Elsie's Young Folks in Peace and War

by Martha Finley

  CHAPTER XI.

  That morning that Cervera attempted his flight from Santiago, GeneralShafter sent into the Spanish lines by a flag of truce a demand for thesurrender of the city. "I have the honor to inform you," he said, "thatunless you surrender I shall be compelled to shell Santiago de Cuba.Please instruct the citizens of all foreign countries, and all womenand children, that they should leave the city before 10 A.M. to-morrow."

  That flag of truce had been gone only two or three hours when therecame a sudden rumor that the Spanish fleet had gone to destruction,depriving Santiago of her chief defence. Our soldiers were so sure ofthe prowess of our sailors that they hailed the rumor as fact,--as newsof a victory,--and when later in the evening the actual intelligence ofSchley's glorious triumph reached them they went wild with joy; dancedon the crest of the defences, in full view of the Spaniards, venturingto do so because--as there was a truce--no jealous sharpshooter woulddare fire on them. And the band played patriotic and popular airs,particularly "There'll be a Hot Time in the Old Town To-night."Bonfires were made and salutes fired.

  Drs. Harold and Herbert Travilla, wearied with their labors for thesick and wounded, rejoiced as heartily as any one else over the goodnews, yet at the same time felt pity for the suffering of those ofthe foe who had perished so miserably by shot, shell, and fire. Theywould have been glad to aid the wounded prisoners, but their handswere already full, in giving needed attention to our own men so sorelyinjured by Spanish shot and shell. So incessant and arduous had beentheir labors in that line, and so fierce and exhausting was the heat,that they were themselves well-nigh worn out. There had been hope thatthe city would surrender, but on the night of the 3d--the day of thenaval battle--four thousand fresh Spanish troops entered it, and thehoped-for surrender was not made.

  The Americans in the trenches were hot, hungry, and water-soaked, andsome of them grew very impatient. Said one of the Rough Riders: "Nowthat we've got those Dagoes corralled, why don't we brand them?"

  On the 6th something happened that broke the monotony and gave greatjoy to the soldiers in the trenches. A cavalcade of men was seen comingfrom the beleaguered city, the first of whom was quickly recognizedas Lieutenant Hobson, who with his seven comrades had gone out onenight, weeks before, on a vessel, the _Merrimac_, to sink her acrossthe narrow entrance to the channel leading into Santiago harbor, and sobottle up the Spanish fleet.

  They failed, and were taken prisoners by the Spaniards, and had beenspending weeks shut up in Morro castle, but now were exchanged forseven prisoners taken at San Juan. At sight of them the Americansoldiers seemed to go mad with joy. They yelled, danced, laughed, andeven wept for joy. Then the band on the foremost line struck up "TheStar Spangled Banner," and all stood silent at a salute. But the momentthe music ceased it seemed as if Bedlam had broken loose. The regularscrowded about the heroes, cheering them, shaking them by the hand,while they from their ambulance yelled compliments and congratulationsto the tattered and dirty soldiers.

  And when those returned sailors reached the fleet after dark, theyfound the ships' companies turned out as if to greet an admiral atleast, coming to visit them, and as their launch was seen approachingfrom the shore the cheers of their brother tars made the hills of Cubaring almost as had the thundering fire of Morro and Estrella whenlevelled against them nearly six weeks before.

  The surrender of Santiago took place on the 18th of July. By that timethere was a great deal of sickness among our troops, and our friendsHarold and Herbert Travilla were kept very busy attending to the sickand wounded. So overworked were they, and so injuriously affected bythe malarious climate, that both became ill; Herbert so much so thathe could scarcely keep about, and his brother began to question whetherit were not his duty to take or send him home, or farther north, tojoin their mother and a number of the relatives and connections whowere spending the summer on the Hudson, or at some Northern seasideresort, which he was at liberty to do, as they were serving asvolunteer surgeons, and without pay.

  On the morning after the surrender Herbert found himself entirelyunfit for duty, and on his account Harold felt much depressed as hewent through the hospital examining and prescribing for his patients.Presently he heard a quick, manly step, then a familiar voice saying incheery tones:

  "Good-morning, Harold! How are you?"

  The young doctor turned quickly with the joyous exclamation:

  "Why, Brother Levis! can it be possible that this is you?" holding outhis hand in cordial greeting as he spoke.

  "Not only possible, but an undeniable fact," returned Captain Raymond,with his pleasant smile, and giving the offered hand a warm, brotherlypressure.

  "And you came in your yacht? Have some of the family come with you--mymother----"

  "Oh, no!" returned the captain quickly; "at present it is much toowarm for her--or any of our lady friends--in this locality. She and myfamily are at Crag Cottage, and by her request I have come to take youand Herbert aboard the _Dolphin_ and carry you to her. And I didn'tcome alone; your brothers Edward and Walter are with me, and yourcousin Chester also."

  "Oh, what delightful news!" exclaimed Harold, his eyes shining withjoy. "And your yacht is here?"

  "Lying down yonder in the harbor, just waiting for two additions toher list of passengers. But where is Herbert?" looking about as if insearch of him.

  "Lying in our tent; on the sick list, poor dear fellow!" sighed Harold."Can you wait five minutes for me to get through here for the present?Then I will take you to him."

  "Certainly; longer than that, if necessary. Ah, I see it was time--hightime for me to come for you boys."

  Harold smiled in a rather melancholy way at that.

  "I have grown to feel quite old since we have been here in the midstof so much suffering, and obliged to take so heavy a load of care andresponsibility--performing serious operations and the like," he saidwith a sigh. "I must find you a seat," he added, glancing about insearch of one.

  "No, no," the captain hastened to say; "I should prefer walking aroundhere and making acquaintance with some of these poor brave fellows--ifyou think it would not be unpleasant to them."

  "I think they would be pleased to have you do so," was Harold's reply.

  A few minutes later he and the captain went into the tent where Herbertlay in a burning fever. The very sight of the captain and the newsthat he had come to carry him and Harold north to cooler climate,mother, and other dear ones seemed so greatly to revive him that heinsisted upon being considered quite able to be taken immediately onboard the yacht, and his brother and brother-in-law promptly set aboutpreparations to carry out his wish.

  "You will go too, Harold?" he said inquiringly to his brother.

  "To the _Dolphin_? Yes, certainly, old fellow; you are my patient now,and I must see to it that you are well accommodated and cared for,"returned Harold in a sprightly tone.

  "And you are going with me to see to that throughout the voyage?"

  "I don't know," Harold returned in a tone of hesitation; "these poor,wounded, and sick fellows----"

  "You'll be down on your back as sick as any of them if you stay hereanother week," growled Herbert. "And with nobody to take care of youyou'll die, and that'll break mother's heart. And as you are workingwithout pay, you've a right to go as soon as you will."

  "Yes," said the captain, "and if you fall sick you'll be no service,but only in the way. Better let me attend to the necessary arrangementsfor you, and carry you off along with your brother."

  After a little hesitation Harold consented to that, saying that afterseeing Herbert on board the yacht he would return, make all necessaryarrangements, bid good-bye to his patients, then board the _Dolphin_for the homeward voyage.

  "That's right, brother mine," Herbert said, with a pleased smile; "I'dbe very unwilling to go, leaving you here alone; and what would mothersay?"

  It took but a few minutes to pick up their few belongings, and theywere soon on the deck of the yacht receiving the warm greetings oftheir brothers
and cousins, who, however, seemed greatly concerned overtheir weary and haggard looks.

  "You are worn out, lads," said Edward, "and the best and kindest thingwe can do will be to carry you up north to a cooler climate; and tomother and the others, who will, I hope, be able soon to nurse you backto health and strength."

  "So say I," said Chester.

  "And I," added Walter. "I have always found mother's nursing the bestto be had anywhere or from anybody."

  "Yes," said the captain, "and there are sisters and others to help withit at Crag Cottage, where I hope to land you a few days hence."

  In a brief time Herbert was comfortably established in one of the neatstaterooms, and left in Edward's charge, while Harold went ashoreto make his farewell visit to his hospital patients, while Chesterand Walter accompanied the captain in paying a visit to some of themen-of-war officered by old acquaintances and chums of the last-namedwhen he belonged to the navy.

  It was most interesting to them all to see both the men and the vesselsthat had taken part in that remarkable battle, and to hear accounts ofits scenes from the actors in them. In fact, so much interested werethey that Captain Raymond said he could not have Edward and Harold missit; they must visit the vessels later, leaving Chester and Walter incharge of Herbert, since he was too ill to accompany them.

  That afternoon the plan was carried out, and that night the _Dolphin_started on her return voyage to the north. The change from the roughcamps on Cuban soil to the luxurious cabin of the _Dolphin_ wasvery agreeable and refreshing to the young volunteer physicians,but they were too thoroughly worn out with their toils, anxieties,and privations for even so great and beneficial a change to work animmediate cure. They were still on the sick list when they reached CragCottage.