Steel Belt; or, The Three Masted Goleta. A Tale of Boston Bay

by J. H. Ingraham

  `Then regard my brother as my other-self and save him!' she cried with eloquent fervor.

  `Anita,' he said taking her hand, your wish is my law. I will seek to rescue Bazilio from imprisonment. If I succeed I shall make him happy! If I succeed I shall render you happy! If I succeed I shall be happier than both of you if the possession of this fair hand is the reward of my devotion to you. To win you, dear Anita, I would not count my life of any weight in comparison with the prize before me. I go to obey you.'

  `Return and bring my brother, and from his arms I will turn and throw myself into yours, never to leave them.'

  `If I return it will be with Don Bazilio. If I do not return it will be because I have loved you too well to value life in comparison with your wishes and happiness.'

  `Your words alarm me! I never thought of danger to you, dear Walter, so lost were my thoughts in my brother's! You must not perish. I must not lose you both! I must not loose either of you. To me you have become as dear—nay, dearer, if possible, than my brother! yet he must not perish!'

  `I will save him, Anita. I will proceed to Havana, and there are every effort to obtain his release or aid his escape. Perhaps, as an American, I can gain access to his cell. I will try to do so, and furnish him with instruments to free himself from his irons. As I think upon it, hope inspires me! I will at once leave!'

  `I will accompany you. I cannot remain here in suspense to learn the issue. I will go too, Walter. The vessel in which Isidoro came is now ready to sail. The wind, though light, is fair. Let us set sail at once. The vessel shall be placed under your command. We can run in safety into Havana, as the capturre of the polacca is not known there, Isidoro still holding the crew prisoners on board. We will go on shore in disguise. I will work with you as a sister by a brother's side, till he be rescued. I have money. I am bold and resolute. I can aid you with my advice and encourage you in disappointment!'

  `Noble woman! how can I render myself worthy of you!'

  `By regarding Basilio your brother as well as mine, and restoring him to my embrace!'

  `The attempt, full of difficulty and danger, as it appears, shall be attempted. Let us at once embark, Anita! Your presence will bless my efforts!'

  `Isidoro says that my brother is to be brought from the castle to the city for trial.— It is then I hope to rescue him. They transport their prisoners in barges under a guard of soldiers. When we reach Havana, Isidoro will learn when my brother will be conveyed across the water, and at that time the attempt to rescue him must be made! If it fail, then I shall despair!'

  `It will be successful,' answered the young sailor, with animation. `I give myself to this enterprise, heart and soul. I shall think only of you, dearest Anita, and of Don Basilio till he is free, and smiles again reanimate your face. Till I achieve this happy result I shall forget that I have ship or country, to whom I owe duty and allegiance!'

  It was late in the afternoon of the fourth day after this interview just described, when the polacca-schooner appeared two or three leagues from Havana, standing for the harbor. The stately battlements of the Moro, the West Indian Gibralter, towered dark and menacing above the port with its thousand marts, and the city with its domes and towers. The sight of this fortress brought tears into Anita's eyes. Numerous craft were coming in and going out of port; several vessels of war were at anchor or under sail; and as the polacca proceeded just inside the Moro, Nevil recognized the well known warlike outline of his own vessel—the Razee of 60 guns,— which he had left five weeks before to cruize in the Porpoise; and as he advanced, to his surprise and joy, he saw the schooner from which he had been swept, and which he supposed lost in the tornado, snugly at anchor under the lee of the frigate.

  He drew Basilio's scarlet cap, that with the rest of the young conspirator's wardrobe, he wore, lower over his brow, and sending all his men below but enough to work the schooner, (for he had taken command of her, making Isidoro his lieutenant,) he boldly ran into the harbor just as the sunset gun had fired from the castle and the ships of war; at which signal the flags waving above the fortress and the quarter deck descended like huge birds of gay plumage stooping to the ground.

  The shades of twilight were gathering over the harbor and town as the schooner came silently to anchor directly under the stern of the three-masted goleta, which Isidoro, who was at the helm, had with joy discovered in port, and near which he now purposely steered his little vessel; perhaps with some daring purpose in his mind! Anita had also recognized the goleta of Don Basilio, amid the thickly surrounding craft, and with an exclamation of pleasure pointed it out to Nevil. He gazed upon it with an expression of singular interest; and Donna Anita thought she could read the thoughts which were passing through his mind!

  `Oh that Basilio was free!' she cried with animation. `Once more would he tread his own vessel's deck, rescue her, and spread her sails upon the open sea, in spite of castle and guard-ship!'

  `I was just thinking if he was at liberty, how soon he would again be her master. It would not be impossible for a bold man with thirty such men as he commands, to cut her out! It shall be done! Basilio shall be free! I will go on shore to-night, and by some means find out what the Government intend to do, where he is imprisoned, and obtain all the information that will be of service in our purpose to rescue him. I know some Spaniards connected with the Government, and as I fortunately speak the language with finency, and am an American, I can do perhaps better than Isidoro, in whose faithful charge I will leave you. Early in the morning I will come on board. I shall preserve my present disguise of face and costume, lest I fall in wiht any officers of the Razee; as I am not yet ready to rejoin her till Basilio is at liberty. To him only, for your sake, dear Anita, do I give my thoughts!'

  The following morning Nevil returned to the polacca, which was too small and ordinary a craft, of which great numbers almost precisely like it lay in port, to attract any special notice. He said that with a good deal of difficulty, he had ascertained that Don Basilio was still confined in the Moro; that his trial was to take place that day, when he would be conveyed in an armed barge to the quay, and thence escorted before the tribunal.

  `He will be guarded by twenty soldiers in the boat, and through the streets. It will be impossible to effect his liberation by attacking such a body. But do not despair, Senora! I have meditated a plan. It is as follows. The escort will leave the stairs at the Moro precisely at elven o'clock to-day. At this hour there is always a seaward breeze blowing at this time of the moon. You recollect we had it off land yesterday, and run seven and eight knots under it. It is now calm, as it is only six o'clock, but it will rise by eight. You may listen, Isidore, for I would have your advice as to the feasibility of my plan. It is a bold one, but I doubt not will be successful; for you command brave and faithful men; and tke sight of Don Basilio will animate you all to the utmost! Hear my plan! As the wind freshens, which will be about ten o'clock, we will lift our anchor, and, raising our foresail, run to windward of the three-masted goleta, which I learn has only a guard of six soldiers on board, to keep her until the Governor hauls her into the dock, to refit and arm her. When we get to windward, we must drop anchor in a position that will enable us at any moment to slip the cable and drift aboard of her as if by accident. Once alongside, we can take possession of her with the force of thirty eight men you command. But we must wait our time to slip the cable, timing it so that we may be able, after getting her into our possession, to make sail and fall in with the guard-boat, which at eleven will be conveying Don Basilio across the Bay. It is my purpose to steer for the guard-boat so as to strike her amid-ships and sink her. Three of you be ready with ropes to aid Don Basilio, who will not be ironed, and to whom Isidoro you must shew yourself upon the bows before we come in contact that he may know we are friends, and that we expect him to take advantage of the confusion to get on board! We must then get out of the harbour the best way we can; but if the goleta sails as she looks there will be but few shots strike her. But we must run the
risk. I only fear in this event for your safety, Anita!'

  `Think not of me, if Basilio be saved!' she said with strong emotion.

  Nevil's plan was further discovered and approved of. At nine o'clock the wind was blowing from the south and west directly out of the harbor. At two o'clock the polacca raised her anchor and hoisting her fore sail changed her ground and came again to anchor, to windward of the goleta. With great caution Nevil now began to reconnoitre the latter; and was satisfied that his information respecting the number of men on board had been correct. He could discover only some five or six Spanish soldiers lounging about upon her decks smoking and one stationed at the gangway as a sentry. He was satisfied that he could carry her without difficulty. He was not insensible to the danger that would attend its successful issue in the midst of a fortified harbour. But love for Donna Anita rendered him blind to consequences. Brave, daring, and chivalrous, he only regarded in his future her hand, as the reward of all he should risk on Basilio's freedom and his own happiness were bound together inseparably by her own fiat.

  Towards eleven o'clock he began to watch the stairs at the base of the Moro castle for any signs of the escort and its prisoner. The boat in which they were to cross he knew would pass not very far to leeward of the position held by the Goleta. At length, with a glass he saw the boat full of soldiers leave the castle landing. It was the signal for Isidoro to slip the cable. This was done silently and the polacca began to drift rapidly toward the three masted schooner. The soldiers on board shouted to warn them that they would run aboard of the Goleta, while Nevil called loudly for them to catch a rope he held coiled in his hand, saying that they had got adrift and wanted to fetch up by the goleta. The soldiers seized their muskets and ordered them to keep off, saying they were commanded to fire on any strange craft that came near! The vessels came in contact, the bowsprit of the polacca with the stern davits of the goleta. Before Nevil and his men could secure them together, the soldiers who yet forebore to fire believing the approach accidental, cut away the stays and fall which momentarily held the polacco when she separated from her and drifted to leeward!

  `We are defeated,' cried Nevil, with intense disappointment in his looks and manner, `by not taking into our reckoning the current that set us toward astern! But for that we should have dritted broadside on and carried her! But we must do our best in the polacca. The barge is under full weigh and will soon be near us. They will not suspect us as they would have done the goleta. We must escape afterwards in this vessel, as we can!'

  `Once on board the goleta we could have flown out of the harbor,' said Isidoro.

  `Set the fore-sail, main-sail and jib!' cried Nevil, `And order all the men on deck with pistols and cutlasses! There we are under swift way. Every thing draws, and she runs six knots through the water!'

  `This is force enough to run the barge under, Senor, said Isidoro as he went forward to take his place on the bows where Don Basilio could see him. Nevil took the helm. Before him not a great ways off was anchored the Razee to which he belonged, and from which he was absenting, and concealing himself under his disguise. The track of the barge from the castle to the Quay lay almost within her huge shadow. But Nevil turned away his eyes from his ship and thought only of love and Don Basilio! By his side stood the inspirer of his bold attempt, his lovely temptress from his duty. He had eyes but for her, and for the approaching barge!

  The boat pulled by twelve oars came nearer and nearer! The polacca was moving swiftly before the wind so as to intercept her. Nevil made his calculations closely and steered the vessel with coolness and precision. As the barge advanced Donna Anita uttered an exclamation of mingled joy and fear; for she discovered her brother seated in the stern sheets, with an officer on each side of him. He was not chained. He was pale but his countenance was firm and composed. He looked like a brave man resigned to his destiny!

  The space betwen the polacca's bows and the barge lessened rapidly. She was not ten fathoms off pulling directly across her course! Nevil managed his helm so that he might meet her full upon the beam. The proximity of the polacca now alarmed those on board the boat, and the officer in command rising up and waving his sword called out to Nevil to put his helm hard up or he would be into them!'

  Nevil made no reply, save by giving an order to the men not to let Basilio perish! Isidoro caught his eye and waved his hand. The conspirator sprung to his feet with an exclamation of surprise and pleasure! The soldiers stood up to present their muskets, not to fire but to ward of the bows. The oarsmen did the same, while cries, shouts, oaths and commands filled the barge with confusion. The next moment the bows of the polacca struck the huge boat full amidships crashing and surging over her, while the air was filled with shreiks and cries and the roar of muskets discharged by the soldiers as they were hurled into the foaming vortex. Don Basilio on seeing Isidoro well knew that this was a plan to rescue him; and on the instant the bows struck he leaped over the stern of the barge to escape being involved in the watery death to which the soldiers in their heavy uniforms were destined. The boat divided in two and the schooner scarcely checked by the shock went surging over the ruin she had made, while the thirty men were struggling in the flood. The pieces of the boat in an instant after it was struck went down leaving every man to take care of himself. Basilio after striking out from the mass, swam towards the polacca's quarter, where ropes were thrown and where he beheld Dona Anita calling upon his name. The officer in charge of him who was in the water near him, hearing them and seeing him swimming, and fearful of the consequences if he escaped, threw himself upon him with a strong grasp. Don Basilio caught him by the throat and both sank together! The polacca was in the meanwhile moving apidly on leaving him; and Anita wringing her hands over the stern gazed on the spot far astern where he had disappeared. But he rose to the surface without the officer!

  `Heed me not! I can swim ashore!' he cried. I shall be safe! Escape out of the harbor with the schooner, Isidoro!'

  At least a dozen of his men sprung into the water when they saw the Spanish officer grasp him, some with ropes, which they were compelled to let go, and others with knives They reached him swimming and surrounded him; but the polacca was full fifty fathoms to leeward.

  `My brave men,' said Basilio, `you have taken to the water to save me and I thank you! We cannot reach the schooner! Here comes a boat to pick us up! Let us get in and taking possession of it pull to the shore on the side of the Reglars. We can then escape to the country or conceal ourselves 'till we can mature a plan to recapture the golets. I am now as free as the soldiers who are struggling there and shouting for help!'

  The boat came up containing three fishermen. Basilio and his men filled it and pulled swiftly towards the land on the country side half a league distant!

  The officers and soldiers were picked up afterwards by boats from American vessels; but as they could not speak English they were not able to explain that their prisoner was escaping and that they wanted them to go in pursuit. Thus Bazilio and his men, who were nine in number, had the start and were rapidly making for the shore.

  The polacca in the meanwhile kept on her way. Nevil had at first shortened sail but seeing Basilio and his men get into the boat and take possession of it, he resolved to try and escape with the polacca out of the harbor; for he well knew he had by his act identified himself with the prisoner and his party. The whole occurrence had been witnessed from the deck of the razee; and to every one who beheld the polacca's progress in coming towards the barge, it was apparent that it was her intention to run her under. The event justified their expectations; and when they saw her decks instantly crowded with men and heard the cries to the prisoner and those of the Spanish officers of "El presenero! El presenero!' they guessed that the guard boat contained a pirate and that the polacca was his vessel making a bold push to rescue him from the soldiers. When the captain of the razee saw the soldiers struggling in the water, he ordered his boats along side from the boom, and throwing an officer and men into them g
ave orders to one pick up the soldiers and to the other to board the polacca and take possession of her.

  Nevil saw the boat approaching to board him, and not fully justifying himself as an American officer in the part he had played in this daring affair, he resolved not to to be known in it. He therefore gave orders to repel the boat while he pressed every inch of canvass to escape. He had passed the razee andwas full two cable's length to leewardwhen the boat came up. He was hailed and ordered to heave-to, but made no reply. The boat came along side and an officer and two men sprung upon the polacca's deck. The two seamen were instantly driven back, but the officer after defending himself with great bravery, was run through the body by Isidoro and fell dead upon the deck.

  Nevil was appalled! He had not anticipated such a fearful catastrophe. He uttered a cry of anguish and leaving the helm caught Anita's hand and pointing to the body of the officer said,

  `For thee, Anita, I have slain my fellow-officer! Yonder majestic ship is mine! For your love I have plunged myself into infamy and despair! But I reproach you not! For you I would die at any moment! But honor— the loss of honor! How can I explain this dreadful occurrence to my commander? how acquit myself to my country.'

  `Walter!—de Nevil!' cried Anita, `henceforth let the land of my birth be your home? Forget other lands and let us be happy together! Let us escape to the Tower, where doubtless we shall be soon met by Basilia, who will now escape to the country! Do not despond! If you love me smile again and charge me not with your friend's death!'

  `I do not, Anita! But I regret it—I must regret it! See the boat is reinforced and we are again to be attacked! I will surrender! I will not again resist my own countrymen!'

  As he spoke, he was about to bring the polacca to the wind, when Isidoro sprung forward:

  `With your own person you may do as you please, senor, but not with us! We must not be taken. If you would leave us take the boat and return to your countrymen! It is my duty to escape from the harbor if possible. I take the command!'