39:35.440
danger that lay before them, but
there was no sign of faltering upon their

2797
03:39:35.440 --> 03:39:39.319
faces. Rather, there was an
eagerness for instant action that was not lost

2798
03:39:39.440 --> 03:39:45.360
upon the commanding officer. Then go, he exclaimed heartily. The boat was

2799
03:39:45.440 --> 03:39:48.680
lowered and quietly set out upon its
mission. It was in charge of a

2800
03:39:48.719 --> 03:39:54.200
lieutenant, and Cliff Faraday, in
recognition of his being the first to volunteer,

2801
03:39:54.719 --> 03:39:58.120
was placed beside him in the stern
to steer the boat through the rough

2802
03:39:58.239 --> 03:40:01.440
waters. It was still dark,
though the eastern sky gave promise of the

2803
03:40:01.520 --> 03:40:05.520
near approach of day. The time
had been selected to enable the boat to

2804
03:40:05.600 --> 03:40:11.159
near the shore without great danger of
detection in the dim light. But by

2805
03:40:11.159 --> 03:40:15.520
the time they should succeed in grappling
the cable there would be sufficient light to

2806
03:40:15.639 --> 03:40:20.399
enable them to complete their task.
All seems quiet on shore, said Cliff

2807
03:40:20.520 --> 03:40:24.719
after a time to the lieutenant,
as they both peered forward at the coastline

2808
03:40:24.920 --> 03:40:28.799
now looming up before them. The
Spaniards don't seem to be looking for us,

2809
03:40:28.799 --> 03:40:33.719
true, responded the lieutenant. It
looks that way, but you can't

2810
03:40:33.760 --> 03:40:37.479
sometimes always tell. They may have
a surprise for us if they don't shoot

2811
03:40:37.520 --> 03:40:41.159
any straighter than they had been doing, said Cliff, with a laugh.

2812
03:40:41.479 --> 03:40:45.639
They'll never touch us. That's true, too, assented the lieutenant. But

2813
03:40:45.799 --> 03:40:50.440
still you must remember the main,
interrupted Cliff. Yes, remember the main.

2814
03:40:52.079 --> 03:40:54.399
But as I was saying, these
fellows might possibly aim at something else

2815
03:40:54.440 --> 03:41:00.360
besides our boat and hit us accidentally. At any rate, I hope they

2816
03:41:00.360 --> 03:41:03.000
don't see us. We are not
out to capture a fort armed as we

2817
03:41:03.040 --> 03:41:07.879
are with nothing but revolvers, and
in this open boat we would be an

2818
03:41:07.879 --> 03:41:13.159
easy prey to decent marksmanship. Still
the boys like action, said Cliff.

2819
03:41:13.600 --> 03:41:16.760
We may have plenty of it,
yet, replied the Lieutenant, with a

2820
03:41:16.840 --> 03:41:22.360
suspicion of uneasiness in his tone.
Meanwhile, the boat, guided by Cliff's

2821
03:41:22.360 --> 03:41:26.399
hand, had drawn nearer the shore. They could see plainly the outlines of

2822
03:41:26.399 --> 03:41:31.559
the fortifications, which had been recently
battered by shell from American gunboats, and

2823
03:41:31.639 --> 03:41:35.879
which they knew the Spaniards had attempted
to repair, but as far as they

2824
03:41:35.920 --> 03:41:39.920
could see, all was quiet there. The boat was following what was supposed

2825
03:41:39.920 --> 03:41:43.479
to be the course of the cable, and the men were constantly seeking to

2826
03:41:43.520 --> 03:41:50.479
secure it with their grappling irons.
The crew proceeded cautiously but expeditiously with its

2827
03:41:50.520 --> 03:41:54.360
work, the boat passing to and
fro across what they supposed was the line

2828
03:41:54.440 --> 03:41:58.520
of the cable. How is it, Wilson, at last, said the

2829
03:41:58.559 --> 03:42:01.760
lieutenant, speaking to one of the
men who was leaning over the side of

2830
03:42:01.799 --> 03:42:05.000
the boat. Struck anything Yet not
yet, sir, was the response.

2831
03:42:05.799 --> 03:42:11.079
Nearer and nearer to the shore came
the boat, the men wholly continuing their

2832
03:42:11.159 --> 03:42:15.559
labors, seemingly as unmindful of danger, as though the coast was not lined

2833
03:42:15.600 --> 03:42:18.719
by hostile forces. The sun peeped
above the face of the water to the

2834
03:42:18.760 --> 03:42:24.479
eastward, and the darkness slowly receded
before it. Every detail of the frowning

2835
03:42:24.479 --> 03:42:31.959
fortification ashore was now plainly visible to
the boat's crew. Cliff looked intently along

2836
03:42:31.959 --> 03:42:35.840
the shore, but there was no
hostile movement to be seen. But he

2837
03:42:35.959 --> 03:42:39.719
realized that the fast growing light of
the rising sun must betray their presence to

2838
03:42:39.760 --> 03:42:45.040
the enemy. If any such were
on watch, what a fine target we

2839
03:42:45.079 --> 03:42:48.120
would make for them, too,
he thought, and close range at that

2840
03:42:48.879 --> 03:42:52.479
his thoughts were interrupted by an exclamation
from one of the men who had been

2841
03:42:52.520 --> 03:42:56.120
previously addressed by the lieutenant. Harah
cried the man, I've got it.

2842
03:42:56.719 --> 03:43:00.920
The boat was quickly brought to a
standstill, and willing hands at him.

2843
03:43:00.959 --> 03:43:03.159
In a few moments, the heavy
cable appeared above the surface of the water

2844
03:43:03.520 --> 03:43:07.760
and was drawn up to the boat. Now, men quick with the sauce,

2845
03:43:07.799 --> 03:43:11.719
cried the lieutenant excitedly. Quick work, and will be done and away

2846
03:43:11.760 --> 03:43:16.479
before the Spaniards discover us. It
required quick work, indeed quicker than any

2847
03:43:16.559 --> 03:43:22.000
of the brave boat's crew than thought. The lieutenant had no more than given

2848
03:43:22.040 --> 03:43:26.799
his orders when an interruption, startling
and unwelcome occurred. He had been anxiously

2849
03:43:26.840 --> 03:43:31.280
scanning the outlines of the fortifications and
congratulated himself that no movement was visible in

2850
03:43:31.360 --> 03:43:37.079
that quarter. The Spaniards were napping, he thought, and all was well.

2851
03:43:37.520 --> 03:43:41.719
But the reverse was the case,
as he quickly discovered. No sooner

2852
03:43:41.760 --> 03:43:45.719
had one of the sailors began to
saw away at the cable than Suddenly,

2853
03:43:45.760 --> 03:43:48.399
and without warning, a shower of
bullets rained around them in the water,

2854
03:43:48.719 --> 03:43:52.799
and the ominous boom of a cannon
from the shore told they had been discovered.

2855
03:43:54.159 --> 03:43:56.600
A massed battery to the left,
cried Cliff, they have ambushed us.

2856
03:43:58.280 --> 03:44:01.799
This was true. The Fort of
Occations, which had alone received the

2857
03:44:01.840 --> 03:44:07.040
lieutenant's attention, remained silent, while
from the left a concealed battery kept up

2858
03:44:07.040 --> 03:44:11.959
a raking fire upon the small boat
and the intrepid crew. The Spaniards had

2859
03:44:11.040 --> 03:44:15.520
not yet gotten the range. It
is true, but it was a tight

2860
03:44:15.600 --> 03:44:20.319
place to be in in an open
boat, unarmed, helpless, and exposed

2861
03:44:20.399 --> 03:44:24.200
to the raking fire from shore.
But the men in that boat were full

2862
03:44:24.200 --> 03:44:26.959
of nerve. Not once did they
falter, while the shells and shot whistled

2863
03:44:26.959 --> 03:44:31.319
and burst over their heads, beyond
them, and even among them. Hurry

2864
03:44:31.399 --> 03:44:35.000
up, Wilson, cried the lieutenant
to the sailors sawing the cable. That

2865
03:44:35.200 --> 03:44:39.440
cable must be cut before we leave
the spot. I I, sir,

2866
03:44:39.680 --> 03:44:43.639
responded the other. If it kills
every man of us, it began to

2867
03:44:43.680 --> 03:44:46.399
look as if that would be their
fate. The Spanish shot and shell,

2868
03:44:46.680 --> 03:44:52.040
which at first fell harmlessly into the
water now dropped nearer and nearer. Cliff

2869
03:44:52.120 --> 03:44:56.000
heard an awful buzzing and whizzing sound
in the air, and seemed to feel

2870
03:44:56.040 --> 03:45:00.600
something hid him in the face and
head. It was not his first time

2871
03:45:00.719 --> 03:45:03.719
under fire, and he knew that
a shell had passed near them. The

2872
03:45:03.840 --> 03:45:09.520
fire from shore increased in rapidity and
with more accuracy. From another quarter,

2873
03:45:09.559 --> 03:45:13.000
a jut of land nearer to the
boat, came a fusillade from Mauser rifles,

2874
03:45:13.040 --> 03:45:16.920
and their bullets passed near the heads
of the American crew. It was

2875
03:45:16.959 --> 03:45:22.239
a hot place, but the men
worked coolly on determined that their orders should

2876
03:45:22.239 --> 03:45:26.840
be executed at all hazards by rapid
work. One piece of the cable was

2877
03:45:26.879 --> 03:45:30.600
cut, but that was not enough. Another cut must be made at least

2878
03:45:30.719 --> 03:45:33.600
fifty feet away, so that the
Spaniards could not repair it by splicing.

2879
03:45:35.239 --> 03:45:37.760
As the last strands parted and the
free end of the cable fell back into

2880
03:45:37.799 --> 03:45:41.159
the water, it was discovered that
the sailor held the shore end in his

2881
03:45:41.239 --> 03:45:46.399
grasp, and that to complete their
work they must now draw closer to the

2882
03:45:46.479 --> 03:45:50.360
fire of their enemies. Fifty feet
nearer shore, exclaimed the lieutenant, and

2883
03:45:50.440 --> 03:45:56.120
the crew grasped the oars and unflinchingly
began to carry out the order. The

2884
03:45:56.200 --> 03:46:00.559
shots of the Spaniards began to tell. Bullets splintered the sigh to the boat,

2885
03:46:00.719 --> 03:46:03.879
and they had not moved but a
few feet from the spot when another

2886
03:46:03.959 --> 03:46:07.639
volley severely wounded two of the men. Wilson, the man who had been

2887
03:46:07.719 --> 03:46:11.239
so active, fell into the bottom
of the boat, severely wounded in the

2888
03:46:11.280 --> 03:46:16.200
shoulder, and another sailor, who
was near where Cliff sat, was shot

2889
03:46:16.239 --> 03:46:20.079
in the thigh. But the boat
kept on rowing nearer and nearer. Cliff

2890
03:46:20.159 --> 03:46:24.680
resigned the tiller to the lieutenant while
he bound up the men's wounds and comforted

2891
03:46:24.719 --> 03:46:28.799
them as best he could. Then
he jumped back to the tiller. This

2892
03:46:30.079 --> 03:46:33.479
was an unfortunate move for him,
for in that position he and the lieutenant

2893
03:46:33.680 --> 03:46:39.079
were the most conspicuous figures in the
boat, and the Spanish rifle wind were

2894
03:46:39.120 --> 03:46:43.879
making every effort to pick off the
officer. A bullet intended for the lieutenant

2895
03:46:43.079 --> 03:46:46.520
struck Cliff in the arm as he
took his place. Are you wounded?

2896
03:46:46.559 --> 03:46:52.440
Shouted the officer above the din,
noticing that Cliff momentarily paled. It is

2897
03:46:52.520 --> 03:46:56.120
nothing, replied Cliff, resolutely,
clinching his teeth and continuing to guide the

2898
03:46:56.159 --> 03:47:01.440
boat. Just then the welcome sound
of the firing of a cannon to seaward

2899
03:47:01.479 --> 03:47:03.840
reached their ears. It is the
New York, cried Cliff. She is

2900
03:47:03.879 --> 03:47:09.479
taking a hand in the scrimmage.
It was true, with deadly accuracy,

2901
03:47:09.600 --> 03:47:13.799
the flagship was hurling shrapnel shell over
the heads of the Blue Jackets into the

2902
03:47:13.840 --> 03:47:18.520
battery on shore. And thus between
the two fires, the little band in

2903
03:47:18.559 --> 03:47:24.000
their frail boat continued coolly with their
labors, Cliff assisting those who became wounded,

2904
03:47:24.040 --> 03:47:28.479
wholly unmindful of the fact that he
himself was bleeding freely. But it

2905
03:47:28.639 --> 03:47:33.280
was soon over. The terrible havoc
of the well directed shrapnel shot from the

2906
03:47:33.319 --> 03:47:39.360
New York quickly silenced the masked battery
and dispersed the gunners, and the cutting

2907
03:47:39.360 --> 03:47:45.559
of the cable received no further interruption
from the Spanish forces. They were enthusiastically

2908
03:47:45.600 --> 03:47:48.840
received upon their return to the flagship, bearing a section of the cable to

2909
03:47:48.879 --> 03:47:54.200
be cut up as souvenirs. The
wounded were tenderly cared for, and Cliff

2910
03:47:54.319 --> 03:48:00.559
himself examined the nature of his own
injury. Fortunately, though it had freely,

2911
03:48:00.959 --> 03:48:05.360
it was but a slight flesh wound, which had him no uneasiness after

2912
03:48:05.440 --> 03:48:11.719
being properly bandaged. This operation was
just completed when a jaunty young ensign appeared,

2913
03:48:11.879 --> 03:48:15.520
and, turning to Cliff, said
he at Faraday, you are requested

2914
03:48:15.600 --> 03:48:20.520
to report to the Rear Admiral at
once. Cliff saluted and promptly followed the

2915
03:48:20.559 --> 03:48:26.120
officer. End of chapter twenty two. Recording by Tom Weiss Tom's audiobooks dot

2916
03:48:26.120 --> 03:48:37.200
Com. Chapter twenty three of a
Prisoner of Morrow by Upton Sinclair. This

2917
03:48:37.360 --> 03:48:43.639
librebox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Tom Weiss, Chapter twenty

2918
03:48:43.639 --> 03:48:50.520
three a perilous detail. Cliff did
not have long to speculate upon the cause

2919
03:48:50.639 --> 03:48:54.520
of the summons. The ensign led
the way to the Rear Admiral's cabin,

2920
03:48:56.000 --> 03:49:00.840
knocked, and with Cliff closely following, entered. He then looted and went

2921
03:49:00.879 --> 03:49:05.000
out again, leaving the cadet alone
with the officer. Rear Admiral Sampson noticed

2922
03:49:05.040 --> 03:49:11.000
the paleness of Cliff's face and thoughtfully
directed him to sit down. I hear

2923
03:49:11.040 --> 03:49:13.399
that you were wounded while cutting the
cable, He said, at once you

2924
03:49:13.440 --> 03:49:18.159
were under hot fire while it lasted
and I am proud of the way the

2925
03:49:18.200 --> 03:49:20.879
men behaved. I am told that
you did not give up the tiller in

2926
03:49:20.959 --> 03:49:26.319
spite of your injuries. Cliff,
though pleased to receive the praise of the

2927
03:49:26.360 --> 03:49:30.879
Rear Admiral, bore himself modestly.
It did not seem to him that he

2928
03:49:30.920 --> 03:49:35.079
had done any brave act. My
wound was slight, sir, he said

2929
03:49:35.159 --> 03:49:39.680
quickly. It has been properly dressed
and gives me no trouble. I am

2930
03:49:39.680 --> 03:49:43.159
glad to hear that, replied the
officer, for I have an especial mission

2931
03:49:43.399 --> 03:49:48.280
upon which I desire to send you, but of course would not think of

2932
03:49:48.280 --> 03:49:52.799
your going if it should endanger your
health. Other danger you do not seem

2933
03:49:52.840 --> 03:49:56.680
to fear. Cliff reassured the officer
that he was ready and able to undertake

2934
03:49:56.719 --> 03:50:03.000
any mission entrusted to him. It
is briefly, this continued the Rear Admiral.

2935
03:50:03.360 --> 03:50:05.879
While you were out with the boat, I received a communication by the

2936
03:50:05.959 --> 03:50:11.399
despatch boat saying that a courier from
the Cuban Chief Gomez is to be at

2937
03:50:11.399 --> 03:50:16.079
a certain spot near the coast to
night, bearing important despatches from the insurgents.

2938
03:50:16.639 --> 03:50:20.319
It is necessary that we send some
one to meet him, and your

2939
03:50:20.360 --> 03:50:26.159
previous experience on Cuban soil and your
knowledge of the Spanish language recommend you as

2940
03:50:26.200 --> 03:50:31.120
the leader of the party. Are
you prepared to go? There may be

2941
03:50:31.239 --> 03:50:35.200
danger, Cliff eagerly interrupted him.
To his mind, it seemed a great

2942
03:50:35.200 --> 03:50:39.200
honor, as it really was to
be placed in command of so important a

2943
03:50:39.239 --> 03:50:43.319
mission, and he counted no danger
great enough to cause him to hesitate.

2944
03:50:43.879 --> 03:50:48.079
He told the Rear Admiral as much
forgetting, in his eagerness for active service,

2945
03:50:48.319 --> 03:50:52.799
that he was but a cadet.
Then it is settled, said the

2946
03:50:52.840 --> 03:50:56.719
Rear Admiral. Tonight, the New
York will reach a spot nearly opposite the

2947
03:50:56.760 --> 03:50:58.840
place of meeting, and you will
be ready with a party of ten,

2948
03:51:00.120 --> 03:51:03.040
whom you may select. Here is
a diagram of that part of the coast,

2949
03:51:03.360 --> 03:51:07.719
indicating the appointed spot where the courier
is to be met. He handed

2950
03:51:07.760 --> 03:51:13.399
Cliff a roughly drawn map, which
the latter examined curiously. I know the

2951
03:51:13.440 --> 03:51:16.280
spot well, he exclaimed, after
looking at the diagram for a moment.

2952
03:51:16.520 --> 03:51:22.120
All the better, said the Rear
Admiral. Then, after some further directions

2953
03:51:22.120 --> 03:51:26.600
and instructions from the officer, Cliff
saluted and took his leave, happy in

2954
03:51:26.639 --> 03:51:30.680
the thought that he had been singled
out for such important duty, and that

2955
03:51:30.760 --> 03:51:35.760
he would have this opportunity of active
work. He was really glad, though

2956
03:51:35.799 --> 03:51:39.079
he would hardly admit it to himself
to be permitted to seek some rest during

2957
03:51:39.079 --> 03:51:43.639
the day, for his wound was
painful, if not serious. It was

2958
03:51:43.760 --> 03:51:48.399
late at night when, with the
picked company of ten men all armed,

2959
03:51:48.760 --> 03:51:52.920
Cliff parted company with the flagship and
steered his boat toward the shore. The

2960
03:51:54.000 --> 03:51:56.879
New York had dropped them near the
appointed spot, but it had been deemed

2961
03:51:56.920 --> 03:52:01.920
prudent not to take the ship near
enough to attract attention to the intended destination

2962
03:52:01.959 --> 03:52:07.000
of Cliff and his crew. They
therefore had considerable distance yet to row before

2963
03:52:07.159 --> 03:52:11.639
touching land. I know the coast
pretty well along here, thought Cliff,

2964
03:52:11.799 --> 03:52:16.079
as he set in the stern tiller, ropes in hand. Who will get

2965
03:52:16.120 --> 03:52:20.959
there all right? Success depended upon
their own efforts, for the New York

2966
03:52:20.079 --> 03:52:26.440
slowly steamed away along the coast,
and in the opposite direction. Cliff and

2967
03:52:26.479 --> 03:52:31.319
his party sped along without any uneasiness. It was night, and darkness favored

2968
03:52:31.360 --> 03:52:35.520
them. There was no reason to
think that their presence there was suspected for

2969
03:52:35.719 --> 03:52:39.920
their purpose known. Still, for
all this evident security, Cliff kept a

2970
03:52:39.920 --> 03:52:43.959
sharp lookout for any of the enemy
who might be prowling along like himself,

2971
03:52:45.600 --> 03:52:50.440
or worse still, who might be
scouring those waters with one of those silent

2972
03:52:50.520 --> 03:52:56.280
little terrors or torpedo boat. All
went peacefully until they were within less than

2973
03:52:56.319 --> 03:53:01.239
a half a mile of their destination, had quite near shore. Then suddenly

2974
03:53:01.280 --> 03:53:05.079
a rifle shot rang out upon the
shore, and sounds of voices came to

2975
03:53:05.120 --> 03:53:09.920
their ears. The Spaniards had discovered
them, perhaps not, thought Cliff.

2976
03:53:09.000 --> 03:53:13.479
Hopefully, Silence everybody, he said, addressing the men, and listened.

2977
03:53:15.360 --> 03:53:18.440
Instantly, the men ceased rowing,
and every one strained his ears to hear

2978
03:53:18.440 --> 03:53:22.159
the sounds from shore. That there
was a company of the enemy at that

2979
03:53:22.280 --> 03:53:26.520
point was evident from the noise of
many voices and the confused sounds that were

2980
03:53:26.559 --> 03:53:31.760
borne to the listener's ears. They
have discovered us, whispered Cliff to the

2981
03:53:31.760 --> 03:53:35.600
one nearest him. I caught a
few words of Spanish that convinces me that

2982
03:53:35.680 --> 03:53:39.040
the sentry has heard our oars.
Not a sound. Now, they can't

2983
03:53:39.040 --> 03:53:43.799
see us in the dark and will
think it all a mistake. It was

2984
03:53:43.799 --> 03:53:48.239
a waiting game that Cliff had set
out to play, and it seemed the

2985
03:53:48.319 --> 03:53:52.200
only thing that could help them.
Under the circumstances. It was out of

2986
03:53:52.239 --> 03:53:56.600
the question to think of attacking the
Spaniards, superior, at least in numbers.

2987
03:53:56.079 --> 03:54:01.959
There was other work for the night. Violently, the American crew waited,

2988
03:54:01.399 --> 03:54:07.159
listening for every sound. Soon these
voices died out, and Cliff concluded

2989
03:54:07.280 --> 03:54:11.559
that they could venture to move once
more. Rope quietly was his whispered order.

2990
03:54:13.079 --> 03:54:16.600
I'd like to give them a volley, but that would spoil our plans.

2991
03:54:16.399 --> 03:54:22.280
The men cautiously plied the oars and
were soon steering softly toward their appointed

2992
03:54:22.319 --> 03:54:26.000
place of landing. But quietly as
they moved, the sound was borne ashore,

2993
03:54:26.319 --> 03:54:31.799
and they had not proceeded many boat
lengths before another shot echoed across the

2994
03:54:31.840 --> 03:54:35.159
water to thunder with the Spaniard,
exclaimed Cliff, out of patience, with

2995
03:54:35.200 --> 03:54:39.000
the fresh outbreak, he's firing at
random. Go ahead, we'll meet them

2996
03:54:39.000 --> 03:54:45.120
further down the shore if they're not
satisfied. This sentiment met the approval of

2997
03:54:45.159 --> 03:54:48.719
the men, and they bent to
the oars with vigor and spirit. They

2998
03:54:48.719 --> 03:54:52.040
were gliding swiftly across the water,
and had nearly reached their landing place when

2999
03:54:52.079 --> 03:54:56.680
Cliff heard a noise that put him
on the alert. Do you hear that?

3000
03:54:56.760 --> 03:55:01.120
He exclaimed, After hastily stopping the
rowers, the men rested on their

3001
03:55:01.159 --> 03:55:05.479
oars and listened sounds like the throbbing
of an engine. Sir at last,

3002
03:55:05.600 --> 03:55:09.000
said one of the men. It's
a boat. Sure, yes, But

3003
03:55:09.200 --> 03:55:13.159
friend or foe, exclaimed Cliff,
it's not the New York. She went

3004
03:55:13.200 --> 03:55:16.520
in the other direction, and I
don't know of any more of our boats

3005
03:55:16.559 --> 03:55:20.399
in this place. Perhaps the New
York is coming back, ventured one of

3006
03:55:20.399 --> 03:55:24.120
the men. No, replied Cliff. She's not been here for at least

3007
03:55:24.159 --> 03:55:26.719
three hours. By that time we
will be ready to return to her.

3008
03:55:28.319 --> 03:55:31.559
It must be a blockade, runner, suggested one of the men. Well,

3009
03:55:31.639 --> 03:55:35.719
I don't see as it makes any
difference, said Cliff. Finally,

3010
03:55:35.959 --> 03:55:39.079
if it is, we can't stop
her. She can't be after us,

3011
03:55:39.319 --> 03:55:43.239
for I am sure no one of
the enemy knows our mission. There is

3012
03:55:43.280 --> 03:55:46.159
our landing place. We must hurry
or we will be late. With this.

3013
03:55:46.280 --> 03:55:50.120
He turned the prow of the boat
towards shore and gave orders to proceed.

3014
03:55:50.600 --> 03:55:54.520
A few minutes later, the boat
grated upon the beach, and the

3015
03:55:54.680 --> 03:55:58.959
sailors sprang ashore. There was no
one to dispute their landing the coast.

3016
03:56:00.079 --> 03:56:03.520
This point was wild and uninhabited,
and but a short distance inland was the

3017
03:56:03.600 --> 03:56:09.879
spot appointed for the meeting with the
insurgent courrier. Cliff hid the boat among

3018
03:56:09.920 --> 03:56:13.600
some bushes and quickly led the men
up the steep bank toward a clump of

3019
03:56:13.600 --> 03:56:16.000
trees. This is the spot,
he exclaimed, as they reached it,

3020
03:56:16.200 --> 03:56:20.760
and we are evidently ahead of time. No one was in sight. As

3021
03:56:20.840 --> 03:56:26.040
far as the eye could penetrate the
darkness. There was barely enough light from

3022
03:56:26.040 --> 03:56:28.840
the moon, just emerging from behind
a cloud to enable the sailors to take

3023
03:56:28.879 --> 03:56:33.840
some notice of the surroundings. Where
they stood near the sparse clump of trees,

3024
03:56:35.239 --> 03:56:37.520
it was smooth and level, but
close to one side of them rows

3025
03:56:37.559 --> 03:56:41.479
a ridge of ground, forming a
natural rampart. It almost seemed as though

3026
03:56:41.559 --> 03:56:48.440
Spanish forms might at any instant appear
upon it. Behind threatening guns seaward.

3027
03:56:48.559 --> 03:56:52.840
The view was unobstructed, and as
Cliff turned his gaze in that direction,

3028
03:56:52.239 --> 03:56:56.639
he could see the moonbeams reflected on
the heating bosom of the waters. He

3029
03:56:56.760 --> 03:57:01.680
saw another side an instant after that
caused him to utter an exclamation of surprise.

3030
03:57:03.479 --> 03:57:07.719
Far out to seaward, the beam
of a searchlight suddenly shot across the

3031
03:57:07.719 --> 03:57:11.680
water. It swept from side to
side in a gradually widening radius, until

3032
03:57:11.840 --> 03:57:16.079
after a few moments its glare fell
upon a steamer, whose hulk rose up

3033
03:57:16.120 --> 03:57:20.799
between it and the shore. It
is one of our ships chasing a blockade,

3034
03:57:20.840 --> 03:57:24.239
runner, cried Cliff. She was
trying to sneak out, but is

3035
03:57:24.280 --> 03:57:28.639
caught in the act. The little
party on shore watched with eager eyes.

3036
03:57:28.719 --> 03:57:33.959
The chase is shone by the bright
beam from the warship's searchlight. In the

3037
03:57:33.040 --> 03:57:37.719
excitement of the novel sight that was
afforded them, they for the moment forgot

3038
03:57:37.879 --> 03:57:43.559
why they were there. Then a
strange and mysterious thing happened. As they

3039
03:57:43.600 --> 03:57:46.639
watched the pursued vessel. They suddenly
saw a flash from a gun on the

3040
03:57:46.719 --> 03:57:52.520
side facing the land. What fools, cried Cliff, firing toward the land

3041
03:57:52.639 --> 03:57:56.959
instead of at our ship. The
fool Spaniards must be rattled worse than usual.

3042
03:57:56.440 --> 03:58:01.440
That beats, he did not the
sentence. As he spoke, the

3043
03:58:01.559 --> 03:58:05.719
shell fired from the ship crashed through
the trees, and landed almost at his

3044
03:58:05.840 --> 03:58:11.280
feet. The fuse was burning and
spluttering, and it seemed ready to explode

3045
03:58:11.319 --> 03:58:15.559
on the instant, carrying death and
destruction to the little party. It was

3046
03:58:15.600 --> 03:58:20.239
a perilous moment. Several of the
men instinctively dodged and seemed on the point

3047
03:58:20.280 --> 03:58:24.760
of running away. Cliff saw his
peril in an instant and the only hope

3048
03:58:24.760 --> 03:58:28.280
of averting it without a moment's hesitation, He sprang forward and picked up the

3049
03:58:28.360 --> 03:58:33.120
shell as it seemed about to burst. With a mighty effort, he hurled

3050
03:58:33.120 --> 03:58:35.840
the spluttering missile over the ridge of
earth that he had noticed to one side,

3051
03:58:37.159 --> 03:58:41.760
and then, with an involuntary sigh
of relief, he instinctively huddled with

3052
03:58:41.799 --> 03:58:46.040
the balance of the party in an
expected attitude, waiting for the explosion on

3053
03:58:46.079 --> 03:58:52.360
the other side of the rampart end
of chapter twenty three recording by Tom Weiss

3054
03:58:52.639 --> 03:59:03.479
Tom's audiobooks dot Com. Chapter twenty
four of a Prisoner of Morrow by Upton

3055
03:59:03.600 --> 03:59:09.920
Sinclair. This LibriVox recording is in
the public domain. Recording by Tom Weiss,

3056
03:59:11.440 --> 03:59:18.479
Chapter twenty four The Cuban Courier.
But the explosion never came. The

3057
03:59:18.600 --> 03:59:22.680
party waited breathlessly expecting to hear a
deafening sound from the shell and to see

3058
03:59:22.680 --> 03:59:26.840
the earth thrown up in showers about
them. From a safe place of vantage.

3059
03:59:26.879 --> 03:59:31.000
They felt it was a sight worth
seeing, and felt personally aggrieved when,

3060
03:59:31.120 --> 03:59:35.680
after waiting an unconscionable time, all
was quiet on the other side of

3061
03:59:35.680 --> 03:59:41.559
the natural rampart of earth. Cliff
had been surprised and puzzled in the first

3062
03:59:41.600 --> 03:59:46.319
place to see the ship firing away
from its antagonists instead of toward it,

3063
03:59:46.639 --> 03:59:50.399
and was now more than ever perplexed. To add to the mystery, the

3064
03:59:50.440 --> 03:59:54.840
ship did not fire another shot,
either at its pursuer or in the opposite

3065
03:59:54.840 --> 04:00:00.360
direction. Its only purpose now seemed
to be to get away from the American

3066
04:00:00.440 --> 04:00:03.520
ship. It seemed to stand a
good chance of doing it, too,

3067
04:00:03.959 --> 04:00:07.360
for it was evidently a very swift
boat, and the pursuing vessel was still

3068
04:00:07.479 --> 04:00:13.120
far away. That's the queerest thing
that ever happened, exclaimed Cliff, when

3069
04:00:13.120 --> 04:00:16.239
a sufficient time had elapsed to enable
the shell to explode. If it was

3070
04:00:16.360 --> 04:00:22.040
ever going to what possessed them to
fire over here? And what's the matter

3071
04:00:22.040 --> 04:00:26.639
with the shell? I'll investigate the
ladder at any rate, it's within easy

3072
04:00:26.719 --> 04:00:30.760
reach, though it seemed as though
more than enough time had passed to give

3073
04:00:30.760 --> 04:00:33.760
the shell a good opportunity. Still, Cliff, for reasons of prudence,

3074
04:00:35.000 --> 04:00:37.959
concluded not to be too exacting on
the thing, but to give it a

3075
04:00:37.959 --> 04:00:43.360
fair chance. He didn't want to
crowd it too close, so he waited

3076
04:00:43.399 --> 04:00:46.920
a while longer, and then cautiously
climbed up the side of the embankment and

3077
04:00:48.040 --> 04:00:52.559
peered over there. In the moonlight, he could see the shell lying quietly

3078
04:00:52.639 --> 04:00:56.559
upon the ground. There was no
smoke now rising from it, and the

3079
04:00:56.600 --> 04:01:01.920
fuse had evidently burned itself out.
It seemed to harmless enough piece of steel.

3080
04:01:01.959 --> 04:01:05.239
Now. He waited but an instant
and then vaulted over on the other

3081
04:01:05.280 --> 04:01:11.040
side. His curiosity had been aroused
regarding the matter, and he, for

3082
04:01:11.079 --> 04:01:15.239
the time being lost all interest in
the chasted sea, as well as the

3083
04:01:15.280 --> 04:01:18.920
appointed meeting under those trees on shore. When he picked up the shell,

3084
04:01:20.239 --> 04:01:24.479
he was more surprised and mystified than
ever. What does this mean, he

3085
04:01:24.520 --> 04:01:28.360
exclaimed aloud, A round shell of
the old fashioned type instead of the conical

3086
04:01:28.399 --> 04:01:33.760
ones used nowadays. Why a shell
like this has not been used in any

3087
04:01:33.879 --> 04:01:37.319
navy for ages? He had been
too excited at the moment of picking up

3088
04:01:37.479 --> 04:01:41.879
spluttering shell to note its size or
shape. But now he saw at a

3089
04:01:41.879 --> 04:01:46.760
glance that the one he held in
his hand was obsolete and out of date.

3090
04:01:46.239 --> 04:01:50.159
It was well enough for the old
fashioned smooth bore guns, but those

3091
04:01:50.159 --> 04:01:54.360
of modern make had no use for
them. As he puzzled over the mystery

3092
04:01:54.440 --> 04:01:58.440
surrounding the projectile, he suddenly heard
a whistle from the other side of the

3093
04:01:58.479 --> 04:02:03.120
embank. He recognized it as the
signal from the insurgent courier, and at

3094
04:02:03.159 --> 04:02:07.479
once was alive to the importance of
carrying out the instructions that had been given

3095
04:02:07.559 --> 04:02:13.239
him. He hastily dropped a shell
upon the ground and sprang up and over

3096
04:02:13.319 --> 04:02:16.079
the ridge of earth. He gave
an answering whistle, and soon a form

3097
04:02:16.280 --> 04:02:22.479
cautiously appeared from among some bushes not
far away. Altokiva called Cliff before the

3098
04:02:22.559 --> 04:02:28.000
newcomer had advanced the step, this
was the challenge, meaning who goes there?

3099
04:02:28.680 --> 04:02:33.559
The response came promptly, Kuba,
this is the countersign of the insurgents,

3100
04:02:33.799 --> 04:02:37.799
and Cliff knew that it was the
courier who had reached the appointed rendezvous.

3101
04:02:39.200 --> 04:02:41.440
He called out to him to advance, and in the moonlight appeared the

3102
04:02:41.440 --> 04:02:46.040
figure of an insurgent soldier, a
bombus, as he is called in that

3103
04:02:46.120 --> 04:02:52.159
country, a figure with which American
tars were to become more familiar as the

3104
04:02:52.200 --> 04:02:56.920
war progressed. His equipment was typical
of the insurgent soldier. Beside a pair

3105
04:02:56.959 --> 04:03:01.360
of linen trousers and a knitted woolen
shirt, he wore a short blouse called

3106
04:03:01.559 --> 04:03:07.479
mumbisa. This was a small shirt
like vest with pockets front and back,

3107
04:03:07.799 --> 04:03:11.360
opening at the belt. A handy
way of carrying their cartridges, devised by

3108
04:03:11.399 --> 04:03:16.959
them through necessity during the previous Ten
Years' War. A panama had turned up

3109
04:03:16.959 --> 04:03:22.760
in front and fastened with a silver
star, completed his attire. For as

3110
04:03:22.799 --> 04:03:26.319
to his feet, they were innocent
of a covering, rather a summary outfit,

3111
04:03:26.399 --> 04:03:30.600
thought Cliff as he took it in
with a glass, But he knew

3112
04:03:30.639 --> 04:03:33.440
that it was sufficient for the needs
of the insurgents in that climate. At

3113
04:03:33.479 --> 04:03:39.719
that brave hearts beat under the unpretentious
mumbisa, and brave deeds were done by

3114
04:03:39.719 --> 04:03:45.440
the poorly equipped soldiers of the Army
of Liberation. The newcomer was diffusive in

3115
04:03:45.520 --> 04:03:50.000
his greeting. I bring you greeting
from our brave General Gomez, he exclaimed

3116
04:03:50.040 --> 04:03:54.600
in Spanish greetings to our noble friends
and allies. Cliff received him cordially,

3117
04:03:54.879 --> 04:04:00.399
but lost little time in preliminaries.
Much more time had already that he'd been

3118
04:04:00.440 --> 04:04:03.079
consumed, and he had calculated upon, and he was anxious to have his

3119
04:04:03.159 --> 04:04:07.600
business over with, and returned to
the flagship with the important despatches for which

3120
04:04:07.600 --> 04:04:13.040
he had come. I am honored
by your words, he said in reply

3121
04:04:13.159 --> 04:04:16.760
to the other Cuban. Liberty is
assured by force of American arms, and

3122
04:04:16.879 --> 04:04:22.120
at the same time we have our
own score to settle with Spain. It

3123
04:04:22.239 --> 04:04:26.479
will be done, said the Cuban. But to business, continued Cliff.

3124
04:04:26.479 --> 04:04:30.120
You have some papers for me,
have you not, yes, replied the

3125
04:04:30.200 --> 04:04:33.399
courier, raising his blouse and drawing
forth a package of papers from its place

3126
04:04:33.440 --> 04:04:39.159
of concealment, Important dispatches from our
General for your gallant Rear Admiral. Besides

3127
04:04:39.319 --> 04:04:45.440
much information concerning the Spanish fortifications and
troops, there are details of our own

3128
04:04:45.479 --> 04:04:50.280
plans and preparations, which it would
be ruinous to have falled into Spanish hands.

3129
04:04:50.879 --> 04:04:52.680
I'll see that the Spanish don't get
them, he said, with a

3130
04:04:52.760 --> 04:04:58.719
confident air be cautious, exclaimed the
Cuban. The enemy have made one effort

3131
04:04:58.760 --> 04:05:01.520
to intercept them. I was pursued
a mile back from here, but my

3132
04:05:01.639 --> 04:05:05.200
knowledge of the country enabled me to
give them the slip. It was that

3133
04:05:05.399 --> 04:05:11.200
encounter that delayed me. This was
a danger that had not been reckoned on.

3134
04:05:11.799 --> 04:05:16.479
Every preparation for the transfer of the
papers had been arranged with utmost secrecy.

3135
04:05:16.079 --> 04:05:20.680
But the dispaniards know of your mission
here, asked Cliff, in some

3136
04:05:20.799 --> 04:05:24.840
surprise. I know, not,
replied the other. It is incredible how

3137
04:05:24.879 --> 04:05:28.680
they could have discovered it. But
I do know that I encountered the detachment

3138
04:05:28.719 --> 04:05:31.680
of their troops, and that they
pursued me. Then they may be following

3139
04:05:31.719 --> 04:05:35.079
you to this point, exclaimed Cliff. I think, not, replied the

3140
04:05:35.159 --> 04:05:39.000
Cuban. I made a wide detour
and know the ways of the land too

3141
04:05:39.040 --> 04:05:45.120
well to leave any trail. Nevertheless, said Cliff, our business is transacted,

3142
04:05:45.319 --> 04:05:48.200
and the sooner we go our respective
ways, the better. The papers

3143
04:05:48.239 --> 04:05:52.680
are now in my care, and
I shall run no risk of their falling

3144
04:05:52.719 --> 04:05:56.879
into the hands of our enemies.
You are a wise officer, exclaimed the

3145
04:05:56.920 --> 04:06:01.000
courier, and before we part,
allow me to present you this it may

3146
04:06:01.120 --> 04:06:05.559
interest you. With this, he
drew from his mambisa a paper, which

3147
04:06:05.559 --> 04:06:09.120
he quickly unfolded. It proved to
be a sheet about ten by fourteen inches,

3148
04:06:09.520 --> 04:06:13.479
and Cliff could see, as he
examined it, by what light the

3149
04:06:13.559 --> 04:06:18.399
moon afforded that there was printing on
both sides. This said the Courier,

3150
04:06:18.479 --> 04:06:22.959
somewhat proudly, is the first copy
of Las Villas ever printed. It is

3151
04:06:22.000 --> 04:06:28.120
set up and printed at General Gomez's
headquarters under his own direction. It contains,

3152
04:06:28.280 --> 04:06:31.879
besides orders and an address from our
beloved General, an account of your

3153
04:06:31.920 --> 04:06:37.239
intrepid Dewey's victory at Manila, Ah. That was a magnificent victory, yes,

3154
04:06:37.319 --> 04:06:43.000
ascended Cliff, and there will be
others. The American battleships are invincible,

3155
04:06:43.239 --> 04:06:46.600
exclaimed the Cuban, with enthusiasm.
With such noble allies, we cannot

3156
04:06:46.600 --> 04:06:52.120
fail to secure our liberty. We
are no longer instruments, but members of

3157
04:06:52.159 --> 04:06:56.719
the regular army of Cuba. God
bless America. The Cuban seemed in a

3158
04:06:56.719 --> 04:07:01.840
fair way to continue his rhapsodies indefinitely. But Cliff, having secured the papers

3159
04:07:01.840 --> 04:07:05.360
for which he came, was now
intent upon delivering them as soon as possible

3160
04:07:05.559 --> 04:07:11.040
to the rear admiral. He therefore
intimated as much to the courier, and

3161
04:07:11.120 --> 04:07:15.760
the latter took his departure. Cliff
watched him disappear among the trees in the

3162
04:07:15.840 --> 04:07:18.879
direction by which he had approached.
Now men, said, he addressing his

3163
04:07:18.920 --> 04:07:24.120
companions to the boat, The New
York will soon be back, ready to

3164
04:07:24.159 --> 04:07:28.079
receive us. But they had not
taken more than a few steps towards the

3165
04:07:28.120 --> 04:07:31.639
shore, when Cliff suddenly stopped,
as if remembering something. Hold on just

3166
04:07:31.680 --> 04:07:35.799
a minute, he explained that shell, I have special reasons for wanting to

3167
04:07:35.840 --> 04:07:39.600
carry that along. It will take
but a minute to find it. As

3168
04:07:39.600 --> 04:07:43.760
he started toward the ridge of earth
beyond which he had thrown it, they

3169
04:07:43.760 --> 04:07:46.639
were all startled to hear the sounds
of musketry, apparently near In hand,

3170
04:07:48.159 --> 04:07:52.520
one volley was quickly followed by another. Cliff sprang upon the embankment for which

3171
04:07:52.520 --> 04:07:56.159
he had started, and looked off
beyond the clump of trees in the direction

3172
04:07:56.239 --> 04:08:01.440
from which the sounds came. He
was in that position but a moment or

3173
04:08:01.479 --> 04:08:05.680
two. A half dozen reports in
quick succession readed his appearance. One bullet

3174
04:08:05.799 --> 04:08:09.440
passing through his cap, he dropped
on his feet to the ground beside his

3175
04:08:09.520 --> 04:08:13.680
companions. The Spaniards, he exclaimed, hurriedly, at least a hundred of

3176
04:08:13.719 --> 04:08:16.879
them, from what I saw,
They were hurrying in this direction, and

3177
04:08:18.040 --> 04:08:22.520
not far away. They were on
the alert on the instant. The sounds

3178
04:08:22.559 --> 04:08:26.399
that reached their ears told them unmistakably
that the force of the enemy far outnumbered

3179
04:08:26.440 --> 04:08:31.120
their own and were rapidly approaching.
Should they await an attack or run for

3180
04:08:31.200 --> 04:08:39.239
the vote? End of chapter twenty
four recording by Tom Weiss Tom's audiobooks dot

3181
04:08:39.239 --> 04:08:50.479
Com. Chapter twenty five of a
Prisoner of Morrow by Upton Sinclair. This

3182
04:08:50.639 --> 04:08:56.239
LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Tom Weiss, Chapter twenty

3183
04:08:56.239 --> 04:09:03.120
five. In the name of humanity
and the sailors of the main, They

3184
04:09:03.200 --> 04:09:07.239
must have followed the courier in spite
of his cleverness, exclaimed Cliff. And

3185
04:09:07.360 --> 04:09:11.120
if they have tracked him, they
know where we are. The question is

3186
04:09:11.319 --> 04:09:13.479
shall we meet them here or take
to the boat and run the risk of

3187
04:09:13.520 --> 04:09:18.079
being shot down without a chance to
defend ourselves. The danger is yours as

3188
04:09:18.079 --> 04:09:22.120
well as mine. What do you
say? But before the men could reply,

3189
04:09:22.319 --> 04:09:26.520
a rousing cheer from the Spanish soldiers
rang out upon the air. The

3190
04:09:26.600 --> 04:09:31.920
little band of Americans expected to see
the forms of their enemies appear among the

3191
04:09:31.959 --> 04:09:35.879
trees at every second in an impetuous
charge upon them. They had no doubt

3192
04:09:35.879 --> 04:09:39.600
that the cheers were the signal for
the attack. But to their amazement,

3193
04:09:39.639 --> 04:09:45.319
the sounds of approaching steps died out. Cliff's practiced ear told him that the

3194
04:09:45.479 --> 04:09:50.840
enemy had halted, but at the
same time he recognized marks of enthusiasm among

3195
04:09:50.879 --> 04:09:54.280
the Spanish forces. What could it
mean? Do they think they can scare

3196
04:09:54.360 --> 04:09:58.639
us off by yelling at us,
exclaimed Cliff contemptuously. They don't know us

3197
04:09:58.680 --> 04:10:03.760
if think so, That's all.
The group of Americans listened intently. There

3198
04:10:03.840 --> 04:10:07.760
was no doubt of it. The
Spaniards had hauled it. After their vociferous

3199
04:10:07.840 --> 04:10:13.959
cheers. Cliff decided to find out
what it meant. If the Spaniards were

3200
04:10:13.000 --> 04:10:18.840
preparing a surprise for him, he
intended finding it out. Cautiously. He

3201
04:10:18.840 --> 04:10:22.239
climbed upon the little rampart of earth
and looked away beyond the trees where he

3202
04:10:22.280 --> 04:10:26.280
had first seen the approach of the
enemy. In the moonlight, he could

3203
04:10:26.319 --> 04:10:31.719
plainly distinguish the forms of the soldiers
there were not as many as he had

3204
04:10:31.760 --> 04:10:35.479
first supposed. They numbered not more
than fifty. In the midst of them,

3205
04:10:35.600 --> 04:10:39.680
he recognized the figure that explained the
cause of their mysterious conduct, and

3206
04:10:39.760 --> 04:10:46.799
at the same time aroused his fighting
instinct. He quickly rejoined his companions,

3207
04:10:46.840 --> 04:10:50.239
his eyes ablaze with the fire of
combat. They have captured the courier,

3208
04:10:50.479 --> 04:10:56.079
he explained to his waiting companions.
That was why they cheered so lustily,

3209
04:10:56.440 --> 04:11:01.239
A lot of jubilation over the capture
of one man. They don't have such

3210
04:11:01.280 --> 04:11:05.399
good luck very often, exclaimed one
of the men. They fired enough shots

3211
04:11:05.399 --> 04:11:09.600
to repulse a whole regiment of insurgents, exclaimed Cliff. But it was all

3212
04:11:09.639 --> 04:11:13.799
for the benefit of this one Mambzie. I don't believe they saw me at

3213
04:11:13.799 --> 04:11:16.440
all, but that bullet through my
cap was one of their stray shots.

3214
04:11:16.840 --> 04:11:20.719
But they must know we are here, exclaimed the men. I doubt it,

3215
04:11:20.760 --> 04:11:24.559
replied Cliff. Else, why do
they halt so near and not charge

3216
04:11:24.559 --> 04:11:28.879
on us? Shall we force the
fight and go to the rescue of our

3217
04:11:28.879 --> 04:11:31.360
Cuban friend. How many are there
of them, asked one of the men.

3218
04:11:31.680 --> 04:11:35.440
Only about fifty, and there are
eleven of us here. We can

3219
04:11:35.479 --> 04:11:39.319
set them on the run. Let's
do it. We have done almost as

3220
04:11:39.399 --> 04:11:43.120
much on other occasions, said Cliff. But now we are armed with only

3221
04:11:43.120 --> 04:11:48.440
our revolvers. They are five to
one. We have plenty of ammunition.

3222
04:11:48.520 --> 04:11:52.600
Spoke up the men eagerly. You
know we took an extra supply. But

3223
04:11:52.680 --> 04:11:56.079
there is another thing we must bear
in mind, said Cliff, who had

3224
04:11:56.079 --> 04:11:58.799
been doing some quick thinking. I'd
like nothing better than to give them a

3225
04:11:58.840 --> 04:12:03.760
life highly tussled, but here are
these important dispatches. They must not fall

3226
04:12:03.840 --> 04:12:09.200
into Spanish hands. The New York
will soon be due. If we delay,

3227
04:12:09.479 --> 04:12:13.040
we might miss her. That's so, exclaimed the men. But we

3228
04:12:13.079 --> 04:12:16.040
can fire one volley at them anyhow, one volley would do no good.

3229
04:12:16.319 --> 04:12:20.079
It would simply betray our presence.
Either we must fight to the end,

3230
04:12:20.520 --> 04:12:26.239
or else sneak off to our boat
before they discover us. The idea of

3231
04:12:26.319 --> 04:12:30.079
having a lot of the enemy so
near at hand and not offering them battle

3232
04:12:30.319 --> 04:12:33.000
went against the grain of all of
them. They were not deterred by the

3233
04:12:33.000 --> 04:12:37.760
superior numbers of the Spaniards, but
Cliff's words about the importance of seeing the

3234
04:12:37.840 --> 04:12:43.639
dispatches safely in the rear Admiral's hand
had some restraining effect upon their ardor.

3235
04:12:45.360 --> 04:12:50.159
Cliff, with all his bravery,
was naturally prudent, but was strongly tempted

3236
04:12:50.239 --> 04:12:54.559
to make one effort to release the
captive Cuban. He was their friend and

3237
04:12:54.680 --> 04:12:58.559
ally, and in his heart Cliff
felt that if the captive were one of

3238
04:12:58.600 --> 04:13:03.200
his own men, there would be
no thought of hesitancy or delay. One

3239
04:13:03.239 --> 04:13:07.120
minute, he said, after weighing
both sides of the equation, I'll take

3240
04:13:07.120 --> 04:13:11.319
a look and see what they are
doing. He sprang upon the embankment and

3241
04:13:11.399 --> 04:13:15.440
peered off toward the enemy. The
main body of the troops were resting on

3242
04:13:15.520 --> 04:13:20.959
their arms, apparently satisfied with the
capture of the solitary Cuban. Cliff,

3243
04:13:20.040 --> 04:13:24.680
however, could see that several of
the soldiers were moving about from side to

3244
04:13:24.760 --> 04:13:28.559
side, close to the ground,
as though hunting for some object among the

3245
04:13:28.600 --> 04:13:31.840
grass. Cliff was puzzled to think
what they could be seeing, but he

3246
04:13:31.920 --> 04:13:37.079
felt convinced that the Spaniards had no
idea of the near proximity of the Americans.

3247
04:13:39.000 --> 04:13:41.799
Everything seemed to prove that, and
Cliff was not slow to make up

3248
04:13:41.840 --> 04:13:46.120
his mind. There was time yet
for some quick action. They don't know

3249
04:13:46.200 --> 04:13:50.200
we are here. Men he exclaimed
when he rejoined the others. The Cuban

3250
04:13:50.280 --> 04:13:54.719
will not betray us. We can
surprise them, and if we can sweep

3251
04:13:54.760 --> 04:13:58.040
down on them with a rush and
create noisy enough about it, we can

3252
04:13:58.079 --> 04:14:01.040
make them think. The whole ship's
crew after them will do it. Chorused

3253
04:14:01.040 --> 04:14:05.319
the men eagerly then forward to the
rescue, cried Cliff, leading the way,

3254
04:14:05.639 --> 04:14:11.319
but quietly through these trees until we
reached the other side. It would

3255
04:14:11.319 --> 04:14:16.239
seem a foolhardy thing to do to
invite battle with such an overwhelming force,

3256
04:14:16.399 --> 04:14:20.120
when they might quietly reach their boat
and make away without detection. But their

3257
04:14:20.120 --> 04:14:24.479
blood was up, and there was
a friend and ally in peril of a

3258
04:14:24.559 --> 04:14:30.479
Spanish dungeon or death. Without a
moment's hesitation or further thought, they advanced

3259
04:14:30.479 --> 04:14:35.920
silently through the sparse woods, revolvers
in hand. They were few in numbers,

3260
04:14:35.959 --> 04:14:39.840
but determination was written on every face. They reached the further edge of

3261
04:14:39.879 --> 04:14:43.479
the clump of trees without giving a
sound that would betray their presence to the

3262
04:14:43.639 --> 04:14:48.280
enemy. Here they formed in line
under Cliff's leadership, shoulder to shoulder,

3263
04:14:48.719 --> 04:14:54.520
ready for the charge. The moon
had gone behind a cloud, but here

3264
04:14:54.600 --> 04:14:58.000
and there they could detect the glistening
of a hostile bayonet and the sound of

3265
04:14:58.040 --> 04:15:03.000
Spanish voices. They did not pause
to contemplate the scene. The time for

3266
04:15:03.079 --> 04:15:07.639
action had come. The stars are
fighting with us, exclaimed Cliff. The

3267
04:15:07.760 --> 04:15:13.239
Spaniards will never know how few we
are in this darkness. Now all together

3268
04:15:13.600 --> 04:15:16.639
a rousing cheer, and at them
at the signal, A shout as of

3269
04:15:16.680 --> 04:15:22.040
a hundred voices startled the unsuspecting Spaniards. Fire cried Cliff, and a volley

3270
04:15:22.120 --> 04:15:28.319
from their revolvers carried consternation into the
Spanish ranks. The shots had told,

3271
04:15:28.639 --> 04:15:33.319
groans of the wounded mingled with the
hoarse startled commands of the officers. A

3272
04:15:33.440 --> 04:15:37.399
moment later a return volley rang out
upon the ear, but the bullets flew

3273
04:15:37.440 --> 04:15:41.040
harmlessly among the trees. The Spaniards, in their fright, were firing wildly.

3274
04:15:41.559 --> 04:15:46.200
The Americans returned the fire and kept
it up as rapidly as possible,

3275
04:15:46.479 --> 04:15:50.959
yelling for all they were worth.
This noisy charge had the effect Cliff had

3276
04:15:50.959 --> 04:15:54.600
reckoned upon. The Spaniards were thoroughly
frightened, and Cliff's sharp ear told him

3277
04:15:54.639 --> 04:15:58.360
that some of the soldiers were already
on the run, and that the officers

3278
04:15:58.360 --> 04:16:03.440
had difficult in keeping them all from
retreating. Cliff knew very well that if

3279
04:16:03.479 --> 04:16:07.479
the enemy had any idea of how
meager were his forces, they would be

3280
04:16:07.520 --> 04:16:11.040
bolder, and, instead of trying
to get away, would sweep down upon

3281
04:16:11.120 --> 04:16:15.120
him with overwhelming force. He,
however, was too shrewd to give them

3282
04:16:15.120 --> 04:16:19.040
a chance of finding that out.
A bold dash would keep up his bluff,

3283
04:16:19.360 --> 04:16:23.559
and now was the time to put
it into execution. Drawing his sword,

3284
04:16:23.719 --> 04:16:27.200
he started toward them, shouting at
the top of his voice. Up

3285
04:16:27.200 --> 04:16:32.280
in Adam, boys, he roared
charge. Then, facing about for an

3286
04:16:32.280 --> 04:16:36.840
instant, he added, in a
lower tone, yelled like sixty. With

3287
04:16:37.000 --> 04:16:41.120
a wild shout, the little band
rushed forward, firing their revolvers as they

3288
04:16:41.159 --> 04:16:45.840
advanced in compact line. This bold
dash had the desired effect. The enemy

3289
04:16:45.840 --> 04:16:52.360
could be heard retreating in disorder before
them with redoubled clamor. The Americans pressed

3290
04:16:52.360 --> 04:16:56.760
forward, spurred on by the excitement
of the chase. The moon at this

3291
04:16:56.840 --> 04:17:02.639
point emerged from its retirement and showed
them the moralized ranks of the fleeing Spaniards,

3292
04:17:02.680 --> 04:17:07.040
But unfortunately it also showed to such
of the enemy as looked back at

3293
04:17:07.079 --> 04:17:11.280
their pursuers what a handful of men
had caused such terror and habit. Cliff

3294
04:17:11.520 --> 04:17:15.600
felt that his bluff would now be
called. But the beams of the moon

3295
04:17:15.680 --> 04:17:22.319
also showed another scene that aroused all
the Americans indignation and fairly made their blood

3296
04:17:22.479 --> 04:17:26.280
boil with rage. In spite of
the panic, the Spaniards had retained hold

3297
04:17:26.319 --> 04:17:30.520
of their prisoner. But the first
sight that Cliff saw as the moon shone

3298
04:17:30.520 --> 04:17:37.159
out clear once more, was one
of the Spanish soldiers deliberately placing his revolver

3299
04:17:37.600 --> 04:17:44.200
against the unfortunate Cuban's head and sent
a bullet crashing into his brain. Treachery,

3300
04:17:44.440 --> 04:17:48.799
base treachery, cried Cliff, beside
himself with indignation and horror at the

3301
04:17:48.879 --> 04:17:53.239
scene assassination of a prisoner of war
boys. Shall we allow such a vile

3302
04:17:53.399 --> 04:17:59.239
deeds go unavenged? The others had
also seen, and there was no need

3303
04:17:59.280 --> 04:18:03.559
to ask the question. But the
answer came prompt and without a descending voice.

3304
04:18:03.840 --> 04:18:07.360
No, by thunder never then at
them to the death, cried Cliff,

3305
04:18:07.479 --> 04:18:11.719
leading them on in the name of
humanity and the sailors of the main.

3306
04:18:12.719 --> 04:18:17.840
The blood curdling atrocity had made demons
of them all, and with a

3307
04:18:17.879 --> 04:18:22.840
horse. Shout, they sprang to
the charge. End of chapter twenty five.

3308
04:18:22.440 --> 04:18:34.120
Recording by Tom Weiss Tom's audiobooks dot
Com. Chapter twenty six of a

3309
04:18:34.159 --> 04:18:40.000
Prisoner of Morrow, buy Upton,
Sinclair. This LibriVox recording is in the

3310
04:18:40.040 --> 04:18:45.559
public domain. Recording by Tom Weiss, Chapter twenty six, A game of

3311
04:18:45.680 --> 04:18:52.360
bluff. Cliff urged his little band
of Avengers forward with no thought of danger

3312
04:18:52.680 --> 04:18:56.440
or of the consequences. The inhuman
scene he had witnessed drove from his mind

3313
04:18:56.600 --> 04:19:02.120
all thoughts of the flagship or the
porton papers he carried upon his person.

3314
04:19:02.760 --> 04:19:07.719
Such barbarity called for vengeance, and
that brave American handful of American tars meant

3315
04:19:07.760 --> 04:19:12.479
to wreak it on their treacherous foes, or die in the attempt. Come

3316
04:19:12.520 --> 04:19:15.920
on, shouted Cliff wildly, give
it to him, don't let a man

3317
04:19:17.120 --> 04:19:22.120
escape. A well directed volley was
the answer to his command that sent death,

3318
04:19:22.159 --> 04:19:26.079
dealing bullets among the frightened soldiers just
before them. But unfortunately for the

3319
04:19:26.120 --> 04:19:30.280
heroic little band, they were now
fighting in the open, and their strength

3320
04:19:30.399 --> 04:19:34.360
was known to the enemy. A
little further ahead, Cliff could see that

3321
04:19:34.399 --> 04:19:38.520
a Spanish officer had succeeded in rallying
some of his men, and they were

3322
04:19:38.559 --> 04:19:44.559
now forming in solid line to repulse
the charge of the Americans. The first

3323
04:19:44.600 --> 04:19:48.680
result of this was a shower of
bullets from the Spanish rifles that fortunately for

3324
04:19:48.719 --> 04:19:52.879
the most part, went wide of
the mark, but one slightly wounded a

3325
04:19:52.959 --> 04:19:56.520
sailor at Cliff's side, as a
sharp exclamation of pain quickly told him.

3326
04:19:56.600 --> 04:20:02.239
It also aroused his native caution.
What was the use he quickly thought of

3327
04:20:02.280 --> 04:20:06.040
holding his men there in the full
glare of the moonlight as a target for

3328
04:20:06.120 --> 04:20:10.360
the enemy's gun when a more certain
conflict could be carried on from the shelter

3329
04:20:10.440 --> 04:20:14.639
of the trees just behind him.
He had too few men to risk losing

3330
04:20:14.680 --> 04:20:18.079
any on those on even terms.
He quickly ordered his men to drop back

3331
04:20:18.200 --> 04:20:22.760
into the woods, but it was
with great difficulty at first that he could

3332
04:20:22.840 --> 04:20:27.040
enforce his commands upon the now thoroughly
aroused sailors. They wanted to continue their

3333
04:20:27.079 --> 04:20:32.879
impetuous charge, but a second volley
from the remaining troops showed them the wisdom

3334
04:20:33.000 --> 04:20:36.799
of Cliff's decision, and with a
return volley, they fell back into the

3335
04:20:36.879 --> 04:20:41.000
darkness and shelter of the trees.
Now, boys, cried Cliff, every

3336
04:20:41.040 --> 04:20:44.799
man behind a tree, it fight
for all you are worth. Let every

3337
04:20:44.799 --> 04:20:49.479
shot tell. The wisdom of Cliff's
stand became at once apparent from the ambush

3338
04:20:49.520 --> 04:20:53.200
of the woods. They could fire
with little fear of stopping a Spanish bullet

3339
04:20:53.239 --> 04:20:57.600
with their own bodies. And they
did fire, and that to good purpose.

3340
04:20:59.360 --> 04:21:03.000
The Spaniards were now bolder and bore
down upon the ambushed Americans with some

3341
04:21:03.120 --> 04:21:07.360
semblance of order. But at each
volley from the sailors there was a wavering

3342
04:21:07.440 --> 04:21:11.840
in the ranks of the foe,
and Cliff could see that more than one

3343
04:21:11.959 --> 04:21:15.639
dropped wounded from the ranks. We'll
lick em yet, cried Cliff, with

3344
04:21:15.760 --> 04:21:19.879
enthusiasm. Keep it up, boys, But the Spaniards advanced steadily in spite

3345
04:21:19.879 --> 04:21:23.680
of their losses. They too were
fully aroused at the thought that they had

3346
04:21:23.719 --> 04:21:29.360
been so roughly handled by such a
small number of men. Cliff and his

3347
04:21:29.440 --> 04:21:33.760
gallant band were compelled to drop back
from tree to tree. It began to

3348
04:21:33.799 --> 04:21:37.520
look as though the Spaniards would in
the end become victorious. But with the

3349
04:21:37.559 --> 04:21:42.440
Americans it was due or die.
There was no hope of help or succor

3350
04:21:42.559 --> 04:21:47.879
from any source. No reinforcements were
at hand, and none could be sent

3351
04:21:47.920 --> 04:21:51.879
in time from the flagship. Even
did those on board suspect the plight in

3352
04:21:51.920 --> 04:21:56.879
which that boat's crew found itself.
But desperate cases required desperate measures, and

3353
04:21:57.000 --> 04:22:02.600
Cliff was equal to the emergency.
When it became evident that the Spaniards would

3354
04:22:02.600 --> 04:22:06.959
indeed fight, Cliff's busy brain thought
of a means to turn the tide of

3355
04:22:07.000 --> 04:22:10.440
the conflict. It was a slight
hope, to be sure, but the

3356
04:22:10.520 --> 04:22:14.719
only one that presented itself. He
smiled in spite of himself, in view

3357
04:22:14.760 --> 04:22:18.399
of his meager forces, at the
thought that the only way to achieve victory

3358
04:22:18.719 --> 04:22:22.280
was by a flank movement. I'll
take two men, he said, hurriedly,

3359
04:22:22.440 --> 04:22:26.120
and slip around behind those fellows.
The rest of you keep up your

3360
04:22:26.120 --> 04:22:29.319
fire here, and if our lungs
hold out, we'll make them think we

3361
04:22:29.440 --> 04:22:33.200
have reinforcements. It was a very
risky move, but with two companions,

3362
04:22:33.200 --> 04:22:37.760
Cliff put it into execution at once. They hurried through the woods so as

3363
04:22:37.799 --> 04:22:41.559
to flank the enemy, an easy
task, as the latter were now well

3364
04:22:41.680 --> 04:22:45.959
up to the little grove. As
they reached the edges of the woods,

3365
04:22:45.959 --> 04:22:48.760
which would bring them in the enemy's
rear. They set up a mighty shout

3366
04:22:49.159 --> 04:22:53.559
at nam Boy's Cliff yelled at his
imaginary forces, come on, we've got

3367
04:22:53.639 --> 04:22:57.440
em. Then in Spanish, he
cried, so that the enemy could hear,

3368
04:22:57.879 --> 04:23:02.360
surrender you, Stan, Your twelve
men have held you, and now

3369
04:23:02.440 --> 04:23:06.520
will take you. He had reached
the edge of the clearing and paused a

3370
04:23:06.559 --> 04:23:11.399
moment, facing around and beckoning to
his imaginary reinforcements. The Spaniards were completely

3371
04:23:11.440 --> 04:23:17.520
bewildered. The fire from those that
Cliff had left behind continued without intermission,

3372
04:23:17.799 --> 04:23:21.799
and the Spaniards could not but think
that the vociferous sailors in their rear were

3373
04:23:21.879 --> 04:23:26.079
new arrivals. They could not,
in the first place conceive of the daring

3374
04:23:26.120 --> 04:23:30.079
and hardihood that would lead a dozen
men to oppose their forces unless reserves were

3375
04:23:30.319 --> 04:23:37.360
near in hand, And now thought
they these reinforcements had arrived, Cliff and

3376
04:23:37.440 --> 04:23:41.840
his companions made noisy up to give
color to this belief, and without stopping

3377
04:23:41.840 --> 04:23:45.319
to see what there was behind the
demonstration, the Spaniards took to their heels.

3378
04:23:45.559 --> 04:23:49.040
They are not men but devils,
Cliff heard someone say in Spanish,

3379
04:23:49.200 --> 04:23:53.159
as they dropped their rifles and start
on the run. Even the officer who

3380
04:23:53.159 --> 04:23:57.479
had succeeded at once in holding a
remnant of his panic stricken forces together,

3381
04:23:57.920 --> 04:24:03.479
now gave up the fight and sprinted
away as fast as the rest. Every

3382
04:24:03.520 --> 04:24:07.000
man seemed to be looking for his
own safety, and they did not pause

3383
04:24:07.040 --> 04:24:11.360
to see what was behind them.
Here and there, it is true one

3384
04:24:11.399 --> 04:24:15.079
of the fleeing Spaniards could be seen
helping a wounded companion in his flight,

3385
04:24:15.719 --> 04:24:21.200
but as for further resistance, there
was none. Cliff could not forbear to

3386
04:24:21.280 --> 04:24:23.840
laugh at the odd sight of an
army in a foot race to escape a

3387
04:24:23.840 --> 04:24:29.520
few American sailors. American bluff has
won the day, he laughed. Our

3388
04:24:29.559 --> 04:24:33.879
Cuban friend's death has been avenged,
and that without the loss of a man

3389
04:24:33.000 --> 04:24:37.200
on our side. The Spanish are
good sprinters at any rate, said one

3390
04:24:37.200 --> 04:24:41.440
of the men, as they started
with Cliff to rejoin their companions. Here

3391
04:24:41.639 --> 04:24:47.159
Cliff had all he could do to
restrain his followers from continuing in pursuit of

3392
04:24:47.200 --> 04:24:49.840
the enemy. No, said he, in response to the earnest pleading,

3393
04:24:51.239 --> 04:24:55.799
We had better leave well enough alone. These Spaniards say we are not men

3394
04:24:55.879 --> 04:25:00.000
but devils, and I guess they
don't care for another interview the New York,

3395
04:25:00.280 --> 04:25:03.639
no doubt, is waiting for us, and these dispatches are yet to

3396
04:25:03.639 --> 04:25:07.479
be delivered. There was no use
to grumble, so the party set out

3397
04:25:07.520 --> 04:25:11.840
on the return to their boat.
They were highly enthusiastic over the good work

3398
04:25:11.920 --> 04:25:15.719
done under Cliff's leadership, and we're
proud of his pluck as well as the

3399
04:25:15.760 --> 04:25:19.360
good general ship he had shown.
The tide of battle had carried them some

3400
04:25:19.479 --> 04:25:23.479
distance from the spot where they had
met the Cuban courier, and further still

3401
04:25:23.559 --> 04:25:29.159
from where they had concealed their boat. But they picked their way expeditiously through

3402
04:25:29.159 --> 04:25:33.079
the woods and reached the beach without
further incident. They were near the clump

3403
04:25:33.079 --> 04:25:37.239
of trees which they had recognized as
that behind which they had hidden the boat,

3404
04:25:37.280 --> 04:25:41.639
when Cliffs stopped with a sudden exclamation
gory. He said, I have

3405
04:25:41.760 --> 04:25:45.159
forgotten that shell. It won't take
but a minute to return for it.

3406
04:25:45.520 --> 04:25:48.559
What's the use, sir, ventured
one of the men. As you said,

3407
04:25:48.639 --> 04:25:52.600
we'd better let well enough alone and
not run any further risk or a

3408
04:25:52.639 --> 04:25:56.600
shell that don't even explode. That's
just the reason why I want it,

3409
04:25:56.639 --> 04:26:02.879
said Cliff. That shell is more
important than you might think, I'll But

3410
04:26:03.040 --> 04:26:07.799
here occurred an interruption that opened up
more startling possibilities and drove the unexploded shell

3411
04:26:07.920 --> 04:26:12.239
from the attention of all. It
was in the shape of an exclamation of

3412
04:26:12.280 --> 04:26:15.559
surprise and alarm from one of the
men, who had gone a few steps

3413
04:26:15.559 --> 04:26:19.920
in advance of the others and had
reached the boat's hiding place as Cliffs spoke.

3414
04:26:21.479 --> 04:26:25.399
It arrested Cliff's attention at once.
What's the matter? He called?

3415
04:26:25.440 --> 04:26:29.239
Sharply, the boat, Sir,
cried the marine, appearing from behind the

3416
04:26:29.280 --> 04:26:33.559
bushes. What of it? It's
gone gone, yes, Sir. Cliff,

3417
04:26:33.600 --> 04:26:37.719
followed by the others, hastened to
the spot the man had spoken the

3418
04:26:37.760 --> 04:26:42.280
truth. The boat, which was
now their sole dependence, was no longer

3419
04:26:42.319 --> 04:26:48.000
There they looked in blank amazement at
one another and at the spot where they

3420
04:26:48.000 --> 04:26:52.920
had fastened it in fancied security.
What could it mean? End of chapter

3421
04:26:53.000 --> 04:27:06.760
twenty six recording by Tom wys Tom's
audiobooks dot Com. Chapter twenty seven of

3422
04:27:06.799 --> 04:27:11.079
a Prisoner of Morrow by Upton Sinclair. This LibriVox recording is in the public

3423
04:27:11.120 --> 04:27:18.959
domain. Recording by Tom Weiss,
Chapter twenty seven, in which Cliff meets

3424
04:27:18.000 --> 04:27:23.040
with a surprise. They were now
in a perilous position. They could not

3425
04:27:23.159 --> 04:27:27.200
return to the flagship, and at
any moment the Spaniards, finding they were

3426
04:27:27.239 --> 04:27:32.920
not pursued, might pluck up courage
to seek them out and try conclusions with

3427
04:27:33.040 --> 04:27:37.200
them once more. If they should
find them on that narrow strip of beach,

3428
04:27:37.520 --> 04:27:41.319
the story of the conflict might be
a different one. And then the

3429
04:27:41.360 --> 04:27:45.959
disappearance of the boat itself pointed to
enemies they had not counted upon, who

3430
04:27:45.000 --> 04:27:49.159
could have found and taken it.
Well, now we're in a pretty pickle,

3431
04:27:49.239 --> 04:27:53.639
exclaimed Cliff, when he became satisfied
that the boat had really been taken.

3432
04:27:55.120 --> 04:27:56.399
Perhaps, sir, this is not
the place where we left it,

3433
04:27:56.559 --> 04:28:00.639
ventured one of the men catching at
that faint home. I wish you were

3434
04:28:00.719 --> 04:28:04.159
right, said Cliff. But there's
no doubt about it. The boat has

3435
04:28:04.159 --> 04:28:07.520
been taken. There's no doubt of
it. The men echoed, the boat

3436
04:28:07.680 --> 04:28:12.040
is gone. But to make assurance, doubly sure, they searched the beach

3437
04:28:12.120 --> 04:28:17.719
under Cliff's direction, examining every clump
of bushes that was large enough to conceal

3438
04:28:17.760 --> 04:28:22.239
the boat. But the result was
a foregone conclusion. The boat was gone.

3439
04:28:23.000 --> 04:28:26.600
Now, what's to be done,
Sir asked one of the men.

3440
04:28:26.159 --> 04:28:30.920
What indeed, something's got to be
done, said Cliff with determination. We've

3441
04:28:30.959 --> 04:28:36.360
got to get off this island before
daybreak. It's easy to dodge the Spaniards

3442
04:28:36.360 --> 04:28:40.879
in the darkness, but entirely a
different matter by day. Besides, we

3443
04:28:40.920 --> 04:28:44.079
seem to have enemies down here as
well as back there on the hill.

3444
04:28:45.040 --> 04:28:48.879
He was scanning the water earnestly as
he spoke. It was time, he

3445
04:28:48.040 --> 04:28:52.600
knew, for the flagship to return
to her position opposite that point and await

3446
04:28:52.639 --> 04:28:56.760
the return of Cliff and his crew. Was she there? He could not

3447
04:28:56.879 --> 04:29:02.319
tell the face of the moon,
and obscured by clouds as it had been

3448
04:29:02.680 --> 04:29:06.760
most of the night, and it
was impossible for Cliff to discern any object

3449
04:29:06.840 --> 04:29:11.120
at a distance across the water.
He strained his eyes trying to catch a

3450
04:29:11.120 --> 04:29:15.159
glimpse of the ship they had left
not many hours ago. But the thought

3451
04:29:15.200 --> 04:29:18.719
occurred to him, what good will
it do if I do see her?

3452
04:29:18.319 --> 04:29:22.120
But even as he looked, the
sky suddenly brightened. In a tiny spot

3453
04:29:22.159 --> 04:29:26.879
out to sea, A long pencil
of light shot up from the water,

3454
04:29:26.159 --> 04:29:30.200
and a cloud was tinged with a
steck of dull white light. It's the

3455
04:29:30.239 --> 04:29:34.840
New York, cried Cliff, the
signal of her searchlight to return. They

3456
04:29:34.879 --> 04:29:38.280
watched that tiny beam of light as
though there was hope of sucker in its

3457
04:29:38.360 --> 04:29:45.200
rays, until it suddenly disappeared and
all was dark as before. Now they

3458
04:29:45.239 --> 04:29:48.680
are waiting for our appearance, said
Cliff, But unfortunately we haven't got wings.

3459
04:29:49.040 --> 04:29:53.680
Hello, what does that mean?
Cliff had turned suddenly in a listening

3460
04:29:53.719 --> 04:29:57.920
attitude toward the land. The others
had heard the same sound that had attracted

3461
04:29:57.920 --> 04:30:03.959
Cliff, the solitary report of a
rifle shot not far in their rear.

3462
04:30:03.479 --> 04:30:07.200
The Spaniards must be returning, said
Cliff. They have made up their minds

3463
04:30:07.239 --> 04:30:11.799
that we had no reinforcements because we
did not pursue them further. I'll go

3464
04:30:11.920 --> 04:30:15.280
up and reconnoiter to see what they
are up to. I'll go, sir,

3465
04:30:15.760 --> 04:30:19.760
volunteered one of the men before Cliff
could get away. You stay here.

3466
04:30:21.120 --> 04:30:23.600
You may be able to see some
way of getting us off With this.

3467
04:30:23.680 --> 04:30:27.200
He cautiously hurried up the side of
the bank, leaving Cliff and his

3468
04:30:27.319 --> 04:30:33.159
companions in the shelter of the bushes
below. With ears alert to any sound

3469
04:30:33.200 --> 04:30:37.079
by land. They anxiously strained their
eyes across the water, could any way

3470
04:30:37.120 --> 04:30:42.440
be found across the expanse that lay
between them and the flagship. All were

3471
04:30:42.479 --> 04:30:47.879
silent for many minutes, and then
at last the searchlight of the flagship flashed

3472
04:30:47.879 --> 04:30:52.559
out once more and swept across the
waters before it disappeared. So near and

3473
04:30:52.639 --> 04:30:56.879
yet so far, exclaimed Cliff.
They are getting impatient for our return.

3474
04:30:57.680 --> 04:31:02.159
If we could signal them, suggested
one of the men, they would send

3475
04:31:02.200 --> 04:31:04.719
about. But we have no means
of doing that, said Cliff. We

3476
04:31:04.799 --> 04:31:08.799
can't shout at them, and a
pistol shot would not be heard except by

3477
04:31:08.799 --> 04:31:14.600
our friends the enemy. Perhaps they
will send about anyhow, persisted the hopeful

3478
04:31:14.639 --> 04:31:18.639
member of the crew, perhaps ascended
Cliff after they get tired of waiting for

3479
04:31:18.799 --> 04:31:22.559
us. In a short time,
the scout returned with news that was at

3480
04:31:22.639 --> 04:31:27.559
least disquieting in their situation. The
Spaniards are after us, sir, he

3481
04:31:27.719 --> 04:31:32.760
reported. They seem to have rallied
most of their men and are now near

3482
04:31:32.799 --> 04:31:37.440
the woods where we met them,
cautiously advancing. They have scouts out looking

3483
04:31:37.440 --> 04:31:41.479
for us. For I barely escaped
running into one of them. They have

3484
04:31:41.680 --> 04:31:44.479
guessed the trick we played on them, said Cliff, and it will go

3485
04:31:44.600 --> 04:31:47.760
hard with us if they find us. How near are they? Did you

3486
04:31:47.840 --> 04:31:51.440
say? They seem to be in
the woods now, But they are advancing

3487
04:31:51.479 --> 04:31:56.040
steadily. They are scouring the place
thoroughly, and maybe down on us any

3488
04:31:56.040 --> 04:31:59.760
moment. Well, boys will do
the best we can if they do get

3489
04:31:59.799 --> 04:32:03.920
here, said Cliff quietly. A
calm settled upon the band, for now

3490
04:32:03.959 --> 04:32:10.440
they knew their situation was critical.
Their ammunition was nearly exhausted, and if

3491
04:32:10.479 --> 04:32:14.719
the enemy should succeed in attacking them
from the vantage of the hillside, there

3492
04:32:14.799 --> 04:32:18.920
was little hope of a successful resistance. Should they succeed in eluding the enemy

3493
04:32:18.959 --> 04:32:23.120
in the darkness, there was no
doubt that daybreak would seal their fate.

3494
04:32:23.639 --> 04:32:27.280
There's no two ways about it,
exclaimed Cliff. We got to get off

3495
04:32:27.319 --> 04:32:32.159
this island, and that pretty soon. See, sir, cried the hopeful

3496
04:32:32.200 --> 04:32:36.040
member, who had been intently gazing
across the water. They have sent a

3497
04:32:36.079 --> 04:32:40.600
boat. Cliff looked in the direction
in which the other was eagerly pointing.

3498
04:32:41.120 --> 04:32:45.239
Sure enough he could discern the outlines
of a boat slowly moving toward them,

3499
04:32:45.399 --> 04:32:49.399
some little distance from shore. An
involuntary little chair went up for the others

3500
04:32:49.440 --> 04:32:53.239
as they too saw a boat approaching. We are saved, exclaimed Cliff,

3501
04:32:53.479 --> 04:32:59.000
and these dispatches will soon be in
the rear Admiral's hands. But suddenly,

3502
04:32:59.040 --> 04:33:03.280
the eager watcher saw the boat stop, then, after a few moments,

3503
04:33:03.360 --> 04:33:07.040
mirror around and continue its course down
the coast until it was almost abreast of

3504
04:33:07.040 --> 04:33:11.599
the spot where they stood. Then
it has suddenly stopped, and, after

3505
04:33:11.639 --> 04:33:15.040
a moment's pause, retraced its course. What's the matter with those fellows,

3506
04:33:15.080 --> 04:33:19.119
exclaimed Cliff. Are they afraid to
land? Hadn't we better signal them,

3507
04:33:19.119 --> 04:33:23.279
Sir, suggested the man. They
don't know where we are. The boat

3508
04:33:23.319 --> 04:33:27.959
had again turned as was apparently patrolling
up and down, seemingly waiting for just

3509
04:33:29.119 --> 04:33:33.119
such assistance in locating the position of
the waiting soldiers. But just as Cliff

3510
04:33:33.200 --> 04:33:37.599
was about to retract their attention by
a mighty shout, his practiced ear caught

3511
04:33:37.680 --> 04:33:42.439
sounds from the hill above that caused
him to stop. The Spanish soldiers were

3512
04:33:42.560 --> 04:33:48.360
unmistakably advancing silence. He cautioned in
a whisper, the Spaniards are on the

3513
04:33:48.439 --> 04:33:52.959
hill above us, and the slightest
noise will betray us. But the boat

3514
04:33:52.040 --> 04:33:56.000
sir, exclaimed the man. We
must signal it. I'll bring it here,

3515
04:33:56.159 --> 04:34:00.080
said Cliff, with a sudden resolve. He began investing himself of his

3516
04:34:00.119 --> 04:34:03.360
blouse and trousers as he spoke.
What do you mean to do, sir,

3517
04:34:03.599 --> 04:34:07.840
asked the men wonderingly. Swim for
it, replied Cliff. That's the

3518
04:34:07.880 --> 04:34:11.720
only way. But sir, don't
delay me, said Cliff, every moment

3519
04:34:11.799 --> 04:34:15.400
is precious. Now. With this, he quietly slid into the water and

3520
04:34:15.439 --> 04:34:19.959
with quick, powerful strokes, shot
through the waves toward the boat. Cliff

3521
04:34:21.200 --> 04:34:26.000
was in his element in the whole
ship's crew. None excelled him in swimming

3522
04:34:26.000 --> 04:34:29.479
and diving, and it was with
a feeling of confidence that he forced his

3523
04:34:29.560 --> 04:34:33.279
way through the water. He made
not a sound as he went along,

3524
04:34:33.599 --> 04:34:37.680
for it was to avoid alarming the
Spaniards that he had hit upon this plan.

3525
04:34:37.479 --> 04:34:41.319
The boat was not far from shore, and he reached it in a

3526
04:34:41.319 --> 04:34:45.000
few moments. He was overjoyed to
recognize that it was as he expected,

3527
04:34:45.400 --> 04:34:49.639
one of the boats from the flagship. There were two occupants of the boat,

3528
04:34:49.840 --> 04:34:53.599
one at the oars and the other
in the stern. Cliff did not

3529
04:34:53.759 --> 04:34:59.119
recognize them, but he did not
pause on that account, time was precious,

3530
04:34:59.319 --> 04:35:02.759
and the boat begotten to shore in
the balance of the party. Taken

3531
04:35:02.759 --> 04:35:07.479
aboard without delay. Vote ahoy,
he exclaimed joyously, as he reached the

3532
04:35:07.599 --> 04:35:11.680
side, without having been seen by
the occupants. Take me aboardman, and

3533
04:35:11.799 --> 04:35:15.240
then pull for the shore for all
you are work. Cliff's sudden appearance and

3534
04:35:15.279 --> 04:35:19.520
the words he spoke had a startling
effect upon the oarsman by whose side Cliff

3535
04:35:19.599 --> 04:35:23.799
made his appearance. The latter started
with an oath, and as Cliff seized

3536
04:35:23.799 --> 04:35:27.720
the side of the boat and raised
himself partly from the water, his gaze

3537
04:35:27.759 --> 04:35:33.400
fell upon the glistening barrel of a
revolver, and back of it he saw

3538
04:35:33.439 --> 04:35:38.279
a face distorted with rage and hate. Karamba fell upon Cliff's ears. It

3539
04:35:38.520 --> 04:35:45.439
is an Americano death to the American
gigs. The occupants of the boat were

3540
04:35:45.560 --> 04:35:52.759
Spaniards. End of chapter twenty seven. Recording by Tom Weiss Tom's audiobooks dot

3541
04:35:52.759 --> 04:36:03.560
Com. Chapter twenty eighth of a
Prisoner of Morrow by Upton Sinclair. This

3542
04:36:03.759 --> 04:36:08.759
LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Tom Weise, Chapter twenty

3543
04:36:08.759 --> 04:36:15.040
eight A Struggle against Odds. The
position in which Cliff found himself was so

3544
04:36:15.119 --> 04:36:21.479
startlingly unexpected and so full of peril, that for a brief instant he almost

3545
04:36:21.560 --> 04:36:26.799
unnerved him. Had he suspected the
possibility of the boat being manned by Staniards,

3546
04:36:26.840 --> 04:36:29.919
he would have given up the thought
as soon as he recognized it as

3547
04:36:29.959 --> 04:36:33.200
one belonging to the flagship. It
seemed natural that a boat should be sent

3548
04:36:33.240 --> 04:36:37.759
to look for them after their protracted
absence, And it was a decided shock

3549
04:36:37.840 --> 04:36:42.360
to find that he had fallen alone
and unarmed, in the way of his

3550
04:36:42.520 --> 04:36:48.560
enemies. But his surprise affected him, but for an instant he did not

3551
04:36:48.680 --> 04:36:52.200
propose to be shot down if he
could help it. The report of the

3552
04:36:52.240 --> 04:36:56.799
pistol that met Cliff's gaze rang out
upon the air, but the bullet did

3553
04:36:56.840 --> 04:37:00.360
not reach its intended mark, like
a flash if had released his hold upon

3554
04:37:00.400 --> 04:37:04.880
the boat and dropped beneath the water
just in the nick of time. The

3555
04:37:06.000 --> 04:37:08.639
Spaniard peered over the side of the
boat in the darkness, expecting to see

3556
04:37:08.680 --> 04:37:14.279
Cliff's form appear on the surface,
and hoping to see his life's blood staining

3557
04:37:14.319 --> 04:37:18.080
the waters, a testimony to his
marksmanship. How could he have failed to

3558
04:37:18.119 --> 04:37:23.520
send that bullet crashing through the American's
brain, thought he But nothing of the

3559
04:37:23.560 --> 04:37:29.159
sort happened. Cliff not only was
not wounded, but was chipper as a

3560
04:37:29.240 --> 04:37:33.240
lark. When he disappeared, he
dove under the boat and rose again on

3561
04:37:33.279 --> 04:37:37.560
the opposite side. The spaniard would
look in vain in that spot or his

3562
04:37:37.639 --> 04:37:41.639
intended victim. But the spaniard in
the bow discovered Cliff's head as it appeared

3563
04:37:41.639 --> 04:37:45.840
for an instant above the water.
With an imprecation of wrath. He called

3564
04:37:45.880 --> 04:37:49.599
his companion's attention to the spot,
but one of them was armed, it

3565
04:37:49.680 --> 04:37:53.360
seemed. The other rushed to that
side, but when he looked in the

3566
04:37:53.400 --> 04:38:00.560
direction indicated revolver in hand, Cliff
had again disappeared. The American lad was

3567
04:38:00.599 --> 04:38:04.080
as lively as a cricket, and
busy thoughts surged through his brain. In

3568
04:38:04.119 --> 04:38:08.000
the first place, he did not
propose being a target for a Spanish bullet.

3569
04:38:08.439 --> 04:38:14.119
But above all he wanted that boat, and like the cowboy when he

3570
04:38:14.119 --> 04:38:18.360
wants a revolver, wanted it bad. How can I get it? He

3571
04:38:18.439 --> 04:38:21.759
thought, as his dye brought him
up near the bow of the boat.

3572
04:38:22.319 --> 04:38:26.639
Help came from an unexpected source.
For a few moments after he was driven

3573
04:38:26.639 --> 04:38:30.000
by a new peril to attempt the
only plan that could accomplish it. The

3574
04:38:30.119 --> 04:38:36.159
agency that led to his delivery was
a shark. It was not the everyday

3575
04:38:36.200 --> 04:38:41.479
business of his sharkship that of saving
an imperiled life, for those inhabiting those

3576
04:38:41.479 --> 04:38:47.560
waters are especially hungry and voracious.
But it happened this way. As Cliff

3577
04:38:47.599 --> 04:38:52.000
was quietly keeping himself afloat at the
bow of the boat, confident that in

3578
04:38:52.040 --> 04:38:56.319
that position he ran little risk of
immediate discovery by his enemies. The plans

3579
04:38:56.319 --> 04:39:00.959
and schemes revolving in his mind were
brought to a sudden standstill by a sight

3580
04:39:02.240 --> 04:39:07.040
that filled him with horror. A
sharp triangular fin, cutting the water like

3581
04:39:07.080 --> 04:39:11.720
a knife, flashed past him.
Merciful Heaven, he muttered under his breath.

3582
04:39:11.959 --> 04:39:15.279
A shark death faced him on every
side. To be sure, he

3583
04:39:15.400 --> 04:39:19.479
might frighten the shark by churning the
surface of the water, but that very

3584
04:39:19.520 --> 04:39:23.639
act would betray him to a no
less certain death at the hands of his

3585
04:39:23.799 --> 04:39:29.040
enemies. His resolve, a desperate
one that caused him the shutter as he

3586
04:39:29.080 --> 04:39:33.040
formed it, was reached on the
instant the broad back of his enemy,

3587
04:39:33.200 --> 04:39:37.720
who sat in the stern, was
within easy reach and inspired his action.

3588
04:39:37.360 --> 04:39:41.680
Quick as a flash, Cliff grasped
the stern of the boat with one hand,

3589
04:39:41.000 --> 04:39:45.240
and with one mighty effort, raised
himself high out of the water.

3590
04:39:45.639 --> 04:39:49.200
Before the spaniard could divine what was
happening, Cliff's free arm was thrown around

3591
04:39:49.240 --> 04:39:53.080
the fellow's neck, and he was
drawn back into the water behind him.

3592
04:39:53.479 --> 04:39:57.720
An instant after, Cliff clambered over
the stern into the boat, with a

3593
04:39:57.720 --> 04:40:02.560
shudder at the thought of the face
that awaited the luckless spaniard, he addressed

3594
04:40:02.639 --> 04:40:06.439
himself to the work that lay before
him, and there was plenty of it,

3595
04:40:06.720 --> 04:40:10.759
and lively too while it lasted.
The other Spaniard, who had been

3596
04:40:10.759 --> 04:40:15.360
peering into the water ahead, turned
sharply around when he heard the noise made

3597
04:40:15.400 --> 04:40:19.240
by the splash of his companion,
and in the act involuntarily dropped the revolver.

3598
04:40:21.040 --> 04:40:25.119
What must have been his feelings upon
beholding the lithe and dripping form of

3599
04:40:25.159 --> 04:40:30.319
the plucky young American emerging from the
sea may well be imagined, but Cliff

3600
04:40:30.360 --> 04:40:34.040
did not pause to study the effects. He seized an oar and sprang toward

3601
04:40:34.080 --> 04:40:38.240
his remaining foe. Surrender you,
villain, he cried in Spanish. As

3602
04:40:38.240 --> 04:40:42.439
he advanced, the Spaniard seized an
oar, and with an oath, sprang

3603
04:40:42.560 --> 04:40:47.439
toward the American, and there on
the quiet bosom of the water, in

3604
04:40:47.439 --> 04:40:52.279
the dim light of night, ensued
a stubbornly contested duel, in which oars

3605
04:40:52.279 --> 04:40:56.840
took the place of broadsword and saber. Cliff fought savagely and desperately. His

3606
04:40:56.959 --> 04:41:00.880
blood was up, and he knew
that now ever, he was fighting for

3607
04:41:02.000 --> 04:41:06.040
his life. But in the end
it was fortune that favored him. A

3608
04:41:06.200 --> 04:41:11.080
chance blow upon his antagonist's head rendered
the latter unconscious, and victory again perched

3609
04:41:11.119 --> 04:41:17.279
upon the young American's banner. There
was no time for exaltation, even if

3610
04:41:17.319 --> 04:41:21.599
he had felt that way. The
work had been too serious, and necessity

3611
04:41:21.680 --> 04:41:26.759
for action was too imperative. Satisfied
that he had nothing to fear from his

3612
04:41:26.880 --> 04:41:30.279
enemy, now lying helpless in the
bottom of the boat, Cliff seized the

3613
04:41:30.319 --> 04:41:34.919
oars and turned the boat towards shore. It was trying work for one man

3614
04:41:36.000 --> 04:41:40.159
to row that boat, even the
short distance that lay between him and shore,

3615
04:41:40.840 --> 04:41:45.360
especially after the ordeal through which he
had passed, But excitement void him

3616
04:41:45.439 --> 04:41:48.959
up and he made good progress.
His companions in the shade of the bushes

3617
04:41:48.959 --> 04:41:52.880
where he had left them had witnessed
his exciting duel, and were wrought up

3618
04:41:53.000 --> 04:41:57.000
to tense excitement. How they bemoaned
the fact that they were not there to

3619
04:41:57.040 --> 04:42:03.599
help him. It became evident that
there were other spectators too, for no

3620
04:42:03.680 --> 04:42:07.799
sooner had Cliff seized the oars and
began to row for the shore, than

3621
04:42:07.840 --> 04:42:11.720
a volley of bullets rattled out across
the water from the hill that had witnessed

3622
04:42:11.799 --> 04:42:17.200
such thrilling scenes earlier in the night, the Spanish soldiers had discovered Cliff.

3623
04:42:17.840 --> 04:42:21.360
In the face of this, Cliff
redoubled his efforts to reach the beach and

3624
04:42:21.439 --> 04:42:25.799
rescue his companions, who might any
moment be attacked by the soldiers in their

3625
04:42:25.799 --> 04:42:30.919
rear. But the enemy's attention was
concentrated upon Cliff and his boat, and

3626
04:42:30.000 --> 04:42:34.240
he shot through the waters in a
perfect hail of missiles. They spattered into

3627
04:42:34.279 --> 04:42:38.119
the waters all around him, but
wide of their mark. He reached the

3628
04:42:38.159 --> 04:42:41.639
shore, and as he sprang upon
the ground, his faithful little band could

3629
04:42:41.639 --> 04:42:45.520
not repress a cheer at his bravery
and plood, But he urged them on.

3630
04:42:47.000 --> 04:42:51.200
Not a moment could be lost.
The enemy shut off temporarily by the

3631
04:42:51.240 --> 04:42:56.279
overhanging hill might be down upon them
any second. Cliff gathered up his clothing,

3632
04:42:56.319 --> 04:42:59.439
and at a word they all sprang
to their places, and the boat

3633
04:42:59.560 --> 04:43:03.279
leaped the water with a bound and
was away to the flagship. Cliff cried

3634
04:43:03.479 --> 04:43:07.639
and then uttered an exclamation of alarm. The Despatches. He cried as he

3635
04:43:07.680 --> 04:43:11.759
felt among his clothes they had been
left behind. At a word, the

3636
04:43:11.759 --> 04:43:17.840
boat was turned around and shot swiftly
toward the beach. Yelling Spaniards could be

3637
04:43:17.880 --> 04:43:22.759
heard racing down the hillside. They
had discovered the landing place, and bullets

3638
04:43:22.799 --> 04:43:26.360
began again to rain about the water. It seemed sure death to return in

3639
04:43:26.400 --> 04:43:30.799
the face of that fire, but
the intrepid crew sped on. The despatches

3640
04:43:30.919 --> 04:43:36.479
must not fall into Spanish hands.
The boat grated on the sands, and

3641
04:43:36.560 --> 04:43:40.720
Cliffs sprang out. One instant brought
him to the spot where his clothes had

3642
04:43:40.799 --> 04:43:45.080
lain. Fortune favored him. As
he felt along the ground, his hand

3643
04:43:45.159 --> 04:43:48.119
touched a package of papers, the
Despatches. He cried as he sprang to

3644
04:43:48.159 --> 04:43:52.159
his place in the stern of the
boat, which had been turned ready for

3645
04:43:52.240 --> 04:43:56.360
the start. He gave the word, and away they sped this time with

3646
04:43:56.439 --> 04:44:00.040
the flagship as their goal. Spanish
bullets flew after them, but they were

3647
04:44:00.080 --> 04:44:03.439
safe. It was only when they
were, for a moment brought out into

3648
04:44:03.479 --> 04:44:07.759
bold relief by the searchlight that again
began to play from that flagship, that

3649
04:44:07.880 --> 04:44:12.360
bullets of the enemy came near their
mark. And then the firing ceased and

3650
04:44:12.479 --> 04:44:18.880
the boat spat on an enthusiastic and
jubilant crew. It was only Cliff seemed

3651
04:44:18.919 --> 04:44:23.720
in the dissatisfied mood gory. He
suddenly exclaimed, I came off without that

3652
04:44:23.880 --> 04:44:27.880
shell. After all, you seem
to lay great store by that, sir,

3653
04:44:29.200 --> 04:44:32.520
said one of the men. I
do, said Cliff, but will

3654
04:44:32.520 --> 04:44:37.639
not return for it. Just now
to the flagship. Not many minutes later

3655
04:44:37.959 --> 04:44:42.080
they were safe aboard the captured Spaniard
in proper custody, and best of all,

3656
04:44:42.400 --> 04:44:48.840
the dispatches were personally delivered by Cliff
to the rear admiral. But Cliff

3657
04:44:48.040 --> 04:44:56.240
was not entirely satisfied and of Chapter
twenty eight recording by Tom Weiss Tom's audiobooks

3658
04:44:56.279 --> 04:45:07.720
dot Com. Chapter twenty nine of
a Prisoner of Morrow by Upton Sinclair.

3659
04:45:07.400 --> 04:45:14.279
This LibriVox recording is in the public
domain. Recording by tom Weys, Chapter

3660
04:45:14.520 --> 04:45:21.639
twenty nine, Cliff's second expedition.
In spite of the glorious work accomplished in

3661
04:45:21.680 --> 04:45:26.200
those few hours, Cliff felt chagrined
that he had, in the excitement of

3662
04:45:26.240 --> 04:45:30.479
the struggle on the boat and under
fire of the Spanish soldiers on shore,

3663
04:45:30.080 --> 04:45:36.880
been forced to return to the flagship
without the shell. He had thought considerably

3664
04:45:36.919 --> 04:45:41.159
about it, even during the stirring
scenes through which they had passed. He

3665
04:45:41.279 --> 04:45:44.840
had his own ideas about it,
and wanted to put them to the test.

3666
04:45:45.560 --> 04:45:49.279
Everything connected with it indicated to his
mind some mystery, the solution of

3667
04:45:49.319 --> 04:45:55.439
which would materially help the American forces. In the first place, the way

3668
04:45:55.479 --> 04:45:59.200
in which it was brought to his
attention was unusual, to say the least,

3669
04:45:59.639 --> 04:46:04.000
That a ship being pursued by a
hostile craft should deliberately fire away from

3670
04:46:04.040 --> 04:46:08.720
the pursuer and toward the land was
peculiar, even for a Spaniard. It

3671
04:46:08.759 --> 04:46:12.400
was ridiculous to think that the shell
had been aimed at Cliff and his party,

3672
04:46:12.799 --> 04:46:17.959
for even had it been broad daylight, the American boat's crew would not

3673
04:46:18.040 --> 04:46:22.599
have been visible to those on the
Spanish ship. It was merely a coincidence

3674
04:46:22.599 --> 04:46:26.360
that Cliff happened to be where the
shell landed. No thought Cliff as he

3675
04:46:26.400 --> 04:46:30.720
revolved this in his mind. That
shot was not aimed at our forces.

3676
04:46:32.119 --> 04:46:36.919
There was some other reason for firing
it. What that was he could merely

3677
04:46:36.959 --> 04:46:41.200
conjecture, and he was not entirely
clear in his own mind that the mysterious

3678
04:46:41.240 --> 04:46:45.119
purpose had been carried out to the
satisfaction of those on the Spanish boat.

3679
04:46:45.560 --> 04:46:51.119
Cliff felt convinced was evident from the
fact that not another shot was fired.

3680
04:46:51.799 --> 04:46:55.880
Then the shape of the shell was
an important factor. They are not using

3681
04:46:55.919 --> 04:46:59.680
those round ones nowadays, thought Cliff. This one must be used for a

3682
04:47:00.000 --> 04:47:03.159
special purpose. What that is,
I'm going to find out. The arrival

3683
04:47:03.240 --> 04:47:08.240
of the Spanish soldiers and the peculiar
actions before the little battle that followed also

3684
04:47:08.360 --> 04:47:12.840
demanded explanation. They didn't know we
were there, mused Cliff, or they

3685
04:47:12.840 --> 04:47:18.040
would not have been so easily taken
by surprise. Why were they there?

3686
04:47:18.479 --> 04:47:22.119
Their capture of the Cuban courier was
accidental. I'm sure they were on some

3687
04:47:22.240 --> 04:47:26.279
other mission. Last of all,
the theft of the ship's boat and the

3688
04:47:26.319 --> 04:47:30.520
strange behavior of the two Spaniards who
had taken it and whom Cliff had been

3689
04:47:30.560 --> 04:47:36.880
forced to overcome, added a peculiar
feature to the affair. Taking it all

3690
04:47:36.919 --> 04:47:40.720
in all, Cliff felt that though
they had bravely avenged the murder of the

3691
04:47:40.759 --> 04:47:45.520
Cuban and had brought the despatches safely
to the Rear Admiral and with them a

3692
04:47:45.560 --> 04:47:49.919
prisoner, still an important object had
not been accomplished. He meant to return

3693
04:47:51.000 --> 04:47:55.720
for that unexploded shell in the face
of every difficulty, and put his ideas

3694
04:47:55.840 --> 04:47:59.639
to the test. He had this
purpose in view when he delivered with his

3695
04:47:59.639 --> 04:48:04.720
own hands the dispatches to the Rear
Admiral. Rear Admiral Sampson glanced quickly over

3696
04:48:04.759 --> 04:48:10.080
the papers after they were handed to
him, and seemed highly pleased. These

3697
04:48:10.159 --> 04:48:14.400
are of the utmost importance, he
exclaimed. With this information, we will

3698
04:48:14.439 --> 04:48:18.959
be the better able to act in
conjunction with the insurgents when the proper time

3699
04:48:18.040 --> 04:48:22.799
comes. Cliff knew the papers must
indeed be of a special value from the

3700
04:48:22.840 --> 04:48:27.560
Rear Admiral's manner, for it was
decightedly unusual for an officer of such importance

3701
04:48:27.599 --> 04:48:33.240
to unbend to that extent with an
ordinary cadet. The Rear Admiral was evidently

3702
04:48:33.279 --> 04:48:38.959
more than satisfied with the result of
Cliff's mission. After a hasty examination of

3703
04:48:38.959 --> 04:48:42.840
the papers, he turned to Cliff, who had remained standing, and asked

3704
04:48:42.840 --> 04:48:48.200
some particulars of his meeting with the
Cuban courier. Then Cliff briefly but graphically

3705
04:48:48.240 --> 04:48:52.959
told of his receiving the papers from
the hands of the insurgent, and of

3706
04:48:52.000 --> 04:48:56.479
the latter's tragic death so soon after, at the hands of the cowardly Spanish

3707
04:48:56.560 --> 04:49:03.400
soldier who held him as a prisoner
of war. Rear Admiral Sampson's blood fairly

3708
04:49:03.479 --> 04:49:07.360
boiled as Cliff gave him the details
the cowards. He exclaimed with clenched fist,

3709
04:49:07.599 --> 04:49:12.080
it was barbarous, but Sir,
continued Cliff, it has been avenged.

3710
04:49:12.599 --> 04:49:17.400
And then he briefly and with modest
demeanor, told of their attack upon

3711
04:49:17.439 --> 04:49:21.880
the company of Spanish soldiers and their
victory over them without the loss of an

3712
04:49:21.919 --> 04:49:26.759
American life. More than one Spaniard
had gone to his death to atone for

3713
04:49:26.840 --> 04:49:32.959
that cowardly assassination. The Rear Admiral
was plainly interested, and at his request

3714
04:49:33.000 --> 04:49:37.479
Cliff gave the particulars of his subsequent
adventures and of the narrow escape in the

3715
04:49:37.520 --> 04:49:41.639
boat from the Spanish soldiers firing upon
them from the hill and shore. Admirable.

3716
04:49:41.720 --> 04:49:45.720
Admirable, exclaimed the Rear Admiral,
when the brief narrative was finished.

3717
04:49:47.040 --> 04:49:49.639
I am proud of the bravery of
yourself and the men with you. And

3718
04:49:49.759 --> 04:49:53.319
now, if you please, sir, said Cliff, calmly, I want

3719
04:49:53.319 --> 04:49:56.959
to go back there. Back there, exclaimed the Admiral. Where do you

3720
04:49:57.040 --> 04:50:02.279
mean, to the spot where I
met the Cuban? Replied Cliff, what

3721
04:50:02.319 --> 04:50:06.119
do you mean? According to your
account? The place is swarming with Spanny's

3722
04:50:06.119 --> 04:50:10.000
soldiers, not many of them,
Sir, said Cliff, and it is

3723
04:50:10.159 --> 04:50:14.040
not my intention that they should see
me. I left something behind that I

3724
04:50:14.080 --> 04:50:18.400
think is important. Then he told
of the shell that came crashing through the

3725
04:50:18.479 --> 04:50:22.799
trees where they stood, and of
a series of incidents that had prevented his

3726
04:50:22.880 --> 04:50:27.200
examining it as fully as he wished. He insisted strongly that the recovery of

3727
04:50:27.240 --> 04:50:33.520
the shell was of the greatest importance, and intimated something of his ideas concerning

3728
04:50:33.680 --> 04:50:37.119
the mystery, that it suggested he
spoke to such good purpose that at last

3729
04:50:37.279 --> 04:50:41.759
the Rear Admiral was disposed to grant
his wish but it would be better to

3730
04:50:41.799 --> 04:50:45.759
wait until you have had a chance
to rest a bit, said the latter

3731
04:50:45.080 --> 04:50:49.040
tomorrow night. For instance, delay
is dangerous, sir, I think,

3732
04:50:49.159 --> 04:50:52.360
said Cliff. Others are seeking it, I know, and it may not

3733
04:50:52.479 --> 04:50:56.080
be there unless I go at once. There are still several hours of the

3734
04:50:56.200 --> 04:51:02.479
night left, and I can easily
accomplish it. The Rear Admiral had evidently

3735
04:51:02.479 --> 04:51:06.360
been impressed with what Cliff had told
him concerning the shell, and at last

3736
04:51:06.360 --> 04:51:08.720
agreed that he should go about it
in his own way. Very well,

3737
04:51:08.759 --> 04:51:11.799
then, he said, at last, take a boat's crew and go at

3738
04:51:11.840 --> 04:51:15.919
once, if you please, sir, exclaimed Cliff. I would rather take

3739
04:51:15.959 --> 04:51:19.880
one of the small boats and go
alone. One man can move about with

3740
04:51:21.000 --> 04:51:26.799
less fear of detection. Young man, you are undertaking a very dangerous mission,

3741
04:51:26.880 --> 04:51:30.360
exclaimed the Rear Admiral. But you
seem to have the pluck and I

3742
04:51:30.400 --> 04:51:33.479
have confidence that you can take care
of yourself. Do then as you wish,

3743
04:51:33.959 --> 04:51:37.959
but take some signal rockets with you. Don't hesitate to use them if

3744
04:51:38.000 --> 04:51:42.919
necessary. We will be ready to
send you assistance if needed. Cliff,

3745
04:51:44.080 --> 04:51:48.520
highly pleased at the confidence that was
reposed in him, salute it. Respectfully

3746
04:51:48.840 --> 04:51:52.080
and hastened away to prepare for the
venture. In a few minutes he was

3747
04:51:52.159 --> 04:51:56.959
ready, The boat was lowered,
and for the second time that night,

3748
04:51:56.279 --> 04:52:02.319
he left the flagship to face fresh
dangers on the shore. But this time

3749
04:52:02.639 --> 04:52:08.040
he was alone. Success and safety
depended upon his unaided efforts. End of

3750
04:52:08.119 --> 04:52:22.200
chapter twenty nine. Recording by Tom
Weiss Tom's audiobooks dot Com. Chapter thirty

3751
04:52:22.240 --> 04:52:26.240
of a Prisoner of Morrow by Upton
Sinclair. This librevox recording is in the

3752
04:52:26.240 --> 04:52:33.959
public domain. Recording by Tom Weis, Chapter thirty The battle in the brush?

3753
04:52:34.240 --> 04:52:38.040
Was it a foolhardy venture? He
thought, as with steady stroke he

3754
04:52:38.159 --> 04:52:42.840
forged a head away from the flagship
and towards the shore he had so recently

3755
04:52:42.959 --> 04:52:48.319
left, amid the clatter of hostile
bullets. The enemy now must be on

3756
04:52:48.400 --> 04:52:52.880
the alert, and he might be
detected and captured the instant his boat touched

3757
04:52:52.880 --> 04:52:57.240
shore, and he was not blind
to the dangers that might confront him on

3758
04:52:57.439 --> 04:53:00.959
land. I'm in for it now, at any rate, he thought,

3759
04:53:02.279 --> 04:53:06.560
and I've got to succeed. This
mystery must be solved, and I believe

3760
04:53:06.639 --> 04:53:11.680
the result will show that it is
worth all the risk. Darkness favored him,

3761
04:53:11.840 --> 04:53:15.560
and besides, he was alone,
and for that very reason could move

3762
04:53:15.599 --> 04:53:18.919
around with less risk of discovery.
Once he reached land, he knew exactly

3763
04:53:18.919 --> 04:53:22.319
where he had dropped the shell,
and it would not take long to get

3764
04:53:22.360 --> 04:53:27.200
it. It was therefore with confidence
that he urged the boat forward. It

3765
04:53:27.240 --> 04:53:32.200
was a long pole for the flagship
lay well out to sea, but Cliff

3766
04:53:32.279 --> 04:53:36.560
did not seem to feel the strain. He drew near the shore without detecting

3767
04:53:36.599 --> 04:53:41.119
any hostile movement or hearing any sound
that would lead him to think that the

3768
04:53:41.279 --> 04:53:45.639
enemy were on the lookout. He
decided that it would be prudent not to

3769
04:53:45.720 --> 04:53:49.119
land at the same spot as previously. He therefore steered for a clump of

3770
04:53:49.159 --> 04:53:53.439
trees a little farther down the coast, and still not a great distance from

3771
04:53:53.439 --> 04:53:57.479
the hill where the shell lay.
Not a sound from the enemy reached his

3772
04:53:57.599 --> 04:54:03.159
ears as his boat upon the sandy
beach, and he sprang out to secure

3773
04:54:03.200 --> 04:54:07.560
the painter to a bush. Then, feeling that his revolver was ready and

3774
04:54:07.639 --> 04:54:11.000
handy for business, he cautiously began
to steal his way through the shrubbery that

3775
04:54:11.080 --> 04:54:17.240
fringed the shore. These screened his
advance, and soon he was ascending the

3776
04:54:17.279 --> 04:54:22.360
steep bank in the direction of the
previous encounter. He was getting further away

3777
04:54:22.360 --> 04:54:26.479
from his boat and nearer and nearer
to his destination. All serene so far,

3778
04:54:26.599 --> 04:54:32.400
he muttered, as he advanced steadily
without any adventure. The Spaniards must

3779
04:54:32.439 --> 04:54:36.279
have gone. But suddenly, as
he was about to step from the concealment

3780
04:54:36.319 --> 04:54:38.919
of the trees into a slight clearing
that lay in his path, he heard

3781
04:54:38.919 --> 04:54:42.560
a sound that caused him to dodge
back. Quickly. Looking out, he

3782
04:54:42.599 --> 04:54:48.119
saw a figure close at hand and
slowly approaching. A step further and Cliff

3783
04:54:48.159 --> 04:54:53.119
would have brought himself directly within the
other's view. It was not Cliff's purpose

3784
04:54:53.159 --> 04:54:57.799
to invite an encounter. Although he
grasped his revolver in readiness for an emergency,

3785
04:54:59.360 --> 04:55:03.119
he desired ed rather to avoid it
and to quietly make his way to

3786
04:55:03.159 --> 04:55:07.599
the spot where the shell lay.
That, once secured, he felt that

3787
04:55:07.639 --> 04:55:11.159
he could in the same way return
to his boat and to the flagship.

3788
04:55:11.840 --> 04:55:15.520
He therefore silently waited in his place
of concealment to see what the enemy would

3789
04:55:15.560 --> 04:55:22.000
do. The latter evidently had not
heard Cliff's movements, and continued slowly to

3790
04:55:22.040 --> 04:55:26.479
advance stooping occasionally and peering from side
to side. I think I know what

3791
04:55:26.560 --> 04:55:30.560
you're after, muttered Cliff below his
breath. But you won't find it here,

3792
04:55:32.119 --> 04:55:34.479
nor me either, he added,
as he began to edge away from

3793
04:55:34.479 --> 04:55:40.200
the position he held. As he
did so, the other turned and slowly

3794
04:55:40.200 --> 04:55:45.400
continued his course in the opposite direction. The coast was again clear, and

3795
04:55:45.520 --> 04:55:49.639
Cliff lost no time in putting what
distance he could between himself and the unwelcome

3796
04:55:49.759 --> 04:55:52.919
visitor. His course, too,
led him toward the mound of earth,

3797
04:55:52.959 --> 04:55:57.319
behind which lay the object of his
coming. When he reached the spot where

3798
04:55:57.360 --> 04:56:02.840
he had met the Cuban courier,
he found it deserted. The Spaniards,

3799
04:56:02.880 --> 04:56:07.680
after the escape of Cliff and his
men, had evidently withdrawn. With a

3800
04:56:07.759 --> 04:56:11.639
light heart. He sprang toward the
rampart of earth and began to ascend its

3801
04:56:11.639 --> 04:56:15.360
side. In one minute, It
is mine, he thought, exultingly,

3802
04:56:15.799 --> 04:56:21.080
and then back to the flagship and
the test. But a surprise was in

3803
04:56:21.159 --> 04:56:23.959
sore for him. As he bolted
over the top of the mound on to

3804
04:56:25.040 --> 04:56:29.000
the other side. He landed almost
into the arms of a man who was

3805
04:56:29.040 --> 04:56:33.400
just ascending that side. The man
was unmistakably a spaniard, and from his

3806
04:56:33.439 --> 04:56:38.439
hands there fell a round shell that
rolled away across the ground. The encounter

3807
04:56:38.560 --> 04:56:42.159
was startling to both, but Cliff
was the first to recover his wits.

3808
04:56:42.560 --> 04:56:47.720
His quick eye detected the fallen shell, and he divined the fellow's purpose.

3809
04:56:48.240 --> 04:56:52.400
Before the other could recover from his
evident fright, Cliff sprang upon him.

3810
04:56:52.680 --> 04:56:55.759
So you have found it, he
muttered, as he closed in upon the

3811
04:56:55.840 --> 04:57:00.560
spaniard, But findings not keepings this
time. Cliffs attack brought the Spaniard quickly

3812
04:57:00.599 --> 04:57:04.680
to his senses, and he was
not slow to defend himself. In a

3813
04:57:04.759 --> 04:57:08.360
flash, he drew his revolver,
but Cliff was too quick for him.

3814
04:57:08.759 --> 04:57:12.439
The latter knocked the weapon from the
fellow's grass before he had a chance to

3815
04:57:12.479 --> 04:57:18.200
fire him. Cliff's own weapon was
within easy reach, but for several reasons,

3816
04:57:18.200 --> 04:57:21.520
he did not care to use it. He wanted, among other things,

3817
04:57:21.520 --> 04:57:25.159
to avoid a pistol shot, which
might attract others to the spot.

3818
04:57:25.720 --> 04:57:30.439
The contest must be one of muscle
against muscle, and to unusual strength,

3819
04:57:30.520 --> 04:57:33.919
Cliff added a surprising agility that came
in good stead In such a struggle.

3820
04:57:34.560 --> 04:57:38.799
They grappled and there in that enclosure
formed by the mounds of earth on several

3821
04:57:38.840 --> 04:57:44.319
sides, the two began the furious
hand to hand battle, the result of

3822
04:57:44.360 --> 04:57:48.840
which long hung in doubt. The
Spaniard was no mean opponent and fought with

3823
04:57:49.040 --> 04:57:53.720
enraged fury cliffs to sound. The
exertions during the past hours had been enough

3824
04:57:53.759 --> 04:57:59.240
to exhaust the strongest and sturdiest,
and he was compelled to acknowledge to himself

3825
04:57:59.479 --> 04:58:03.759
as the progressed that it had made
inroads upon his strength. Back and forth

3826
04:58:03.799 --> 04:58:08.479
across the little enclosure, the pair
fought fiercely. Once Cliff slipped and fell

3827
04:58:08.520 --> 04:58:12.599
beneath his opponent, but an instant
after he was upon his feet, his

3828
04:58:12.720 --> 04:58:18.400
keen eye followed his antagonists every move. He was watching for a chance to

3829
04:58:18.439 --> 04:58:22.279
deliver one blow that would settle the
combat. Several times he had landed upon

3830
04:58:22.279 --> 04:58:27.680
the Spaniard's head and face, inflicting
severe punishment, but not enough. At

3831
04:58:27.759 --> 04:58:32.720
last, the moment came. The
opening presented itself in the Spaniard's guard,

3832
04:58:33.000 --> 04:58:36.360
and with all the strength that was
in him, Cliff shout out his right

3833
04:58:36.400 --> 04:58:40.720
hand. It went home with a
force that seemed to lift the fellow high

3834
04:58:40.759 --> 04:58:45.159
into the air. His fist met
the spaniard's chin, and the latter fell

3835
04:58:45.240 --> 04:58:49.639
backward to the ground. It was
a clean knockout. Breathing heavily, the

3836
04:58:49.680 --> 04:58:56.479
fellow lay where he had fallen,
unconscious of his surroundings. Cliff was panting

3837
04:58:56.520 --> 04:59:00.080
from the exertion he had received some
punishment. The wound in his arm was

3838
04:59:00.159 --> 04:59:04.400
throbbing fiercely, but he paused only
enough to see that the fellow would not

3839
04:59:04.439 --> 04:59:08.520
give him further trouble, and then
hurried towards the spot where the shell had

3840
04:59:08.599 --> 04:59:12.319
rolled. I guess that'll hold you
for a while, he muttered, looking

3841
04:59:12.360 --> 04:59:15.919
at his fallen foe as he started
away. But he'll come out of it

3842
04:59:17.040 --> 04:59:19.479
after a time. He had it
gory, how my arm aches all the

3843
04:59:19.479 --> 04:59:22.959
way up to the elbow. It
took but a moment for him to find

3844
04:59:23.000 --> 04:59:26.159
the shell, for he had seen
it roll from the other's hand. And

3845
04:59:26.240 --> 04:59:30.240
that's it, he exclaimed, as
he picked it up. I'd know it

3846
04:59:30.279 --> 04:59:33.799
in a minute by its shape and
weight, rather light for a cannonball.

3847
04:59:33.400 --> 04:59:37.319
But he did not wait to examine
it there. There would be time enough

3848
04:59:37.360 --> 04:59:41.279
for that. When he reached the
flagship, with a parting look at his

3849
04:59:41.400 --> 04:59:47.400
unconscious antagonist, he started away.
I'm sorry, my dear sir, he

3850
04:59:47.560 --> 04:59:51.759
exclaimed sarcastically, as he looked back
on reaching the top of the rampart.

3851
04:59:52.080 --> 04:59:55.959
You seemed so attached to this shell. I'd like to take you along with

3852
04:59:56.040 --> 04:59:59.319
it, but as I can only
take one at a time, I'll contempt

3853
04:59:59.400 --> 05:00:03.959
myself this. Then he turned his
back upon the scene of his contests and

3854
05:00:03.080 --> 05:00:08.080
started for his boat as expeditiously as
due caution would allow. He met with

3855
05:00:08.159 --> 05:00:11.680
no obstacle in the way, and
found the boat just as he had left

3856
05:00:11.720 --> 05:00:15.599
it. He threw the shell in
the stern, and with a feeling of

3857
05:00:15.680 --> 05:00:19.919
exaltation, sprang in after it and
seized the oars. A few steady strokes

3858
05:00:21.119 --> 05:00:23.639
and he was on the way toward
the flagship. But there had been a

3859
05:00:23.759 --> 05:00:27.759
change in those quiet waters while he
was on the land. He had not

3860
05:00:27.880 --> 05:00:33.360
gone many boat legs from shore before
he discovered looming up before him a slowly

3861
05:00:33.400 --> 05:00:38.880
moving steamer. It was apparently hugging
the coast and proceeding with as little noise

3862
05:00:40.000 --> 05:00:44.880
as possible, a boat trying to
run the blockade. Exclaimed Cliff as he

3863
05:00:44.959 --> 05:00:48.560
backed water and rested upon his oars. She'll succeed too, unless one of

3864
05:00:48.560 --> 05:00:53.759
our ships should happen to discover her
with its searchlight, and then his responsibility

3865
05:00:55.000 --> 05:00:59.279
in view of the discovery he had
made, flashed upon him. I must

3866
05:00:59.279 --> 05:01:03.479
warn the flag ship at once,
he exclaimed, seizing the oars and sending

3867
05:01:03.479 --> 05:01:07.080
the boat forward with a spurt.
But after a couple of strokes he suddenly

3868
05:01:07.119 --> 05:01:11.159
stopped again. What a fool I
am, he exclaimed. By the time

3869
05:01:11.200 --> 05:01:15.439
I can row out to the flagship, it will be too late. They

3870
05:01:15.520 --> 05:01:18.439
must be warned instantly, and there
is only one way of doing it.

3871
05:01:19.159 --> 05:01:22.720
He reached for the signal rockets he
had brought at the rear admiral's order.

3872
05:01:23.159 --> 05:01:27.759
Should he fire them. Those on
board the strange boat that was nearly abreast

3873
05:01:27.759 --> 05:01:32.439
of him did not know that he
was there. If he gave the signal,

3874
05:01:32.520 --> 05:01:37.080
it would betray his presence and no
doubt lead to an attack upon himself.

3875
05:01:37.119 --> 05:01:41.439
In his open boat, Cliff looked
far out to sea for a moment,

3876
05:01:41.680 --> 05:01:45.560
half hoping to see the flash of
the searchlight play upon the water and

3877
05:01:45.720 --> 05:01:49.560
lead to the detection of the strange
craft. But the delay was only momentary.

3878
05:01:51.040 --> 05:01:53.319
It is my duty to warn the
ships, he exclaimed, as he

3879
05:01:53.360 --> 05:01:56.479
set up a rocket in the stern, and, drawing a match from his

3880
05:01:56.560 --> 05:02:02.279
pocket, struck it upon the seat
of the boat. Here goes a moment

3881
05:02:02.360 --> 05:02:06.159
later, with a sharp whirr and
a flash of light, the rockets shot

3882
05:02:06.279 --> 05:02:10.599
up into the air. A second
and third followed. Then Cliffs sprang back

3883
05:02:10.680 --> 05:02:14.959
upon his seat and seized the oars. The signal had been given. He

3884
05:02:15.040 --> 05:02:18.360
had done his duty, at whatever
risk there might be to his own safety.

3885
05:02:19.520 --> 05:02:32.479
End of chapter thirty recording by Tom
Weiss Tom's audiobooks dot Com. Chapter

3886
05:02:32.639 --> 05:02:37.240
thirty one of a Prisoner of Morrow
by Upton Sinclair. This libre box recording

3887
05:02:37.400 --> 05:02:44.279
is in the public domain. Recording
by Tom Weiss, Chapter thirty one,

3888
05:02:44.360 --> 05:02:49.520
Captured Cliff had elected to imperil his
own existence rather than allow one of the

3889
05:02:49.639 --> 05:02:56.279
enemy's boats to pass that blockade without
warning to the American ships. But he

3890
05:02:56.439 --> 05:03:00.799
had no intention of lying idly by
in the path of the high hostile craft.

3891
05:03:00.560 --> 05:03:03.959
He waited but a moment after the
glare of the last rocket had died

3892
05:03:04.000 --> 05:03:07.639
out in the air, and then
bent to the oars and urged the boat

3893
05:03:07.720 --> 05:03:12.119
toward the open sea beyond. And
then he had every confidence that he had

3894
05:03:12.279 --> 05:03:17.080
little to fear from the enemy's boat. They'll have all they can do to

3895
05:03:17.119 --> 05:03:19.479
look out for their own safety.
Now, he thought, without paying any

3896
05:03:19.520 --> 05:03:23.400
attention to me, the New York
has seen the signal and will not be

3897
05:03:23.560 --> 05:03:29.520
slow in making out the cause.
Then look out, mister Spaniard. But

3898
05:03:29.560 --> 05:03:33.119
there was more taking place upon those
waters than Cliff was cognizant of, and

3899
05:03:33.279 --> 05:03:38.159
peril came from an unlooked for source. His decision to send up the warning

3900
05:03:38.159 --> 05:03:42.799
signal had been quickly formed after his
first discovery of the strange vessel. He

3901
05:03:42.880 --> 05:03:47.799
had seen at a glance that it
was not a warship but a merchant steamer.

3902
05:03:48.200 --> 05:03:52.240
It was moving slowly and apparently seeking
as much as possible the concealment afforded

3903
05:03:52.240 --> 05:03:56.360
by the shadow of the coast.
Every feature about it showed that it was

3904
05:03:56.439 --> 05:04:03.000
trying to quietly steal out past the
blockading vessels. Cliff had not delayed,

3905
05:04:03.159 --> 05:04:06.639
but on the impulse of the moment, had sent up the signal rockets while

3906
05:04:06.680 --> 05:04:11.000
he was yet between the ship and
the shore. But a few steady strokes

3907
05:04:11.000 --> 05:04:15.400
would carry him beyond the enemy and
toward the flagship, he thought. But

3908
05:04:15.919 --> 05:04:19.959
to his surprise he noticed, on
glancing over his shoulder as he drew nearer

3909
05:04:19.959 --> 05:04:25.279
to the vessel, that the latter
was moving slower than before, and in

3910
05:04:25.319 --> 05:04:29.759
fact had just stopped. This was
puzzling to him. For now, if

3911
05:04:29.759 --> 05:04:33.639
at any time the boat should be
showing its utmost speed, those on board

3912
05:04:33.759 --> 05:04:38.560
must surely know from the signals that
they had been discovered and that pursuit would

3913
05:04:38.759 --> 05:04:45.319
instantly follow. A few words will
explain the situation to the reader. The

3914
05:04:45.439 --> 05:04:49.439
vessel was, as Cliff suspected,
endeavoring to steal out past the American ships

3915
05:04:49.479 --> 05:04:53.560
which were known to be in the
vicinity. But a short time before Cliff

3916
05:04:53.599 --> 05:04:57.799
had left the shore for the second
time, the blockade runner had slowed down,

3917
05:04:59.159 --> 05:05:03.400
and a boat manned by half a
dozen soldiers had been sent ashore.

3918
05:05:03.080 --> 05:05:08.279
An officer in the Spanish army with
important dispatches was to be taken aboard at

3919
05:05:08.319 --> 05:05:14.080
a point not far from where Cliff
had landed. The work of the Spanish

3920
05:05:14.080 --> 05:05:18.720
boat's crew had been expeditiously performed,
and when Cliff sent up his signal,

3921
05:05:18.200 --> 05:05:22.680
they were returning to the ship.
Unnoticed by Cliff in his excitement at the

3922
05:05:22.799 --> 05:05:26.479
time, they were close to one
side of his boat. At that fateful

3923
05:05:26.560 --> 05:05:30.599
moment, a pistol shot suddenly ringing
out in the air, and a bullet

3924
05:05:30.639 --> 05:05:34.919
flying not far from his head apprized
the cadet of danger from that quarter.

3925
05:05:36.439 --> 05:05:40.119
The Spaniards, as was natural for
them to be, were aroused to a

3926
05:05:40.200 --> 05:05:45.000
high pitch of excitement against the youth, whose vigilance promised to set all their

3927
05:05:45.040 --> 05:05:48.520
plans at naught. With a hoarse
yell of rage, they tugged at the

3928
05:05:48.560 --> 05:05:52.560
oars, and their boat fairly leaped
through the water. After the intrepid young

3929
05:05:52.599 --> 05:05:56.639
cadet Cliff saw the movement and redoubled
his efforts at the oars. It was

3930
05:05:56.639 --> 05:06:02.520
a race for his life, one
against seven. With frantic energy, he

3931
05:06:02.599 --> 05:06:07.040
tugged at the oars, and his
boats shot forward with encouraging speed. At

3932
05:06:07.119 --> 05:06:11.319
that moment, the searchlight on the
flagships and its rays across the waters in

3933
05:06:11.439 --> 05:06:15.959
answer to the signal, and a
dazzling stream of light played upon the scene.

3934
05:06:15.479 --> 05:06:19.240
It brought in clear relief the form
of the waiting steamer and the two

3935
05:06:19.279 --> 05:06:25.159
boats racing so desperately near at hand. What a thrilling scene it must have

3936
05:06:25.240 --> 05:06:27.959
been to the officers on the bridge
of the flagship, as with glass in

3937
05:06:29.040 --> 05:06:33.680
hand they watched the exciting race,
But it was not given to them long

3938
05:06:33.759 --> 05:06:37.119
to note the cadet's desperate struggle for
freedom, or to marvel at his great

3939
05:06:37.200 --> 05:06:42.720
endurance. The race was a short
one, and the result of foregone conclusion.

3940
05:06:44.240 --> 05:06:48.279
There was no hope of Cliffs escaping
from the pursuing boat with its crew

3941
05:06:48.400 --> 05:06:52.560
of fresh and eager oarsmen. The
latter closed in upon him with a leap

3942
05:06:52.560 --> 05:06:56.959
and a bound, and soon where
within oar's length of him. He recognized

3943
05:06:56.000 --> 05:07:02.200
the uselessness of trying to escape from
them, was determined not to surrender without

3944
05:07:02.200 --> 05:07:06.159
a struggle, even in the face
of great numbers. He dropped his oars

3945
05:07:06.159 --> 05:07:08.959
and sprang to his feet. Facing
his enemies, he drew his revolver,

3946
05:07:10.159 --> 05:07:12.400
but before he could use it,
one of the Spanish sailors, who had

3947
05:07:12.479 --> 05:07:17.080
risen in the boat, knocked it
from his grasp with his oar. The

3948
05:07:17.159 --> 05:07:21.360
boats were now side by side,
almost touching, and the dark hulk of

3949
05:07:21.400 --> 05:07:26.479
the steamer was not many feet away
from the latter. Arose a loud cheer

3950
05:07:26.560 --> 05:07:30.360
as they saw that Cliff had been
disarmed, and above the noise, Cliff

3951
05:07:30.439 --> 05:07:33.040
could hear a few words of command
from the Spanish army officer who sat in

3952
05:07:33.080 --> 05:07:37.479
the stern of the boat at his
side. It was to the sailor who

3953
05:07:37.520 --> 05:07:41.479
had sprung up to attack Cliff.
Don't shoot, he said, take him

3954
05:07:41.520 --> 05:07:45.680
alive. Cliff had seized an oar
when his revolver fell with a splash into

3955
05:07:45.720 --> 05:07:49.599
the water, and there was no
doubt that he intended using it. But

3956
05:07:49.799 --> 05:07:53.959
two can play at that game,
and the Spanish sailor, forbidden to shoot,

3957
05:07:55.200 --> 05:07:59.599
attacked Cliff furiously with the oar,
which he still held in his hand.

3958
05:08:00.400 --> 05:08:03.520
Cliff dodged, but as he did
so, another sailor aimed a blow

3959
05:08:03.560 --> 05:08:07.799
at his head. The aim was
good, a sharp pain shot through the

3960
05:08:07.840 --> 05:08:11.639
young cadet's head. He reeled and
all became dark before him. With a

3961
05:08:11.680 --> 05:08:17.479
faint moan, he fell senseless into
the bottom of his boat. The contests

3962
05:08:17.599 --> 05:08:21.680
had been short and well. It
was for the Spaniards that such was the

3963
05:08:21.759 --> 05:08:26.759
case. Already, the flickering of
the searchlight told that the flagship was hurrying

3964
05:08:26.799 --> 05:08:32.080
to the scene. The Spaniards realized
the importance of quick action. They had,

3965
05:08:32.159 --> 05:08:36.040
on the impulse of the moment,
retaliated upon Cliff, because it could

3966
05:08:36.040 --> 05:08:38.720
take but a few minutes, and
because they felt that the chase would end

3967
05:08:38.880 --> 05:08:45.279
not far from their waiting vessel.
They congratulated themselves that it had indeed brought

3968
05:08:45.360 --> 05:08:48.439
them almost to the ship's side,
and now they lost no time in getting

3969
05:08:48.439 --> 05:08:55.919
themselves and their prisoner aboard willing hands. Assisted from above, a couple of

3970
05:08:55.959 --> 05:08:59.560
strokes of the oars had brought them
to the ship's side, with Cliff's boat

3971
05:08:59.639 --> 05:09:03.919
into in obedience to a command,
Cliff's boat, with its unconscious burden,

3972
05:09:04.040 --> 05:09:08.200
was raised bodily to the deck.
The captain thought he could use it in

3973
05:09:08.240 --> 05:09:12.599
his business. A moment later the
Spaniards with the army officer, reached the

3974
05:09:12.680 --> 05:09:18.000
deck and the ship's captain signaled to
go ahead. All now was excitement on

3975
05:09:18.040 --> 05:09:23.560
board the Spaniard beyond securely fastening the
arms and legs of their unconscious captive where

3976
05:09:23.560 --> 05:09:27.840
he lay. They paid but little
attention to Cliff. They were all too

3977
05:09:27.840 --> 05:09:33.279
wrapped up in thoughts of escape from
the cruiser, whose piercing searchlight was streaming

3978
05:09:33.400 --> 05:09:37.240
upon them. Among the crew there
was here and there a murmur against a

3979
05:09:37.319 --> 05:09:41.240
delay that had been caused by stopping
to take on the army officer, and

3980
05:09:41.319 --> 05:09:45.319
with this was coupled a note of
resentment against the young cadet whose appearance on

3981
05:09:45.400 --> 05:09:51.599
the scene promised to spoil all their
plans, but the captain's orders were carried

3982
05:09:51.599 --> 05:09:56.400
out promptly, the more so as
their own safety depended on it. They

3983
05:09:56.400 --> 05:09:59.840
were not without hope of making good
their escape in the end, For the

3984
05:10:00.000 --> 05:10:03.240
he knew what speed their craft was
capable of. It was a fast boat,

3985
05:10:03.599 --> 05:10:07.840
and the throbbing of the engines told
that she was being urged to her

3986
05:10:07.959 --> 05:10:12.520
full speed. Amid intense excitement of
crew and officers. The wild dash for

3987
05:10:12.639 --> 05:10:18.200
freedom and safety had begun. Through
all this confusion and flurry, the cadet,

3988
05:10:18.200 --> 05:10:23.360
whose prompt signaling had occasioned it,
lay helpless and unconscious. The steady

3989
05:10:23.360 --> 05:10:29.040
thump of the machinery below, which
was steadily carrying him further and further from

3990
05:10:29.040 --> 05:10:33.840
his friends, made no impression upon
his ears, nor was his mind aroused

3991
05:10:33.840 --> 05:10:37.680
by the excitement of the chase or
the hope of rescue. But the race

3992
05:10:37.720 --> 05:10:42.159
had not been long under way before
he began to show signs of returning consciousness.

3993
05:10:42.720 --> 05:10:47.680
He stirred uneasily in the bottom of
the boat where he lay, attempting

3994
05:10:47.720 --> 05:10:52.279
to move his pinioned limbs. Then
a long drawn breath, and he opened

3995
05:10:52.319 --> 05:10:56.159
his eyes slowly. The noise from
shipboard fell upon his ears, and the

3996
05:10:56.240 --> 05:11:00.759
sounds confused him. His surroundings zzled
him, and his mind at first could

3997
05:11:00.759 --> 05:11:06.400
not grasp the situation. Where was
he? Then, with a rush of

3998
05:11:06.439 --> 05:11:10.840
recollection, came the remembrance of the
attack upon him in the open boat.

3999
05:11:10.959 --> 05:11:14.639
His enemies had triumphed, he thought, and left him a helpless victim to

4000
05:11:14.680 --> 05:11:19.680
drift about upon the open sea.
But whence those sounds. He painfully raised

4001
05:11:19.759 --> 05:11:25.479
himself to a sitting posture and looked
out. To his astonishment, he found

4002
05:11:25.520 --> 05:11:30.240
himself an boat upon the deck of
a swiftly moving steamer. Then he saw

4003
05:11:30.240 --> 05:11:33.599
it all and realized what had happened. He caught a glimpse of the rays

4004
05:11:33.639 --> 05:11:37.720
of the searchlight that still streamed across
the water. At a moment after,

4005
05:11:37.919 --> 05:11:42.000
heard the boom of a cannon out
at sea the New York. He exclaimed,

4006
05:11:42.240 --> 05:11:45.840
she is in pursuit, but she's
too far away and can never catch

4007
05:11:45.880 --> 05:11:49.439
this fast boat. The only chance
of her stopping it is with one of

4008
05:11:49.439 --> 05:11:55.479
her big guns. And then,
involuntarily he shuddered as he thought that,

4009
05:11:56.000 --> 05:12:00.279
bound and helpless, he would share
the fate of the Spanish crew if a

4010
05:12:00.319 --> 05:12:04.599
shot from the flagship should penetrate the
ship's side and send it to the bottom.

4011
05:12:06.479 --> 05:12:08.439
He moved a little towards the stern
of his boat as best he could

4012
05:12:08.599 --> 05:12:12.360
to get a better view of the
light that showed the approaching flagship. As

4013
05:12:12.400 --> 05:12:17.759
he did so, he struck a
round, hard object that lay behind him,

4014
05:12:17.880 --> 05:12:22.000
the unexploded shell. He exclaimed as
he recognized what it was. I

4015
05:12:22.119 --> 05:12:25.720
still have that with me at any
rate. And then he began to tug

4016
05:12:25.720 --> 05:12:29.200
at the ropes that bound his arms
in a frantic effort to loosen them.

4017
05:12:29.639 --> 05:12:33.759
The rapid throb of the engines below
and another boom of cannon from out to

4018
05:12:33.840 --> 05:12:38.400
sea told that the chase was becoming
a hot one. End of chapter thirty

4019
05:12:38.400 --> 05:12:52.040
one, recording by Tom Weiss Tom's
audiobooks dot Com. Chapter thirty two of

4020
05:12:52.080 --> 05:12:56.080
a Prisoner of Morrow, buy Upton, Sinclair. This LibriVox recording is in

4021
05:12:56.119 --> 05:13:03.279
the public domain. Recording by Tom
Chapter thirty two, Cliff Faraday's test.

4022
05:13:04.520 --> 05:13:08.919
The excitement among the crew of the
Spanish steamer was intense as they watched the

4023
05:13:10.040 --> 05:13:14.680
light from the flagship and noted the
course of the projectiles that came toward them.

4024
05:13:15.240 --> 05:13:18.520
For this reason, they had not
observed Cliff's movements and gave themselves no

4025
05:13:18.639 --> 05:13:23.279
concern about him. Whatever may have
been his intended course of action, he

4026
05:13:23.479 --> 05:13:29.080
was at last compelled to abandon it. Strained and tugged as he would at

4027
05:13:29.080 --> 05:13:33.759
the cords that bound his arms,
they remained intact. Nor could his ingenuity

4028
05:13:33.840 --> 05:13:38.159
devise any way of releasing himself from
their hold. Though hastily tied, the

4029
05:13:38.240 --> 05:13:42.360
knots had been put there to stay, and Cliff at last realized that it

4030
05:13:42.439 --> 05:13:47.799
was a hopeless task to try to
undo them. But though he could not

4031
05:13:47.919 --> 05:13:51.880
free his arms and legs, he
could use his eyes, and the scene

4032
05:13:52.000 --> 05:13:56.360
was one thrilling enough to rivet his
attention. The fast moving steamer urged to

4033
05:13:56.439 --> 05:14:02.360
its utmost speed, the exclamations of
hope and fear among its crew. The

4034
05:14:02.479 --> 05:14:07.279
more majestically moving flagship, whose deficiencies
of speed were more than atoned for by

4035
05:14:07.279 --> 05:14:12.360
the range of her guns, suggested
possibilities to one in Cliff's position that might

4036
05:14:12.439 --> 05:14:18.439
well set one's heart to beating wildly. If the steamers should escape by reason

4037
05:14:18.560 --> 05:14:22.959
of superior speed, it would bring
joy to the crew, but disaster to

4038
05:14:22.000 --> 05:14:26.159
Cliff, their helpless prisoner. If, on the other hand, a shot

4039
05:14:26.200 --> 05:14:32.439
from the flagship should sink the Spanish
boat, Cliff perforce would share death with

4040
05:14:32.520 --> 05:14:37.040
them. Little wonder that, as
brave as he was, he struggled anxiously

4041
05:14:37.080 --> 05:14:41.319
to free his arms and legs from
their bonds. The New York can never

4042
05:14:41.400 --> 05:14:45.159
catch us, he exclaimed, when
he had settled down to watching the flagship

4043
05:14:45.319 --> 05:14:48.400
as best he could. She is
too far away at this boat is too

4044
05:14:48.479 --> 05:14:52.959
fast. There was little need of
the searchlight now, as dawn was approaching

4045
05:14:53.319 --> 05:14:57.520
the forms of the ships could be
distinguished in the uncertain light. Without its

4046
05:14:57.520 --> 05:15:03.200
aid. Cliff had been watching the
flagship, which was astern, but now

4047
05:15:03.319 --> 05:15:07.880
looking forward he saw a beam of
light in that direction. It was several

4048
05:15:07.919 --> 05:15:11.919
miles out to sea and shot across
their path. That must be the Wilmington,

4049
05:15:12.040 --> 05:15:17.200
he exclaimed, cheered by a suddenly
revived hope. She can cut across

4050
05:15:17.200 --> 05:15:21.759
our path and all may yet be
well. He looked back at the flagship

4051
05:15:22.000 --> 05:15:25.840
and saw the red and the blue
signal lights flashing their message to the ship

4052
05:15:25.880 --> 05:15:30.479
ahead, which was, as Cliffs
surmised, the Wilmington. They also carried

4053
05:15:30.520 --> 05:15:33.720
a message to Cliff. Nor was
their meaning lost upon the Spanish crew.

4054
05:15:34.319 --> 05:15:38.560
They have signaled the Wilmington to intercept
her, exclaimed Cliff, but it will

4055
05:15:38.639 --> 05:15:42.840
be a close race. He heard
the signal from the excited captain of the

4056
05:15:42.880 --> 05:15:48.200
Spanish boat for more speed, and
the throbbing of the machinery told that they

4057
05:15:48.240 --> 05:15:52.680
were endeavoring in the engine rooms to
carry out the order. It seemed as

4058
05:15:52.680 --> 05:15:56.919
if the engines were already doing their
utmost, but Cliff could notice a slight

4059
05:15:56.000 --> 05:16:00.200
increase in the headway they were making. Was a fast boat, and no

4060
05:16:00.319 --> 05:16:04.360
mistake, Cliff thought, as he
anxiously strained his eyes to see what the

4061
05:16:04.400 --> 05:16:10.319
Wilmington was doing. Answering signals told
that she had received the order from the

4062
05:16:10.360 --> 05:16:15.040
flagship and that those orders would be
obeyed. Cliff fervently hoped that she would

4063
05:16:15.080 --> 05:16:21.200
be successful. He hated to think
of the possibility of a hostile ship succeeding

4064
05:16:21.240 --> 05:16:26.400
in running the blockade, and now
this patriotic impulse was heightened by the fact

4065
05:16:26.400 --> 05:16:30.439
that he was a helpless prisoner on
board the very boat that promised to accomplish

4066
05:16:30.479 --> 05:16:34.880
that feat. For as he watched
the race, there was a growing conviction

4067
05:16:34.959 --> 05:16:40.159
in Cliff's mind that the Wilmington was
so far out to see that she could

4068
05:16:40.200 --> 05:16:45.240
not hope to stop the Spanish steamer
except by the power of her guns and

4069
05:16:45.360 --> 05:16:51.279
a hole in the side of the
enemy's vessel. However desirable under ordinary circumstances,

4070
05:16:51.599 --> 05:16:56.000
did not coincide with his hopes or
ideas. On this occasion, he

4071
05:16:56.080 --> 05:17:00.919
had no desire to share a watery
grave with his cat. The two boats

4072
05:17:00.919 --> 05:17:04.840
were heading for the same point,
the Wilmingtons seeking to block the path the

4073
05:17:04.919 --> 05:17:10.319
other was following. One of her
guns spoke out, but the shot fell

4074
05:17:10.400 --> 05:17:15.799
short. She was not enraged.
Faster went the Spanish boat, and nearer

4075
05:17:15.840 --> 05:17:21.000
to the objective point, raced the
two vessels. Cliff breathlessly watched the pursuing

4076
05:17:21.040 --> 05:17:25.520
craft, whose success meant so much
to him. Could she win? The

4077
05:17:25.560 --> 05:17:30.080
Spaniards shared his excitement and watched their
opponent with fully as much eagerness. At

4078
05:17:30.159 --> 05:17:36.279
last, they broke out into a
cheer. Cliff was not slow to understand

4079
05:17:36.319 --> 05:17:41.479
its import The Spanish boat was making
really a phenomenal run, and had reached

4080
05:17:41.479 --> 05:17:45.400
the point where it was evident that
if they maintained their speed, they would

4081
05:17:45.439 --> 05:17:49.159
soon be passed the dangerous line that, once reached, they could show the

4082
05:17:49.240 --> 05:17:55.799
Yankee boat a clean pair of heels. Cliff's spirits fell when he realized that

4083
05:17:55.840 --> 05:18:00.200
the Spaniards had good cause for their
jubilation. There was no doubt now that

4084
05:18:00.240 --> 05:18:04.520
the steamer could pass the danger line
and then away. The Wilmington two seemed

4085
05:18:04.560 --> 05:18:08.240
to realize that there was no hope
of catching up with the other vessel for

4086
05:18:08.360 --> 05:18:14.200
now. The cannon boomed out in
rapid succession. They were rapidly drawing nearer

4087
05:18:14.279 --> 05:18:18.200
and within range. A shot swept
across the Spaniard's bow, but on she

4088
05:18:18.319 --> 05:18:22.439
went. Then another struck the bridge
upon which the captain stood the glass in

4089
05:18:22.560 --> 05:18:27.000
hand, and he had a narrow
escape from flying splindors. But the goal

4090
05:18:27.279 --> 05:18:30.880
was too near for them to stop, and he signaled for more steam.

4091
05:18:32.520 --> 05:18:37.680
Cliff could not but admire this officer's
pluck. Under other circumstances, he would

4092
05:18:37.720 --> 05:18:41.599
have said that the Spaniard deserved to
win. The vessel seemed to struggle to

4093
05:18:41.639 --> 05:18:45.720
do what was demanded of her,
and sped on. Another shot from the

4094
05:18:45.759 --> 05:18:51.799
Wilmington rattled across her bows, but
the crew answered with a cheer. Five

4095
05:18:51.919 --> 05:18:56.880
minutes more and they would be round
the point. And then what would happen

4096
05:18:56.959 --> 05:19:02.000
then was never to be known.
Suddenly, a loud explosion was heard from

4097
05:19:02.000 --> 05:19:04.680
below, and the whole frame of
the steamer shook from end to end.

4098
05:19:06.319 --> 05:19:11.319
Men rushed on deck in a panic
and wildly proclaimed the cause. A steam

4099
05:19:11.360 --> 05:19:15.520
pipe urged beyond its strength had exploded, carrying destruction with it. The race

4100
05:19:15.639 --> 05:19:21.159
was lost, and the captain promptly
hauled down his flag, But as he

4101
05:19:21.200 --> 05:19:25.439
did so, he gave orders to
steer toward the land, and the steamer

4102
05:19:25.520 --> 05:19:30.959
came to a standstill not far from
the shore. The Spanish army officer carrying

4103
05:19:30.959 --> 05:19:33.880
the dispatches entered a boat that was
quickly lowered, and when the prize crew

4104
05:19:33.959 --> 05:19:38.000
from the Wilmington board at the steamer, he was safe upon land, and

4105
05:19:38.119 --> 05:19:42.919
his escape was assured. When the
officer in charge of the prize crew had

4106
05:19:42.959 --> 05:19:48.479
finished the four melodies, Cliff attracted
his attention. The cadet had apparently been

4107
05:19:48.520 --> 05:19:52.759
forgotten by his captors in the excitement
of the chase and the calamity that had

4108
05:19:52.759 --> 05:19:57.959
come upon them. The American officer
was astonished beyond measure to find one wearing

4109
05:19:59.200 --> 05:20:03.080
the familiar uniform in such a plight
on that boat. Why, mister Faraday,

4110
05:20:03.319 --> 05:20:07.360
he exclaimed, upon learning Cliff's identity, and having released him from his

4111
05:20:07.439 --> 05:20:11.400
bonds, we were not aware that
they had an American on board as a

4112
05:20:11.439 --> 05:20:15.080
prisoner. I thought not from the
way you were firing at us, said

4113
05:20:15.119 --> 05:20:18.639
Cliff, with a smile. I
thought more than once that you would send

4114
05:20:18.639 --> 05:20:23.639
this particular American to the bottom along
with a shipload of the enemy. You

4115
05:20:23.680 --> 05:20:29.680
were firing too accurately to suit me
this time. Well, the American boys

4116
05:20:29.880 --> 05:20:33.479
do come pretty near hitting what they
aim at, responded the officer, evidently

4117
05:20:33.639 --> 05:20:38.119
pleased at the compliment to their marksmanship. But I am curious to know how

4118
05:20:38.159 --> 05:20:44.439
it has happened that we find you
here. Cliff then briefly told of the

4119
05:20:44.479 --> 05:20:48.000
adventures that followed his finding of the
unexploded shell, which he picked up from

4120
05:20:48.040 --> 05:20:52.319
its lodgment in the boat and held
in his hand. So you have risked

4121
05:20:52.319 --> 05:20:56.279
your life for that piece of steel, exclaimed the officer. What can have

4122
05:20:56.400 --> 05:21:00.119
been your purpose in that? Does
it not strike you, sir, that

4123
05:21:00.240 --> 05:21:04.680
there is something peculiar about it,
as Cliff as the other examined it,

4124
05:21:06.520 --> 05:21:10.439
Yes, replied the officer. It
is decidedly out of date and might be

4125
05:21:10.560 --> 05:21:15.040
interesting as a relic, but not
of sufficient importance to risk one's life.

4126
05:21:15.080 --> 05:21:18.759
For I had an idea that there
was a mystery about it. That was

4127
05:21:18.799 --> 05:21:22.919
well worth solving, replied Cliff.
And with your permission, sir, I

4128
05:21:22.959 --> 05:21:26.279
will put the matter to a test
as you like, responded the officer,

4129
05:21:26.360 --> 05:21:32.400
with the air of a man who
is indulging some childish fancy. Cliff was

4130
05:21:32.560 --> 05:21:36.479
not slow to take advantage of the
permission granted, and carried the shell to

4131
05:21:36.560 --> 05:21:41.439
a table that stood upon the afterdeck. The officer, meantime, paying no

4132
05:21:41.479 --> 05:21:47.240
further attention to him, but attending
to some further detail of transfer. Cliff

4133
05:21:47.319 --> 05:21:51.360
had procured a fuse and inserted it
into the shell, and was upon the

4134
05:21:51.400 --> 05:21:55.080
point of lighting it when the officer
appeared. Stop sir, He commanded,

4135
05:21:55.360 --> 05:22:00.240
will you blow us all the destruction? Others standing near made a move to

4136
05:22:00.279 --> 05:22:03.520
stop Cliff, but it was too
late. The fuse was burning rapidly.

4137
05:22:04.119 --> 05:22:08.479
With a cry of alarm and amazement. The officers, American as well as

4138
05:22:08.520 --> 05:22:14.720
Spanish, sprang to one side and
dodged in great fright. But Cliff calmly

4139
05:22:14.759 --> 05:22:18.799
stood by, his arms folded and
a confident smile playing about his lips.

4140
05:22:19.400 --> 05:22:23.840
He was putting his theory to the
test. End of chapter thirty two,

4141
05:22:25.360 --> 05:22:37.560
recording by Tom Weiss Tom's Audiobooks,
Dot com chapter thirty three of A Prisoner

4142
05:22:37.560 --> 05:22:42.840
of Morrow by Upton Sinclair. This
LibriVox recording is in the public domain.

4143
05:22:44.759 --> 05:22:51.560
Recording by Tom Weiss, Chapter thirty
three, The mystery of the unexploded shell.

4144
05:22:52.119 --> 05:22:56.599
Mingled with evident fright and alarm.
There was upon the face of each

4145
05:22:56.959 --> 05:23:03.080
a look of incredulity. At wrath
of the cadet had his adventures and narrow

4146
05:23:03.200 --> 05:23:06.560
escape turned his brain, And where
they now at, the mercy of a

4147
05:23:06.639 --> 05:23:11.319
maniac was in the minds of all. They had not long to wait.

4148
05:23:11.959 --> 05:23:17.439
The fuse burned rapidly and spluttered to
the end. And as they all involuntarily

4149
05:23:17.520 --> 05:23:22.439
ducked their heads at the impending explosion, a peculiar thing happened. When the

4150
05:23:22.479 --> 05:23:26.279
fire from the fuse reached the shell. There was a sharp clicking sound,

4151
05:23:26.680 --> 05:23:30.720
and those who were looking at the
shell saw it suddenly opened like a book,

4152
05:23:30.159 --> 05:23:34.479
and from its hollow interior fell a
roll of paper upon the table.

4153
05:23:36.240 --> 05:23:41.119
This cliff seized and waved over his
head in triumph. Harah, he cried,

4154
05:23:41.400 --> 05:23:45.639
it is as I suspected secret dispatches
from the enemy that are worth all

4155
05:23:45.680 --> 05:23:51.720
they have cost. The officers were
struck dumb with amazement, and stood and

4156
05:23:51.799 --> 05:23:55.880
stared at the smiling young man as
though they could not believe their eyes.

4157
05:23:56.439 --> 05:24:00.400
But after a time they crowded around
him and examined the shell curiously, and

4158
05:24:00.439 --> 05:24:06.799
then the papers that Cliff held in
his hand. The papers were evidently written

4159
05:24:06.799 --> 05:24:11.279
in Spanish, and though the American
officers could not read them, they now

4160
05:24:11.360 --> 05:24:17.159
had conceived sufficient confidence in Cliff to
believe that they were indeed of importance.

4161
05:24:17.959 --> 05:24:22.080
The shell, whose quest had caused
Cliffs so much peril and danger, was

4162
05:24:22.200 --> 05:24:26.639
a curious affair. It had been
cunningly contrived for the purpose it had so

4163
05:24:26.799 --> 05:24:32.520
admirably fulfilled. Though very much in
appearance like the old fashioned round shells,

4164
05:24:32.560 --> 05:24:37.720
it was in two parts, ingeniously
hinged, so that when closed it required

4165
05:24:37.919 --> 05:24:42.639
very close scrutiny to detect the scene. It was hollow and consequently light in

4166
05:24:42.720 --> 05:24:48.520
weight. This fact had first arrested
Cliff's attention, and had set his thoughts

4167
05:24:48.520 --> 05:24:52.520
to work upon the mystery that was
connected with it. In the opening where

4168
05:24:52.520 --> 05:24:56.799
the fuse was inserted, there was
a concealed mechanism so arranged that it might

4169
05:24:56.880 --> 05:25:00.319
not be detected or opened with the
finger, but would readily give way to

4170
05:25:00.360 --> 05:25:06.159
the force of a slight explosion in
that small cavity. If it should fall

4171
05:25:06.200 --> 05:25:11.479
into strange hands unfamiliar with its design, it was meant to defy all efforts

4172
05:25:11.520 --> 05:25:15.639
at opening it. Cliff was the
recipient of many expressions of praise from the

4173
05:25:15.680 --> 05:25:22.720
American officers upon his ingenuity in fathoming
the secret that was so cunningly devised,

4174
05:25:22.080 --> 05:25:27.200
and they questioned him at length.
That is indeed wonderful, said the superior

4175
05:25:27.279 --> 05:25:30.799
officer, But how did you ever
guess the purpose for which it was intended?

4176
05:25:32.080 --> 05:25:36.919
Or the method of opening it?
Cliff then explained the circumstances connected with

4177
05:25:37.000 --> 05:25:41.360
its appearance at his feet among the
trees where he was awaiting the Cuban courier.

4178
05:25:41.119 --> 05:25:45.479
I thought it was strange that a
ship being pursued should fire a shell

4179
05:25:45.599 --> 05:25:48.959
at the land instead of at its
enemy, he said, And when I

4180
05:25:49.000 --> 05:25:53.880
picked it up, I was struck
with its peculiarities. But my examination was

4181
05:25:53.959 --> 05:25:59.439
interrupted by the arrival of the Spanish
soldiers. We were kept busy for a

4182
05:25:59.479 --> 05:26:03.599
while suing them, and did not
have much time to pursue this mystery.

4183
05:26:03.479 --> 05:26:08.599
The officers smiled knowingly at this,
for he had gathered enough from Cliff's previous

4184
05:26:08.680 --> 05:26:14.040
narrative to know that the little band
of sailors had done great feats that night.

4185
05:26:14.759 --> 05:26:18.799
The shell not exploding, continued Cliff, led me to think that perhaps

4186
05:26:18.799 --> 05:26:22.520
it was not intended to explode just
then. And when I saw that the

4187
05:26:22.560 --> 05:26:26.080
Spanish soldiers seemed to be hunting for
something there, I jumped to the conclusion

4188
05:26:26.200 --> 05:26:32.560
that it was this identical piece of
steel they were after that explained their presence

4189
05:26:32.639 --> 05:26:37.040
there and their peculiar behavior. And
what could the Spaniards want with that shell

4190
05:26:37.279 --> 05:26:41.880
if it did not contain something of
value to them and of greater value to

4191
05:26:41.919 --> 05:26:48.400
the American cause you reasoned well,
exclaimed the officer, and so you decided

4192
05:26:48.439 --> 05:26:52.560
to risk going back for it,
and your ideas have come out triumphant through

4193
05:26:52.560 --> 05:26:56.319
the test. But young man,
don't try any more experiments like that when

4194
05:26:56.360 --> 05:27:00.919
I'm around. They all laughed heartily
at this sally, at which Cliff joined

4195
05:27:00.919 --> 05:27:06.759
in. But it was decidedly a
peculiar way to send dispatches, continued the

4196
05:27:06.840 --> 05:27:11.799
officer. And it would seem as
though it was uncertain and unnecessary as well.

4197
05:27:11.639 --> 05:27:15.000
There seemed to me to be a
good reason for it, Sir,

4198
05:27:15.119 --> 05:27:18.400
said Cliff. I figured that that
boat had been sent to deliver the despatches,

4199
05:27:18.599 --> 05:27:22.319
with instructions that if they were pursued, to fire the shell at a

4200
05:27:22.360 --> 05:27:27.400
point agreed upon and then make their
escape. They were pursued and did fire

4201
05:27:27.479 --> 05:27:33.759
towards shore, and the soldiers in
waiting evidently saw the flash and knew about

4202
05:27:33.799 --> 05:27:36.919
where to hunt for it. I
think, sir, that when these papers

4203
05:27:36.919 --> 05:27:41.599
are examined, it will be found
that they contained information that the Spanish army

4204
05:27:41.639 --> 05:27:47.159
ashore once the worst way. This
proved to be the case. Cliff was

4205
05:27:47.200 --> 05:27:51.759
given custody of a peculiar shell and
the papers it had contained, and,

4206
05:27:51.959 --> 05:27:56.639
after a little delay, was taken
in the boat to the Wilmington. Signals

4207
05:27:56.639 --> 05:28:00.319
were exchanged between this vessel and the
flagship, and in due time Cliff was

4208
05:28:00.400 --> 05:28:04.880
rowed to the ladder and ordered to
report to the Rear Admiral. He turned

4209
05:28:04.880 --> 05:28:10.439
the shell and its contents over to
that officer with an explanation of all that

4210
05:28:10.520 --> 05:28:14.599
had taken place. I see that
you had good cause for desiring to go

4211
05:28:14.680 --> 05:28:18.279
back to find this shell, said
the Rear Admiral, when Cliff had finished.

4212
05:28:18.720 --> 05:28:22.319
WE have learned from the prisoner whom
you secured after a struggle in your

4213
05:28:22.360 --> 05:28:26.119
boat, that they had stolen your
boat to facilitate the transfer of some papers.

4214
05:28:26.200 --> 05:28:30.000
They were late and miss seeing the
boat that fired this shell. Now

4215
05:28:30.040 --> 05:28:34.240
that you have secured these papers,
I will call your knowledge of Spanish into

4216
05:28:34.279 --> 05:28:40.680
requisition and allow you to transcribe these
for me. And this Cliff did,

4217
05:28:41.319 --> 05:28:45.279
and when he had completed the task, it was found that the most important

4218
05:28:45.319 --> 05:28:51.000
work he had done that night was
in securing that shell and unraveling its mystery.

4219
05:28:51.799 --> 05:28:55.560
As he issued from the Admiral's room, Cadet Wells, one of Cliff's

4220
05:28:55.560 --> 05:28:59.560
best friends, approached him. Faraday, old fellow. He said, I've

4221
05:28:59.599 --> 05:29:03.880
got news that will interest you.
I'm listening. It's about that exception among

4222
05:29:03.959 --> 05:29:08.479
Spaniards, the lieutenant who helped you
and this steward escape. Ah, what

4223
05:29:08.639 --> 05:29:12.759
of him, asked Cliff eagerly.
You know he left us on a Spanish

4224
05:29:12.759 --> 05:29:17.799
boat that brought you over under a
flag of truce. Well we couldn't touch

4225
05:29:17.880 --> 05:29:22.080
that boat then, of course,
But yesterday she ventured too far out and

4226
05:29:22.200 --> 05:29:26.240
the New York sunk her. We
saved all her crew, and from one

4227
05:29:26.279 --> 05:29:30.200
of them I learned what became of
her. Nandez it seems he sought a

4228
05:29:30.279 --> 05:29:33.319
lonely part of the boat while she
was on the way from us to the

4229
05:29:33.400 --> 05:29:37.159
shore, and knelt to prey.
An officer of the boat saw him thus

4230
05:29:37.200 --> 05:29:41.599
and withdrew. A moment later,
all hands were startled by a pistol shot.

4231
05:29:42.159 --> 05:29:48.799
Hurrying below, they found Lieutenant Hernandez
prone on the deck, a calm

4232
05:29:48.880 --> 05:29:56.159
smiled on his face, a bullet
in his brain. Faraday was deeply affected,

4233
05:29:56.880 --> 05:30:02.720
and thus he said, gravely perished
one of spain real heroes. This

4234
05:30:02.880 --> 05:30:07.639
is the end of a Prisoner of
Morrow by Upton Sinclair. Recording by Tom

4235
05:30:07.639 --> 05:30:15.959
Weiss Tom's audiobooks dot com.