“Well, they wouldn’t leave more than a corporal’s guard at any rate,” declared Silas confidently.
At last the light that marked the entrance of the harbor where the barracks were located came in sight. Mr. Jameson went below to help pilot the craft in. They came to anchor and summoned the attention of the sentry by three harsh toots of the whistle. A sharp challenge followed, which the superintendent answered in Spanish.
Jameson’s boat had been towed along, and it now came in handy to take Mr. Chadwick and the superintendent ashore. In less than fifteen minutes it was back, loaded down dangerously close to the bulwarks with Cuban soldiers under a very young and voluble officer. They were odd-looking chaps to the boys’ eyes, accustomed to associate the name soldier with smart uniforms and well-drilled figures. The Cubans were slouchy and badly drilled and disciplined, talking back to their officers freely. But they looked wiry and were no doubt well adapted for the type of fighting they were called on to do.
The boat made three trips ashore and back, and at the end of her last trip there was packed on board the submarine a complement of twenty men under three officers.
These were all that could be spared, for the garrison itself was in fear of an attack by the rebels, who had become heated by several recent victories. No time was lost in making a start back. The Cubans paled a little at the idea of making a trip in a submarine, but their officers reassured them that all was well.
Jameson bent over Mr. Dancer as they neared the spot where the entrance to the cave was located. At last they reached it. Word was given to close the sliding hatch and make everything fast.
Some of the Cubans who understood a little English turned green and shook visibly from fright as they heard these orders given. They knew that they were about to dive under the sea for some purpose, but for what they luckily didn’t guess, or they might have been even more frightened. Their officers reassured them with sharp words of command.
“Gee! what a seasick-looking lot of monkeys,” commented Silas Hardtack with disgust as he elbowed his way forward among their packed ranks.
“Every man to his trade, Silas,” admonished Mr. Chadwick, who had overheard.
“Ready for a dive!”