The plan which the young Basilio had in
view was to seize the person of the Governor
General and avenge his father's death! To
this end he had been training the lads he had
obtained from the Fisher's Rocks, and to this
purpose devoting all his own energies. Up
to the time when he had reached his twentieth
year he had not travelled into the interior,
or visited any of the distant Quintas' visible
from the tower. All his excursions were taken
upon the water along the coast. He now
resolved to visit Havana secretly, and there
ascertain what difficulties lay in the way of
accomplishing his object, and to see how he
should best surmount them. On the pretence
of going on a voyage to the Fisher's Islands,
he took leave of his mother and sister, without
communicating to them any thing of his
wishes or plans. He was now twenty years
of age, tall, noble-looking, and striking in his
air and carriage. His complexion was a glowing
brown; his eyes dark and piercing; his
teeth brilliant; his smile like sunlight; his
voice deep and musical; while his whole
countenance beamed with intelligence and
boldness. Never was a young man better fitted
for a hero in personal appearance, or better
adapted by education, courage and deep
feeling of filial retaliation, to head a conspiracy.

He embarked in his little vessel of only two
sails and thirty feet in length, and sailed out
of the bay. He coasted along the land a few
leagues and then ran into a creek near which
was a small village. Here he left his lugger,
with orders to his men to be there that day
two weeks to meet his return, and in the
meanwhile to visit their native islands; for
he did not wish them to return to the Bay
without him. He then took his way to the
village, and boldly entering the Posada, for
he was clad in the dress of a muleteer, he
purchased a horse, and started on his journey.
The distance was sixty miles to Havana. After
various adventures he reached the capital.
His emotions were deep and sorrowful on entering
the place where his father fourteen
years before had been executed.

He remained ten days in Havana, and by
means of money of which he had unlimited
command, and no little address, he was able
to obtain all the information he required. He
also saw the Governor General, by whose order
his father had been executed. He stood
in his presence thrice, unsuspected as the son
of Don Lazaro the Conspirator, himself no less
a conspirator than his father!

He formed his plan of action, and then prepared
to put it, when fully rife, into execution.
In the disguise of an African trader, he contracted
for, and ordered to be built, a vessel
of one hundred and eighty tons, of which he
furnished the model. She was to be one hundred
and fifty-five feet in length, polacca rigged,
with three masts; with a large capacity
for burden, yet with an eye primarily to
speed. Having left these instructions, he returned
across the island to his lugger after
two weeks absence. Remaining a day or two
at home he set sail for the Fisher's Rocks, and
came to at night in a little inlet where they
were in the habit of congregating with their
shallops. He was hailed with great pleasure,
for he had got to possess an influence over
them that a lord of a hundred vessels might
envy him. They were about two hundred in
number, men, women and children; and he
had succeeded in obtaining over them the
most supreme authority, receiving from them
in return the most devoted attachment.—
Among the young men were at least thirty
that from time to time had been with him in
his shallop; for he would every few months
change his crews, returning one and taking
another. Though a fierce, untractable race
of men, and regarded as lawless and little better
than buccaneers, young Basilio had made
good sailors and faithful adherents of those
who had been attached to his shallop; while
the older men were ready to do his bidding to
the death. To have succeeded in wielding
such authority without the exertion of force
or discipline of fear over a colony of wild

[figure description] Page 021.[end figure description]

fishermen, savage in appearance, who obeyed no
laws, was proof of great tact, courage of character,
and of the possession of great qualities
of the heart and head.

Basilio was received like a lord returning
to his affectionate dependants. He told them
briefly that he had come to ask their aid.—
That his father had been slain (he did not say
when or how) and that he had determined
venegeance upon his assassins.

`I want fifty of the young men!' he said,
`who will follow me and do my will!'

Every fisherman, boy and man, cast their
caps in a shower at his feet, in token of their
submission to his wishes!

`I thank you all, generous friends, I want
only those who have been my companions in
the last four years.'

`We are fifty-three in all,' answered one of
the youths who was called Isidore, and whom
Basilio had heretofore made next to himself
in command; bold, handsome, dark-eyed
young man of twenty, with a spirited expression
of features, with long, flowing locks,
that a maiden might covet. `None will be
left behind, senor!'

`Then let all come with me! Senoras, I
will leave you gold for your sons services
while away,' he said to the women. `They
will also return rich to you once my end
is accomplished! In two, or three months at
the farthest, I shall be here with a new vessel
now building for me. It will hold all my
tried friends. She will be armed, and I will
have on board arms for you all. I now leave
you in the shallop with its crew, who will be
enough to enable me to bring the vessel here
for the rest of you. Be ready here to meet
me. In the meanwhile breathe to no one you
may meet what I have said, or your own intentions.
My success will depend on secrecy!
'

At the end of ten weeks, young Don Basilio,
was once more in Havana. This time
he sailed thither by doubling Cape St Antonio,
disguisihg his shallop as a molasses droger,
and himself and his men as her crew.
He thus passed into port without notice. He
found his vessel nearly completed. In a few
days she was finished and ready for sea. She
was the admiration of every seaman in port;
and even the Governor-General visited her.
To Basilio, who represented himself as a merchant
of Cadiz and had built the vessel for the
Mediteranean and Morrocco trade, he proposed
to purchase her. But Don Basilio respectfully
declined, while his heart was on fire and
his eyes flashed at having before him his father's
executor.

`I regret, Senor General,' he said with as
sumed politeness; `that I cannot sell her to
your excellency. It is my intention after I
have made first a short voyage to New Orleans
in her, that your excellency shall also
make one!'

`You are very civil, good Senor Captain,'
said the Governor-General. `I should be
most happy to take a run up as far as Matanzas
in her on some occasion when my duties
called me there! She must sail very fast.'

`That is but sixty miles,' answered Don
Basilio. `I mean your excellency shall have
a longer sail in her.' And he bowed as he
spoke to the Governor-General with great
courtesy; and a smile on his lip covering the
vengeance in his heart.

`You do me honor, Senor Captain. You
deserve credit for having so fine a vessel
built. It is an honor to the Island.'

`Your excellency is very kind!' answered
Don Basilio, with a low bow as he escorted
the Governor-General and his suit to the
gang-way.

Don Basilio loaded his vessel with bags of
coffee, and took out his papers for New Orleans.
In a few days afterwards he set sail
with his crew of eight young men besides
Isidoro his first officer. This small crew with
her freight of coffee lulled suspicion; for it
had began to be whispered that she was a
slaver or would hoist the free flag when she
got on blue water. This arrangement originated
in her young commander's deep policy
and sound discretion.

Three days afterwards he was lying off the
Fisher's Rocks in his graceful Three-masted
schooner. Here he took on board the remainder
of his party, and then set sail for
Vermilion Tower Bay, and thence to Havana.

It would require a romance of itself to follow
Don Basilio upon his bold adventure.
Three weeks after he had left it he re-entered
Havana harbor in ballast, having landed his
coffee at Vermilion Tower, instead of New
Orleans. He anchored near the quay and
then waited upon the Governor-General.
Previous to his conversation with this dignity,
he had contemplated seizing him by force or

[figure description] Page 022.[end figure description]

stratagem in his palace and conveying him off
by a coup de main on board his goleta, which
he intended to anchor just beyond gun-shot
from Moro castle, conveying his distinguished
guest to the vessel in his boats. This
was a bold plan and one not very likely to
succeed; yet he had resolved to undertake it.
He had thought also of seizing him as he
came out of the theatre and aided by his fifty
young men hurry off to the boats. He also
thought of attacking him in his carriage as he
rode out at evening upon the Alemeda. A
hundred schemes had occurred to him, all of
which had for their end taking the Governor-General
prisoner and conveying him to Vermilion
tower! He might have assassinated
him in his palace, but he did not wish his life
there.

This uncertainty was at once changed for
decision after his conversation with his intended
victim during his visit on board the
goleta. The wish of the Governor-General
to purchase his beautiful craft, and his desire
to run to Matanzas in her when he should
take his voyage towards Cadiz, suggested to
him a plan of action which promised success.
When therefore he reached Havana, with a
visible crew of only eight men, the remainder
being concealed below, he waited on the
Governor-General and offered him his vessel
to take him to Havana. But business prevented
him from accepting it then and Don
Basilio was requested to wait a week. This
was a long time to keep his men confined below,
but he promised to do so. In the meanwhile
he was often at the Palace, attended
the theatre and other places of amusement,
and was distinguished both for his noble appearance,
apparent wealth and affable manners.
Among the ladies whom he met, was
the beautiful and only daughter of Don Patricio
Garcia. With the lovely Elena the
young Don Basilio became enamored. She
knew him only as Don Anito Basilio, he
having assumed his sister's name in the masculine
terminature before his own christian
name, omitting the well known name of the
conspirator Marial. No one suspected his relationship
with the traitor Don Lazaro. He
passed everywhere as a wealthy young merchant
from Cadiz. By the time the week expired
Don Basilio had lost his heart to the
fascinating Habanera belle. But his love did
not cause him to forget his object in being in
Havana. He saw the Governor-General often
and won his confidence. At length his excellency
said to him,

`Senor Don Basilio, I shall be ready tomorrow
to take passage in your beautiful vessel
as far as Matanzas. I am desirous of testing
her sailing qualities; as it is my intention,
if she proves what she promises to be, to
construct three or four of the same size and
on the same model to cruise against the pirates
that begin of late to trouble us. I will dine
on board with you to-morrow before sailing,
with some of my staff and a few fair senoras,
who desire to see your vessel; especially my
friend La Senora Elena Garcia!'

Don Basilio colored and was confused!
How could he refuse? The Governor's wish
was a command. Donna Elena's was no less
so. Yet, with forty men quartered between
decks, how could he safely entertain a party
on board without their presence being detected;
especially as ladies would be of the party
who are famous for finding out secrets? He
bowed in acquiescence and left his excellency's
presence, feeling he had been caught
in his own trap; for he had given strict orders
to admit no one on board while in port,
save the custom-house officer, who when he
had gone below stumbled over a small bag of
gold which Basilio, knowing his species, had
purposely dropped across the step of the companion
way. The man took it up and quite
quite forgot there was any way leading below.
'

On reaching his vessel Don Basilio consulted
with Isidoro, his faithful friend and officer,
and it was decided to let the party come
on board; and on pretence of showing the
governor how the goleta worked propose to
run a short distance out of the harbor beyond
the Moro.

The Governor-General and party appeared,
in all, including himself, six gentlemen, one
of them Don Praticia Garcia and another a
priest; and five ladies, Donna Elena Garcia
being one of the number. The Governor
readily consented to the proposal to run a little
ways out of the harbor as the day was fine
and a steady six knot wind blowing, and the
anchor was weighed and they set sail.

`Now,' said Basilio to Isidoro in a low tone,
`if any discovery is made I have the whole
party in my power. I shall not return into
the harbor but send the ladies, unless Donna

[figure description] Page 023.[end figure description]

Elena will consent to share my fortunes as my
bride, on shore in a boat, keeping the Governor-General
and his aids my prisoners.'

This bold plan he spoke of to Isidoro with
a coolness and quiet of manner that was in
striking contrast with the daring character of
the deed he contemplated.

But the good star of the Governor-General
or the evil star of Don Basilio prevailed to defeat
this well-conceived plan of abduction.
As the goleta was flying, like a tri-winged
bird beneath the overhanging battlements of
the Moro Castle with the open sea all before
her, they were startled by a loud hail through
a trumpet from the skyey height above their
heads, commanding the goleta to heave too!

Surprised at this order, Don Basilio who
was engaged in a delightful tete-a-tete with
Donna Elena at once obeyed it; and at the
same time saying in an under tone to his lieu-
tenant,

`This looks suspicious. Go below and bid
the lads be ready to come on deck at a stamp
of my foot. I fear mischief.'

A barge from the castle well filled with
soldiers with the captain of the fortress in her,
put off and came alongside. His countenance
was stern and menacing.

`Your excellency,' he said as he stepped on
deck, speaking in a loud tone, `you have been
betrayed! This vessel is a pirate! I take
possession of her in the King's name. And I
congratulate your excellency and the party
present on their escape from the basest lieutenant!
'

`'T is false!' cried Don Basilio indignantly.
`I am no pirate!'

`Seize him!' cried the Governor-General
after the captain of the Castle had said in
haughty reply, that two pirates who were at
work in chains upon the ramparts had given
him the information as they saw the captain
upon her deck.

The soldiers had began to board the goleta
from the barge when Don Basilio finding affairs
had reached a crisis, went below seized
his arms, shouted to his men, who led by isidoro
poured upon deck cutlass in hand
through the companion-way, steerage, main-hatch
and fore-castle. The astonishment or
the gentlemen who found themselves prisoners,
and the soldiers who found themselves
confronted by thrice their number of fierce,
daring looking young men, cannot be describ
ed. There was no resistance. Don Basilio
had the victory in his own hand.

`I am no pirate, I fling the word back with
scorn into your teeth, senor captain!' he cried.
`I am, your excellency, a patriot! I am a foe
to the Spanish rule and would see the fair
island of Cuba free! To this I am devoted—
I and these men! To this we are sworn. To
aid this cause this vessel was constructed!
No, senores, I am no free-booter! You are in
my power. Ladies, be not alarmed. You
shall be set on shore with these gentlemen in
the castle's boat now alongside. Gentlemen,
you will assist them in and follow yourselves.
The boat may return for the soldiers. Nay
here is one passing which will hold them.

The boat which was a lugger, pulled by six
men, and capable of holding twenty, was
hailed and ordered along side. The soldiers
were disarmed and made to enter her, which
they did without urging. The ladies, save
Donna Elena, had been assisted into the boat.
Don Basilio took her hand. She did not
withdraw it.

`Do you despise me? Do you believe me
to be a pirate?' he said impassionately.

`No,' was her firm reply, while tears filled
her fine dark eyes.

`Will you remember me?' he said, tenderly.

`In my heart, even though we meet no
more!'

`May I hope?'

`When you prove to me you are only a patriot.
'

`This I may do. You should be a patriot
by these words! Your uncle was one!'

`If you were only a patriot, Don Basilio, I
should deem you still an honorable man!'

`Then believe me honorable. I am only a
foe to tyranny!'

`Then I do not ask you to forget me.'

`We shall meet again. God bless you, noble
Senora!'

Don Patricio being impatient at this whispered
interview with his daughter, he pressed
her hand to his lips, and she entered the
boat. The Governor General who had been
detained last by Isidoro, who addressed him,
was about to follow when Don Basilio said,
with an ironical smile

`You, Senor Governor-General are to be
my guest to dinner. I cannot let you depart
fasting.'

`Do you dare detain me?' cried his

[figure description] Page 024.[end figure description]

excellency; and drawing his sword to defend himself
he sprung to the opposite gangway and
leaped into the lugger among the soldiers who
at the same moment pushed her off. Don
Basilio was about to leap after him, when Isidoro
caught him.

`It would be madness! You will fall short
of the boat into the water and be beaten to
death with their oars. We must let him escape
this time. Before we could put off an
armed boat they would be out of our reach.
See with what speed both boats are pulling
towards the Moro.

Don Basilio was convinced that to attempt
to retake his prisoner would be folly. He saw
also that now that the party were no longer
on board, his vessel would become a target for
the guns of the castle as soon as they could be
brought to bear upon it.

`We must put up with this defeat! Yet he
escapes me not! I will wait my time. We
must now take care of ourselves. This little
affair has been witnessed from the battlements
and there are soldiers now ranged upon
them. The captain of the fortress shouts for
them to fire their musketry down upon our
decks. Below every man that can be spared.
We must now run the gauntlet. There it
comes.'

His voice, while he was speaking, was
drowned by the roar of musketry and the humming
and rattling of bullets upon the deck and
among the rigging. The helmsman fell dead
at his post. Basilio sprung to his place. The
goleta was moving about five knots with a
flowing sheet, and standing out to sea. A
second discharge followed. Only a few shot
struck the vessel's deck splintering the planks
as they ploughed their angry way across their
smooth surface.

`In a few moments more and we shall be
out of reach of this hail-storm,' coolly said
the young patriot chief; but it will be only to
exchange it for cannon-shot. There goes an
eighteen pounder. The shot flies a hundred
feet above our main-truck and strikes a half a
mile ahead! We must not run out so far as
to come within range, but creep along shore.
By this means we will escape their heavy
guns. The smaller pieces they will depress,
perhaps, so as to make some of their shot tell.
But this can't be helped. We must let them
do their best and we will do ours, Isidoro.'

The goleta instead of standing boldly out as
she had done hauled her wind and hugged the
shore so as to keep under the shot of the great
guns of the castle. When this manœuvre was
understood at the fortress they ceased firing
the heavy cannon which sent the balls too
high, and depressing some sixes at an angle of
forty-five degrees began to fire. But the
goleta was each moment changing her situation
and after ten minutes firing but two shot
had struck her: one entering her main-hatchway
and wounding two men; the other passing
through the mizzen. She was now out
of range, though the firing ceased not for a
quarter of an hour afterwards. A man of war
brig was now despatched out of the harbor in
chase. But the goleta out-sailed her three to
two, and night setting in favored her escape.
The third day afterwards the three-masted
schooner was anchored in a secret bayou concealed
by trees that penetrated the land as far
as the base of the Vermilion Tower, in the
shadow of which she lay protected and defying
discovery.

Don Basilio remamed quiet a few months
until the affair should have passed over, and
then in disguise by land visited Havana with
the double purpose in view of seeking the
hand of Donna Elena and planning a way to
get the Governor-General into his hands.
Here he discovered that the pirates who had
denounced him were of the party from whom
he had once escaped in his shallop.

His love was now seemingly more successful
than his conspiracy. Of Donna Elena,
finding her as he believed—a true patriot, he
had unbosomed himself. He made her the
confidant of his name, fortune and plans;
plans which he had not even yet revealed to
his sister or mother. She promised to favor
him and aid him. But she advised delay both
in love and vengeance, and to this he consented
with impatience. At length she told
him that if he would bring his vessel round to
Havana on a certain day he might take her
away in it as his bride to his home, and also
bear off the Governor-General as his captive.

To this plan, though replete with danger
Basilio consented; and leaving Havana taking
a tender adieu of Donna Elena, he crossed the
island to the Vermilion tower. Here he found
that his mother had just died. After a suitable
time of mourning, he prepared his goleta
for sea and informed his sister that he was
going to Havana to bring home a bride! He

[figure description] Page 025.[end figure description]

had now been absent several days over the
time he had set; and it was to watch for his
return from this two-fold expedition of love
and filial revenge that Donna Anita had
mounted to the summit of the tower.