The cove was very sheltered, and its waters lay in almost a stark calm, reflecting as in a gigantic mirror the gorgeous stars which strewed the firmament. Now and again a fish rose to the surface amid a burst of phosphorescent light which disturbed its tranquillity. The beach was somewhat steep and the sand firm. A better landing-place for boats could not have been found in the island of Cuba, I am certain.
As far as I could tell in the dim light—the torches had now been extinguished—the boats were of a good size, but certainly not capable of embarking us all.
The conference the chief had been holding with his mysterious friend had now terminated, and the latter issued some order to the boats’ crews, the effect of which was that the two craft were run down the steep beach with great speed into the water. Three or four men jumped into each and seized their oars. Then the chief gave his satellites the word of command, and before I knew where I was I found myself forcibly seized by four men, carried down to the water’s edge, and then unceremoniously bundled into the stern-sheets of one of the boats. Anxiously I peered out to see what would become of my fellow-prisoners, and was relieved to see that they had both been placed in the other boat.
It made me despondent indeed to find that my fears were realized, and that we were to be forcibly removed from Cuba; but had I—through some nefarious scheme of the chief—been separated from my shipmates altogether, the blow would naturally have been far more severe.
The chief got into the boat in which I had been placed, and my bête noire came and threw himself down close to me, his fangs being within an inch or so of my face. Feeling his hot breath quite distinctly, I tried to shift my position, but I found that I was effectually wedged in by my jailers. The remaining dog got into the other boat.
To my surprise, a number of the men who had accompanied us from the cavern remained on shore, evidently having received orders of some kind from their chieftain. I thought it possible that the boats might be going to return for them after we had been safely disposed of on board the vessel.
In an instant, and in dead silence, the two craft were pushed off into deep water, and their noses were turned in the direction of the open sea. The oars were muffled, and gave out little or no sound; but the blades appeared to be plunging in and out of liquid fire, so full of phosphorescent light were the star-begemmed waters of the little cove.
I had little doubt that we were being taken on board the vessel I had seen in the larger bay, and this conjecture proved quite correct. In spite of the tide being against us, we spun along at a very rapid pace; for the men pulled with tremendous energy, although with quick, jerky strokes. In a minute or two we had passed through the narrow, rock-guarded entrance of the little cove, and were in the rougher water outside.
From my position in the boat I could only partially see the vessel we were steering for, and the light was very deceptive; but I took her to be a small brig of foreign build and rig.
Our boat outstripped the other, and we got alongside first.