American Boys Afloat by Oliver Optic

Louis Belgrave had a constitutional dislike for evil-doers, for he inherited an utter condemnation of all wrong as a part of his being; and he could no more help this feeling than he could help breathing. Like his mother, he was disposed to "love the sinner while he hated the sin. " He had just passed through an exciting experience, and he was grateful to Heaven that he and his friends had come out of the conflict unharmed.

Still he was not at all satisfied with the situation. His party had been beaten in the conflict with the smugglers, who were lawless reprobates, with whom he could not have the remotest sympathy. He had not the slightest fellow-feeling for those who believed it was quite proper to cheat the government out of the duties levied on goods coming into the country.

He was even so old-fashioned as to wonder how men and women who had the reputation of being honest and upright members of society, and sometimes in good standing in the church, could conceal dutiable goods when they had come home from abroad, and give evasive if not lying answers to the questions of custom-house officials.

Gray, Diego, Velazquez, and their associates, were violating the laws of Spain. If the duties on the merchandise on board of the Golondrina, as their schooner was called, amounted to a thousand pounds, Louis regarded their operation as precisely the same thing as stealing this amount of money from the Spanish government. He viewed the transaction in exactly the same light as he would have looked upon the deed of a bandit who robbed the passing traveller on the road of the sum named.

Louis expressed his views on this subject as a prelude to the consideration of the question which Scott had brought up for discussion. It seemed to him, though he had not reasoned himself into this belief, that he and his companions were to some extent guilty if they permitted these law-breakers, without an attempt to bring them to justice, to go their way with their ill-gotten booty, or, as he put it, to steal the money from the government of Spain.

It is hardly probable that all his friends took his high-toned moral view of the subject; but without exception they were in favor of recapturing the steamer, and making prisoners of the smugglers. Undoubtedly such an attempt would involve an adventure; but there was a flavor of doing one's duty connected with it which satisfied Louis that "it was the right thing to do," if it was practicable, for even Louis did not believe that his party were called upon to perish by the stilettos of the ruffians for the benefit of the Spanish treasury.

"Hold on a minute," said Scott, as the gong in the engine-room sounded to stop the boat. "They have come to the Golondrina. We had better find out if we can how the pirates arrange their affairs on board when they take the schooner in tow."

"That is a good idea," replied Louis, as he went to one of the cabin windows, and raised the curtain a little so that he could see out on the deck. "The steamer has come about, and her stern is under the bowsprit of the schooner."

"Look out, Louis! " called Scott, as he heard voices on the deck. "They will see that the window is open if you are not careful."

The cabin had been lighted by Chickworth when he brought the steamer to the gangway of the Guardian-Mother. A lamp was suspended from a deck-beam overhead; it had three brackets, and the little apartment was illuminated like a ballroom. Louis dropped the curtain at this warning, but he could still hear all that was said on the deck.

Captain Velazquez ordered Lucio on board of the schooner, directing him to pass the tow-line to the steamer; and it had evidently been made ready before the smugglers left the vessel to procure the services of the Salihé. Louis interpreted the command of the captain to his companions in a low tone so that he could not be heard by those on deck.

"That settles one thing," said Scott, who was proving himself to be one of the most useful and determined of the party.

"What does it settle? " asked Louis, who had taken no particular notice of the meaning of the order.

"It settles that no men were left in the schooner; for that reason Lucio had to be sent on board of her to pass the tow-line on board," replied Scott.

"That is important," added Louis. "Possibly it proves another thing: that the smugglers intended to take the steamer by force if necessary, or they would have sent only two or three after her. They are hauling the line on board."

Louis listened again, and Diego's orders indicated that the line was made fast at the stern of the Salihé. The only names he heard used were those of Gray, the captain, and Francisco, for Pedro appeared to be still in charge of the engine, or rather of the engineer. Only four of the ruffians remained on board of the steamer.

"_Todo esta pronto_" (All is ready), said Gray, who seemed to be more impatient than his companions.

"_Todavia no_" (Not yet), added the captain.

"What are we waiting for now? " demanded Gray, vexed at any delay, and still speaking Spanish of course.

"I have to place my men," replied Diego petulantly.