Under the Star-Spangled Banner

painful, his wound was really a simple one, Hal Marchant was

re fenced in on every side by luxuriant vegetation of every description and hue. Sometimes a long, flat, and unsightly marsh came into view, and at the sound of the wheel

en quickly disappeared into a dense jungle of trees and growth,

sing Hal. "Look over there. Welcome to the 'Barn.' This is our winter residence,

ich appeared at that moment at the end of an o

along the sides of a big cane chair, Hal could lie the whole day long, gazing across a sea of green shrubs and leaves-a sea which rustled musically, and was ever changing from brightest green to shimmering blue in the rays of the southern sun. And if he but lifted his eyes an

e for long. The doctor who has been attending you says that your wound is merely a pin-prick-how he can be so very unfeeling I do not know! Still, he is convinced that it is now so far healed that it requir

se, quite a simple affair, and I am really fit for anything. As to more trouble

d it was as much as he could do to get the words out. His bashful

lly good to me, Dora," he

d you forget, Hal, that you were wounded in helping my father. There, we are evens! We owe nothing

peeches, and from my Dora, to

o overhear the end of the conversation between the y

tle gratitude on either side is what one would have expecte

eet. "Take a look at me. I am as well as ever; and as for the arm, beyond

, but the hacienda not for some time later. To my eyes the latter is perfect. It is a gentleman's country residence, and, with its grounds, is a beautiful oasis in a desert of impenetrable jungle and burnt-out plantations-not to me

was completed, and, leaving the house in possession of a negro caretaker, the party was driven away in the mule cart to the harbor at Tampa. Three days l

the Spanish rulers and the native population; and things have come to such a pass that ruin stares everyone in the face. Planters and their laborers have had hard times indeed, but I trust a brighter future is in store for us. America has intervened between insurgents and Spaniards, and it seems that her infl

his field-glasses to Hal, an

look. "She is lying against the quay, and close beside her are two ships, which look li

ttleship Maine, and she is here on a special visit, which it is hoped will cement a long friendship between t

and his friends were passengers had anchored in the harbor of Havana. On the upper deck, beneath

w voices, now and again lapsing into silence and listening to the sounds that came from other ships across the placid water and from the dimly lit stre

and became merged with the notes of the banjo, only to burst forth again

ly the Dons are as friendly, all will be well. Listen! How those lads love that song! They would sing it by the hour if they were able. But there sounds the bugle, and away they go to their hammocks. I think, Dora dear, that it is time y

nted, but strict obedience being amongst thei

duties and new faces will confront you. I want you to have some knowledge of them beforehand, for it will be better if my overseer can come to the plantation ready for any emergency. You will thus make a better start,

g. At length, having communicated to him all the information he wished, he le

f the City of Washington-a leviathan which was filled to overflowing with passengers. She was a contrast to the Maine, aboard which all those who had been so merry and lighthearted seemed now fast asleep. But for her riding lights, and the reflection from her gunroom, she was enveloped in darkness, into which a

en? Ah, Heavens! shriek upon shriek, the clatter of scattered wreckage and rent iron upon quay and neighboring ships, and the hissing of flaming woodwork falling into the sea. A minute b

t all, Hal and Mr. Brindle looked at a heap of flaring wreckage, and wondered what had happe

en smashed to pieces! How dreadful!

ere may be men to be saved. Let us help; everyone will be required

ation, he sprang towards the gangwa

way, and get fixed up to your places," sang out a quartermaster, w

w moments to collect more men, and then hurried down to th

, and out oars all of yer. Bust me! aer some of yer goin' ter take two weeks about it? Bustle yourselves! Aer yer ready? Then fetch hold of your ti

o desperate hurry. Instead, coached by the quartermaster, they sent the boat flying t

Brindle, who sat next to Hal. "Keep

outed. "She's flaring like a torch, so I reckon we ought ter

of frightened voices from the town. People rushed from their houses demanding what had happened. Bells clanged the alarm, and the fire-brigade turned out, ready for any emergency. And, meanwhile, every ship in the harbor sent her boats on an errand of mercy, and soon t

figure struggling close beside the Maine, and seeming to be almost en

shake of the head. "That 'ere chap don't scorch, because he's under water. We should, though. W

"Hold on to my oar, Mr. B

n the water, wholly unconscious, and on the point of sinking. His hand shot in the air, his fingers clutching desperately, while his eyes seemed on the point of bursting from their sockets. A sudden flare from the burning woodwork lit up the ghast

beneath the water, and rising a minute later beside the man, grasped him by the shoulders, and easily turned him upon his back. From that moment all was plain sailing, for it was not for nothing that H

. "There, sit right down and get hold of your wind. Perhaps yer'll b

and looked towards the Maine once more. A piece of wreckage floated into

boys? He's right under the ship, and

we should all be shriveled," remarked Hal, very quietly. "Her

scious, and almost dead from the combined results of heat and smoke. He did not trouble to take the man from the float, but pushed it towards the boat, and in due time had the satisfaction of seeing him lifted

nocked silly between the decks, and they'll want helping. Aer there any man aboard this boat as feels like coming up? It's tickli

med up it, followed by everyone who had accompanied him in the

aster. "George, but yer aer the finest set of pards I ever come

directions, which they did at once, diving below, an

e," Hal heard someone exclaim in the calmest tones. "Say,

ide him. At the words a number of dark figures sprang forward from a group

who had spoken first exclaimed. "Fill 'em up, and follow down

filled a couple of others, which stood at his feet, while four more were taken to a sea-cock c

icer asked, stepping up to him a

rom a ship alongsi

Briti

es

e." The lieutenant shook

contents of their buckets upon the explosives. Then they raced to the deck again for a fresh supply of

d men into the boat, he descended himself, and at the quartermaster's order they returned to their own ship. A few minutes later, Captai

ge share in the work of rescue, he retired to the upper deck, with Mr. Brindle, Gerald, and Dora, and flung himself into a chair. But though utterly fatigued, he was too horrified by the ghastly tragedy he had witnessed, and too shaken by all that had happ

iking himself on the chest. "The horror of it

ring alleviation of suffering to a long-stricken people, the poor lads of my adopted country are cruelly blown to pieces, sent into eternity at the very door of those who have invited them. They came with nothing but friendship in their hearts, expe

n astonishment. "Do you really think that the explo

en otherwise? It is sad, far too sad for words, and I shall be mistaken if t

such a pass that the destruction of the Maine w

right in saying that the wrath of the American people will be so great when the news is known, that ser

could not possibly s

chimed

too troubled and too disturb

ep; we have done our utmost for those who suffered during or after the explosion, and now we have nothing to do but to lounge here,

king, nor does it turn upon one single point. Cuba is the cause of it all, and as we are here, perhaps no more fitting sp