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The young officer had discovered Donna
Anita's approach to the casa from the shore of
the Bay some moments before he reached the
arch of the gateway. Her eager step, her
rapid walk, her pale and excited face struck
him at once with alarm and curiosity. Throwing
himself from his horse he advanced to
meet her with a countenance of deep and
tender anxiety.

`What sad intelligence have you received,
senora? what sorrowful event has transpired
since my absence this morning to produce
such an aspect of grief?'

`My brother, senor de Nevil!' she faltered
out.

`What of him—of Don Bazilio? I fear me
it is sad from your sadness. Speak Anita,
your griefs are mine,' he said taking her
hand.

`Come in with me, Walter, and you shall
hear!' she said with mingled grief and dignity.

He followed her into the sala and seated
himself by her upon a divan. She wept for
some moments and then said,

`It is sad sad news, senor! My brother
lies at this moment a prisoner in the Moro
Castle.'

`Is this true?' he exclaimed starting to his
feet in his surprise. `Don Bazilio in prison?'

`It is too true, senor! A vessel has just
arrived in the Bay in which came his lieutenant
Isodoro and most of his men confirming
the fact.'

Donna Anita then composing herself informed
him of the circumstances just as Isidoro
had communicated them to her. The
young American listened with surprise and
sorrow. His deep sympathy for Donna Anita
was written in his countenance. When she
had ended he said warmly,

`Don Bazilio must be rescued, senora. For
your sake he must not meet the doom to which
his captor has destined him. But how to aid
him I cannot advise you. I am powerless.
You have only my wishes.'

`Your are far from powerless, senor de
Nevil! You are brave—you are generous—
you are a patriot.'

She suddenly ceased and looked down with
a deepening color gathering in her cheeks.

`How can I serve you, Anita?'

`You profess to love me, Walter—'

`Profess! Oh, recall that word. I love you
Anita, with all my soul and being.'

`Will you prove that love to me?' she said,
her dark eyes lighting up with glorious beauty
and her whole manner singularly earnest.

`With my life!' he answered firmly.

`Then listen to me, Walter? You have
sought my hand. I have referred you to my
brother. He lies in prison. I cannot think
of love or wedlock while Bazilio is in chains.
Rescue my brother—restore him to me free,
and my hand, as my heart already is, shall be
vours.'

The young American officer paused a moment
as if to reflect. She regarded him an
instant earnestly and then cried,

`Oh, can you hesitate, Walter? Can you
pause to decide where the sufferer is my brother?
Can you love Anita and be indifferent to
Bazilio's fate?'

`I am not indifferent, Anita. My heart
bleeds for you and my eyes weep with yours.
I would risk my life to restore your brother to
you. To make you happy again would fill
me with joy. I paused not to decide whether
I should attempt to free Bazilio or not—but
how I could do it.'

`Foagive me, Walter. Pardon a sister's
impatience. I do not doubt your love. I know
you will not let my brother lie in chains while
you in ease and quiet remain in safety here
sharing half that love which he should share
with thee. You need not deliberate upon how
you shall aid him. To the brave all things
are possible. If I were there instead of Bazilio,
' she said smiling as she lifted her tear-glistening
eyes to his face, `would you not
rescue me? I know you would, noble Walter.
'

`I would save you or perish in the attempt.
'

`Then regard my brother as my other-self
and save him!' she cried with eloquent fervor.

`Anita,' he said taking her hand, your wish
is my law. I will seek to rescue Bazilio from
imprisonment. If I succeed I shall make him
happy! If I succeed I shall render you happy!
If I succeed I shall be happier than both
of you if the possession of this fair hand is

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the reward of my devotion to you. To win
you, dear Anita, I would not count my life of
any weight in comparison with the prize before
me. I go to obey you.'

`Return and bring my brother, and from
his arms I will turn and throw myself into
yours, never to leave them.'

`If I return it will be with Don Bazilio. If
I do not return it will be because I have loved
you too well to value life in comparison with
your wishes and happiness.'

`Your words alarm me! I never thought of
danger to you, dear Walter, so lost were my
thoughts in my brother's! You must not perish.
I must not lose you both! I must not
loose either of you. To me you have become
as dear—nay, dearer, if possible, than my
brother! yet he must not perish!'

`I will save him, Anita. I will proceed to
Havana, and there are every effort to obtain
his release or aid his escape. Perhaps, as an
American, I can gain access to his cell. I
will try to do so, and furnish him with instruments
to free himself from his irons. As I
think upon it, hope inspires me! I will at
once leave!'

`I will accompany you. I cannot remain
here in suspense to learn the issue. I will go
too, Walter. The vessel in which Isidoro
came is now ready to sail. The wind, though
light, is fair. Let us set sail at once. The
vessel shall be placed under your command.
We can run in safety into Havana, as the capturre
of the polacca is not known there, Isidoro
still holding the crew prisoners on board.
We will go on shore in disguise. I will work
with you as a sister by a brother's side, till he
be rescued. I have money. I am bold and
resolute. I can aid you with my advice and
encourage you in disappointment!'

`Noble woman! how can I render myself
worthy of you!'

`By regarding Basilio your brother as well
as mine, and restoring him to my embrace!'

`The attempt, full of difficulty and danger,
as it appears, shall be attempted. Let us at
once embark, Anita! Your presence will
bless my efforts!'

`Isidoro says that my brother is to be
brought from the castle to the city for trial.—
It is then I hope to rescue him. They transport
their prisoners in barges under a guard
of soldiers. When we reach Havana, Isidoro
will learn when my brother will be conveyed
across the water, and at that time the attempt
to rescue him must be made! If it fail, then
I shall despair!'

`It will be successful,' answered the young
sailor, with animation. `I give myself to this
enterprise, heart and soul. I shall think only
of you, dearest Anita, and of Don Basilio till
he is free, and smiles again reanimate your
face. Till I achieve this happy result I shall
forget that I have ship or country, to whom I
owe duty and allegiance!'

It was late in the afternoon of the fourth
day after this interview just described, when
the polacca-schooner appeared two or three
leagues from Havana, standing for the harbor.
The stately battlements of the Moro,
the West Indian Gibralter, towered dark
and menacing above the port with its
thousand marts, and the city with its domes
and towers. The sight of this fortress brought
tears into Anita's eyes. Numerous craft were
coming in and going out of port; several vessels
of war were at anchor or under sail; and
as the polacca proceeded just inside the Moro,
Nevil recognized the well known warlike outline
of his own vessel—the Razee of 60 guns,—
which he had left five weeks before to cruize
in the Porpoise; and as he advanced, to his
surprise and joy, he saw the schooner from
which he had been swept, and which he supposed
lost in the tornado, snugly at anchor
under the lee of the frigate.

He drew Basilio's scarlet cap, that with the
rest of the young conspirator's wardrobe, he
wore, lower over his brow, and sending all
his men below but enough to work the schooner,
(for he had taken command of her, making
Isidoro his lieutenant,) he boldly ran into
the harbor just as the sunset gun had fired
from the castle and the ships of war; at which
signal the flags waving above the fortress and
the quarter deck descended like huge birds of
gay plumage stooping to the ground.

The shades of twilight were gathering over
the harbor and town as the schooner came silently
to anchor directly under the stern of the
three-masted goleta, which Isidoro, who was
at the helm, had with joy discovered in port,
and near which he now purposely steered his
little vessel; perhaps with some daring purpose
in his mind! Anita had also recognized
the goleta of Don Basilio, amid the thickly
surrounding craft, and with an exclamation of
pleasure pointed it out to Nevil. He gazed

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upon it with an expression of singular interest;
and Donna Anita thought she could read
the thoughts which were passing through his
mind!

`Oh that Basilio was free!' she cried with
animation. `Once more would he tread his
own vessel's deck, rescue her, and spread her
sails upon the open sea, in spite of castle and
guard-ship!'

`I was just thinking if he was at liberty,
how soon he would again be her master. It
would not be impossible for a bold man with
thirty such men as he commands, to cut her
out! It shall be done! Basilio shall be free!
I will go on shore to-night, and by some
means find out what the Government intend
to do, where he is imprisoned, and obtain all
the information that will be of service in our
purpose to rescue him. I know some Spaniards
connected with the Government, and as
I fortunately speak the language with finency,
and am an American, I can do perhaps
better than Isidoro, in whose faithful charge I
will leave you. Early in the morning I will
come on board. I shall preserve my present
disguise of face and costume, lest I fall in
wiht any officers of the Razee; as I am not
yet ready to rejoin her till Basilio is at liberty.
To him only, for your sake, dear Anita, do I
give my thoughts!'

The following morning Nevil returned to
the polacca, which was too small and ordinary
a craft, of which great numbers almost
precisely like it lay in port, to attract any
special notice. He said that with a good
deal of difficulty, he had ascertained that Don
Basilio was still confined in the Moro; that
his trial was to take place that day, when he
would be conveyed in an armed barge to the
quay, and thence escorted before the tribunal.

`He will be guarded by twenty soldiers in
the boat, and through the streets. It will be
impossible to effect his liberation by attacking
such a body. But do not despair, Senora! I
have meditated a plan. It is as follows. The
escort will leave the stairs at the Moro precisely
at elven o'clock to-day. At this hour
there is always a seaward breeze blowing at
this time of the moon. You recollect we had
it off land yesterday, and run seven and eight
knots under it. It is now calm, as it is only
six o'clock, but it will rise by eight. You may
listen, Isidore, for I would have your advice
as to the feasibility of my plan. It is a bold
one, but I doubt not will be successful; for
you command brave and faithful men; and
tke sight of Don Basilio will animate you all
to the utmost! Hear my plan! As the wind
freshens, which will be about ten o'clock, we
will lift our anchor, and, raising our foresail,
run to windward of the three-masted goleta,
which I learn has only a guard of six soldiers
on board, to keep her until the Governor
hauls her into the dock, to refit and arm her.
When we get to windward, we must drop anchor
in a position that will enable us at any
moment to slip the cable and drift aboard of
her as if by accident. Once alongside, we can
take possession of her with the force of thirty
eight men you command. But we must wait
our time to slip the cable, timing it so that we
may be able, after getting her into our possession,
to make sail and fall in with the guard-boat,
which at eleven will be conveying Don
Basilio across the Bay. It is my purpose to
steer for the guard-boat so as to strike her
amid-ships and sink her. Three of you be
ready with ropes to aid Don Basilio, who will
not be ironed, and to whom Isidoro you must
shew yourself upon the bows before we come
in contact that he may know we are friends,
and that we expect him to take advantage of
the confusion to get on board! We must then
get out of the harbour the best way we can;
but if the goleta sails as she looks there will
be but few shots strike her. But we must
run the risk. I only fear in this event for
your safety, Anita!'

`Think not of me, if Basilio be saved!' she
said with strong emotion.

Nevil's plan was further discovered and
approved of. At nine o'clock the wind was
blowing from the south and west directly out
of the harbor. At two o'clock the polacca
raised her anchor and hoisting her fore sail
changed her ground and came again to anchor,
to windward of the goleta. With great
caution Nevil now began to reconnoitre the
latter; and was satisfied that his information
respecting the number of men on board had
been correct. He could discover only some
five or six Spanish soldiers lounging about
upon her decks smoking and one stationed at
the gangway as a sentry. He was satisfied
that he could carry her without difficulty.
He was not insensible to the danger that
would attend its successful issue in the
midst of a fortified harbour. But love for

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Donna Anita rendered him blind to consequences.
Brave, daring, and chivalrous, he
only regarded in his future her hand, as the
reward of all he should risk on Basilio's
freedom and his own happiness were bound
together inseparably by her own fiat.

Towards eleven o'clock he began to watch
the stairs at the base of the Moro castle for
any signs of the escort and its prisoner. The
boat in which they were to cross he knew
would pass not very far to leeward of the position
held by the Goleta. At length, with a
glass he saw the boat full of soldiers leave the
castle landing. It was the signal for Isidoro
to slip the cable. This was done silently and
the polacca began to drift rapidly toward the
three masted schooner. The soldiers on board
shouted to warn them that they would run
aboard of the Goleta, while Nevil called loudly
for them to catch a rope he held coiled in
his hand, saying that they had got adrift and
wanted to fetch up by the goleta. The soldiers
seized their muskets and ordered them
to keep off, saying they were commanded to
fire on any strange craft that came near! The
vessels came in contact, the bowsprit of the
polacca with the stern davits of the goleta.
Before Nevil and his men could secure them
together, the soldiers who yet forebore to fire
believing the approach accidental, cut away
the stays and fall which momentarily held the
polacco when she separated from her and
drifted to leeward!

`We are defeated,' cried Nevil, with intense
disappointment in his looks and manner, `by
not taking into our reckoning the current that
set us toward astern! But for that we should
have dritted broadside on and carried her!
But we must do our best in the polacca. The
barge is under full weigh and will soon be
near us. They will not suspect us as they
would have done the goleta. We must escape
afterwards in this vessel, as we can!'

`Once on board the goleta we could have
flown out of the harbor,' said Isidoro.

`Set the fore-sail, main-sail and jib!' cried
Nevil, `And order all the men on deck with
pistols and cutlasses! There we are under
swift way. Every thing draws, and she runs
six knots through the water!'

`This is force enough to run the barge under,
Senor, said Isidoro as he went forward
to take his place on the bows where Don Basilio
could see him. Nevil took the helm.
Before him not a great ways off was anchored
the Razee to which he belonged, and from
which he was absenting, and concealing himself
under his disguise. The track of the
barge from the castle to the Quay lay almost
within her huge shadow. But Nevil turned
away his eyes from his ship and thought only
of love and Don Basilio! By his side stood
the inspirer of his bold attempt, his lovely
temptress from his duty. He had eyes
but for her, and for the approaching barge!

The boat pulled by twelve oars came nearer
and nearer! The polacca was moving
swiftly before the wind so as to intercept her.
Nevil made his calculations closely and steered
the vessel with coolness and precision. As
the barge advanced Donna Anita uttered an
exclamation of mingled joy and fear; for she
discovered her brother seated in the stern
sheets, with an officer on each side of him.
He was not chained. He was pale but his
countenance was firm and composed. He
looked like a brave man resigned to his destiny!

The space betwen the polacca's bows and
the barge lessened rapidly. She was not ten
fathoms off pulling directly across her course!
Nevil managed his helm so that he might meet
her full upon the beam. The proximity of
the polacca now alarmed those on board the
boat, and the officer in command rising up
and waving his sword called out to Nevil to
put his helm hard up or he would be into
them!'

Nevil made no reply, save by giving an order
to the men not to let Basilio perish! Isidoro
caught his eye and waved his hand. The
conspirator sprung to his feet with an exclamation
of surprise and pleasure! The soldiers
stood up to present their muskets, not to fire
but to ward of the bows. The oarsmen did
the same, while cries, shouts, oaths and commands
filled the barge with confusion. The
next moment the bows of the polacca struck
the huge boat full amidships crashing and
surging over her, while the air was filled with
shreiks and cries and the roar of muskets discharged
by the soldiers as they were hurled
into the foaming vortex. Don Basilio on seeing
Isidoro well knew that this was a plan to
rescue him; and on the instant the bows
struck he leaped over the stern of the barge to
escape being involved in the watery death to
which the soldiers in their heavy uniforms

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were destined. The boat divided in two and
the schooner scarcely checked by the shock
went surging over the ruin she had made,
while the thirty men were struggling in the
flood. The pieces of the boat in an instant
after it was struck went down leaving every
man to take care of himself. Basilio after
striking out from the mass, swam towards the
polacca's quarter, where ropes were thrown
and where he beheld Dona Anita calling upon
his name. The officer in charge of him who
was in the water near him, hearing them and
seeing him swimming, and fearful of the consequences
if he escaped, threw himself upon
him with a strong grasp. Don Basilio caught
him by the throat and both sank together!
The polacca was in the meanwhile moving
apidly on leaving him; and Anita wringing
her hands over the stern gazed on the spot
far astern where he had disappeared. But he
rose to the surface without the officer!

`Heed me not! I can swim ashore!' he
cried. I shall be safe! Escape out of the harbor
with the schooner, Isidoro!'

At least a dozen of his men sprung into
the water when they saw the Spanish officer
grasp him, some with ropes, which they were
compelled to let go, and others with knives
They reached him swimming and surrounded
him; but the polacca was full fifty fathoms
to leeward.

`My brave men,' said Basilio, `you have
taken to the water to save me and I thank
you! We cannot reach the schooner! Here
comes a boat to pick us up! Let us get in and
taking possession of it pull to the shore on the
side of the Reglars. We can then escape to
the country or conceal ourselves 'till we can
mature a plan to recapture the golets. I am
now as free as the soldiers who are struggling
there and shouting for help!'

The boat came up containing three fishermen.
Basilio and his men filled it and pulled
swiftly towards the land on the country
side half a league distant!

The officers and soldiers were picked up
afterwards by boats from American vessels;
but as they could not speak English they
were not able to explain that their prisoner
was escaping and that they wanted them to
go in pursuit. Thus Bazilio and his men, who
were nine in number, had the start and were
rapidly making for the shore.

The polacca in the meanwhile kept on her
way. Nevil had at first shortened sail but
seeing Basilio and his men get into the boat
and take possession of it, he resolved to try
and escape with the polacca out of the harbor;
for he well knew he had by his act identified
himself with the prisoner and his party. The
whole occurrence had been witnessed from
the deck of the razee; and to every one who
beheld the polacca's progress in coming towards
the barge, it was apparent that it was
her intention to run her under. The event
justified their expectations; and when they
saw her decks instantly crowded with men and
heard the cries to the prisoner and those of
the Spanish officers of “El presenero! El
presenero!' they guessed that the guard boat
contained a pirate and that the polacca was
his vessel making a bold push to rescue him
from the soldiers. When the captain of the
razee saw the soldiers struggling in the water,
he ordered his boats along side from the boom,
and throwing an officer and men into them
gave orders to one pick up the soldiers and to
the other to board the polacca and take possession
of her.

Nevil saw the boat approaching to board
him, and not fully justifying himself as an
American officer in the part he had played in
this daring affair, he resolved not to to be
known in it. He therefore gave orders to repel
the boat while he pressed every inch of
canvass to escape. He had passed the razee
andwas full two cable's length to leewardwhen
the boat came up. He was hailed and ordered
to heave-to, but made no reply. The boat
came along side and an officer and two men
sprung upon the polacca's deck. The two
seamen were instantly driven back, but the
officer after defending himself with great
bravery, was run through the body by Isidoro
and fell dead upon the deck.

Nevil was appalled! He had not anticipated
such a fearful catastrophe. He uttered a cry
of anguish and leaving the helm caught Anita's
hand and pointing to the body of the officer
said,

`For thee, Anita, I have slain my fellow-officer!
Yonder majestic ship is mine! For
your love I have plunged myself into infamy
and despair! But I reproach you not! For
you I would die at any moment! But honor—
the loss of honor! How can I explain this
dreadful occurrence to my commander? how
acquit myself to my country.'

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