Under the Star-Spangled Banner

, and public offices were closed, while flags hung half-mast from the poles on all big buildings, and from the tops of the shipping in the harbor.

calamity. Away in the country districts, farmers and cowboys learned the tidings some hours later. It was flashed east and west across the wires. The dire event was discussed in every drawing room, in hotels, restaurants, and cars. Men whispered the news to comrades as they descended in the cages to the deep levels of coal-mines, while others shouted it from

xamined by divers. The report, which could not possibly be issued for many a day to come, was awaited with feverish impatience,

men, but there was no treachery, they vowed; and those who saw them on that day were confident that if the explosio

tions must be left while we fol

"We will disembark in an hour's time, and make a few purchases in the town. Then we wi

man on the previous night. By noon they were comfortably in the train, the intervening hours having been

ecially contrived for the purpose. "As soon as we reach Eldorado, I will get one of the negro women to make simila

d. Mounting mules, they left their baggage in charge of two of the plantation hands, and before long reached the hacienda, of whi

l have our hands full with it in a matter of two weeks. Then the tobacco crop is unusually promising, and we shall have to harvest it immediately after the cane. Now, as to workmen. The majority of my hands are negroes, whom I imported from the estate in Florida. They are reliable, honest men, who look to me as to a father. I treat them well, and they reward me by being obedient and working hard. They are re-enforced by

man of over fifty. He looked Hal critically

ay," he said simply. "What you sa

tching out his hand, an offer which the negr

e a round," exclaimed Mr. Brindle. "How ha

o hard! Dey say de weather fine, so do all we can. Come winter and de

er comes there is little to be done. One thing, though, tell all the men to keep their eyes open. You'll reme

Brindle then took his overseer on a tour of the plantations, returning by way of the mac

the implement he was using, and, unslinging a rifle carr

tructed in the use of their weapons, and I fancy would fight staunchly if it came to a struggle. Fortunately, however, we have been left severely alone, though we must never relax our vigilance, particularly now t

ed him, and did what he told them willingly. Over the mulattoes, too, he seemed to have perfect command, and seldom had cause to find fault with them. Once, however, he discovered a burly, impudent fellow ill-treating a

squabble between Americ

ging on to the track in front of them. The man darted from the trees which grew thickly on either side, and waved his arms wildly. It

a Hal?" a voice called so

hat is the matter?"

ake Johnson, and come along to tell yo

al. "Why, you must be dreaming, for we left the

y men ride across to house. He see Black Pete run to call de boys, and hear de rifle go crack, crack, crack! Pete, him lie

me moment from his saddle. "What did these ruffians do next? Quick! Th

to take all. Dey not find de young boss, and dey wait to shoot him when him come along. Me stop dat. Me go along right now and find de massa Hal, and tell him. Den, p'raps, all come right.' Me ru

ds as if beseeching, and looke

on't suppose these ruffians, whoever they are, would care much who heard, for we are right away from civilized parts, and have no neighbors, while they are in force, and have driven the hands away. No doubt they f

an we do?" asked

Let me think a moment. Yes; there are thirty armed negroes. Some of them have probably never seen the gang who fired at their friends, for they will have been on the other side of the plantation, at work in the fields. But you may be sure that they will now be on the qui vive; for though we failed to hear the shots, the hands are too old, and have had too good a training to make any mistake. Their he

w a little ting. Him make sounds dat all de boys know. Dey hear and follow wid de same,

e forest, leaving Hal and Gerald listening to the c

ge our plans accordingly. If they know the plantation, and all about it, they will certainly be on the look-out for us on our return. I fancy if we went forward without taking the precaution to remain silent and in hiding, we should be greeted with a bullet, for they evidently care li

ds and the clearings meant for the cultivation of cane, if constant and arduous labor with the machete did not keep it down and within strict bounds. But Hal knew the path, for he was now well acquainted with the ins and outs of the whole plantation. Pressing forward, and closely followed

howed no trace of excitement. "I'll do a little prospecting. Remember that y

of the mules. "I'll stay here as quiet as a mouse, and will keep the animals beside me. They will be

rd amongst the trees till he was close enough to hear all that was said. Thirty mules were tethered in the shed, and some men were feeding them. All were natives of the island save two, who seemed to be in charge. They chatted volubly with one another, and seemed to be highly pleased. But, though Hal strained his ears, he could make nothing of the conversati

ese fellows down, just like so many birds. But would that do any good to our friends-to-er-Dora? I wonder who they are? The fact that there are Spaniards with the gang makes it look as though they were not insurgents. And yet there are natives too. Perhaps they are servants; and I shall

hacienda, and sauntered across the clearing. They stopped in front of the first of the Spanish sentries, and questioned him closely,

sed, was Pedro, smoking the inevitable cigarette. Even then, as he conversed with the sentry, he was in the act of rolling another, his nimble fingers twisting the paper w

hose two ruffians, and, I suppose plunder and revenge h

and high riding-boots, conversed volubly with Pedro, and was undoubtedly in the best of s

we are doing here. Of course, they know that it is one of our usual expeditions; but do they suspect anything more? Up to this they have been only lukewarm adherents of their brethren in the island, and have not objected to a little burning here and there,

posted. They are natives, and are armed with the machete. The boy will be taken to the hacienda, and the other will stay. Yes, Se?or Capitan, your orders will be followed

d the other. "How do you know that they have not already t

suffer death. Madmen must be treated as madmen when they become dangerous to one's safety. But we shall soon know. We will give them a little time longer, and then, if the boy is not brought to the hacienda, I myself will go down this small pathway till it cuts into the larger one. There I will stay, and hide amongst the bushes. If in an hour I do not come to t

e all the money we can lay our hands on, and then return leisurely, conscious that we have done a piece of excellent work. If there should be trouble, we have hosts of friends to prove that we were in Santiago when the attack was made upon the hacienda. You may

n flames, se?or?" the h

in our toils. But, remember, the crops are just gathered and stored, and very shortly money will be received in exchange. We will leave the hacienda for another time, Pedro. Do you follow me? We will take t

fine!" Pedro answered, with a snigger. "Of cou

hacienda, leaving Hal boili

d to me, and I will do my utmost for them in return. At any rate, I will put a spoke in José d'Arousta's wheel this time. N

merging at length upon the path again, he crawle

tely no evidence of his approach. "Bother you, old man, you made my heart jump into my mouth. 'Pon my word, you ar

Take a seat there on t

ompanion, and rapidly told him all th

l with; that you can plainly perceive, for they do not hesitate to arrange for my murder. On our side we can count on twenty-seven ne

he hacienda and open fir

a little plan to propose which I think will settle matters satisfactorily. We are in the minority, and our men are on foot. If we push this gang of ruffians they will fight hard, and we shall not gain our end, which is the rescue of your father and Dora, and of the money in the hacienda. I suggest that we make i

bout you, Hal? What will you b

s bent upon searching for me. We will capture the gentleman, and make so free as to undress him. The

aghast at the boldness of the idea. "You woul

ng dusk already, and, dressed exactly like Pedro, I walk into the hacienda. The other ruffian will almost certainly be alone, and I s

at him, Gerald was surprised to find that his usually s

p Hal's and shake it. "A match for the fellow! Of course you will be! But

insulting and ill-treating everyone. Bully is written on his face as well as thief. Do you care to

s, no!" Gera

my revolver pointed at him he will be more cautious. Now, look here. You cut over to the crushing-shed and bring the negroes across. Take the mules with you

rried away, and returned some minutes

ed. If they hear anyone approaching, they are to slip aside and allow him to pass, signaling down here to let us know. Let me think. Yes; there is a marsh down in the hollow, so it shall be

out the order, and disa

ach, for the men I speak of are in hiding. When they discover the whereabouts of the sentries they must load and be ready for emergencies, and when the

has attacked the hacienda will come along this path. You will lie in wait for him, and capture him, for

n't that I don't like the job of tackling this beggar-I owe him one, and shall be glad to repay it; but the negroes will do it without a so

the forest, heard first the hoarse croaking of a frog,