Young Glory and the Spanish Cruiser Part 34

At this moment Young Glory joined him.

"Confess," said Manuel, in triumphant tones, "that it was a great plan of mine!"

Young Glory was silent.

"What! Too jealous to speak! Be honest and admit that I'm a genius!"

"A scoundrel!" cried Young Glory, hotly. "A villainous traitor!"

"Ah! What's this?"

"You're getting your deserts, you wretch!" shouted Young Glory, seizing him instantly, and grappling with him.

"Help! Help!" cried the Spaniard.

Lieutenant Tyler heard the noise, and he had a suspicion what it meant.

He rushed to the front through the men.

"Forward, lads," he shouted, waving his sword in the air, "or Young Glory will be killed, and the s.h.i.+p will be blown up!"

"Back! Back!" cried some of the Spanish officers, as the men were advancing. "You are sealing your own doom!"

Bang! Bang!

Shots were interchanged now, and undeterred by what they had heard the sailors pressed forward.

Meanwhile, Young Glory and Manuel were engaged in a deadly struggle.

Each man had been trying, without success, to draw a pistol from his belt, and as they could not do so they reeled from one side to another, locked in each other's arms.

"You cannot avert your doom!" hissed Young Glory. "Listen! the sailors are rus.h.i.+ng to the rescue."

"I can take you with me."

Quick as lightning Manuel thrust forth his hand towards the burning fuse which Young Glory had not previously noticed.

"Ha, ha!" laughed Manuel, fiendishly, as his fingers grasped it. "We all go together."

There was a great heap of powder lying in the far corner of the magazine, a striking testimony to the carelessness of the Spanish officers.

Without a moment's hesitation Manuel hurled the still lighted fuse towards this powder.

A cold chill ran through Young Glory at this murderous act.

By a supreme effort he tore himself loose, and with one blow of his fist he struck Manuel to the ground.

Then past him he sprang towards the fuse, and with a great leap he landed with both feet on the fuse.

"Saved!" he cried, perceiving that the fuse had fallen a few inches from the powder.

"Not yet!" shouted Manuel.

The Spaniard was on his feet again, and was coming at Young Glory. He had a dagger in his hand, and on his face was the look of a wild animal.

Young Glory was unarmed now, and it seemed as if he was a doomed man.

"There is time to kill him, or to fire the s.h.i.+p yet!" muttered Manuel as he dashed forward.

The fuse was extinct, so there was no danger from that. Young Glory stood ready to spring aside when Manuel made his attack, for it was his only chance.

"This time you shall die!" hissed Manuel, glaring at his enemy.

Young Glory saw the weapon flash in the air, and as it descended he jumped out of the way. It was only safety for a moment though, for Manuel, agile as a cat, turned on him and with the speed of lightning thrust again.

There was a rush of feet.

"Young Glory! Young Glory!"

"Here!"

Bang!

Dan Daly, pistol in hand, had reached the magazine just in time to save Young Glory. He saw the Spaniard in the act of stabbing the brave young sailor, and instantly he raised his six-shooter and fired.

Manuel was struck by the bullet between the shoulders. He staggered wildly, threw up his hands, dropping his stilletto as he did so, and then sank on the floor of the magazine.

When they went to him they found he was dead.

CHAPTER XV.

THE CRUISER IN DANGER--A PRICE ON YOUNG GLORY'S HEAD.

The s.h.i.+p was saved.

Thanks to Young Glory, the plot of the Spanish officers was defeated.

It may be imagined how heartily Lieutenant Tyler thanked the young hero, and also how grateful Young Glory was to Dan Daly for the shot that disposed of Manuel.

Henceforth, the Spanish officers were treated the same as the men. They had shown that they were not to be trusted, and for security's sake they were held as prisoners.

"So you didn't know me, Dan?"

"Faith, no, why it's a great detective ye'd be afther making."

"It was easy work, Dan. Well, we've had a hot time of it lately. I suppose we'll run now to Key West without a hitch."