The Cruise of the Thetis | Page 3

Park, will
enable you to do that."
"Is that so?" commented Jack. "Then that alone would very strongly
predispose me in favour of it. But why make such a secret of it, old
chap? Is it of such a character that a passer-by, catching a few words of
it, would be likely to hand us over to the nearest policeman as a couple
of conspirators?"
"Well, no; it is scarcely so bad as that," answered Montijo, laughing:
"but it is of such a nature that I would prefer not to speak of it, if you
don't mind, until we are somewhere in the Park where we can converse
freely without the fear of being overheard. You see, the Pater and I are
pretty well-known to--and not too well liked by--the Spanish
authorities in Cuba, and it is by no means certain that they may not
think it quite worth their while to have us watched over here;
therefore--"
"Yes, of course, I understand," returned Jack; "therefore for the present
`mum's the word', eh?"
Montijo nodded, and the two lads strode along, conversing upon
various topics, until they reached Hyde Park Corner, and swung in
through the Park gates, and so on to the grass.
"Ah, now at last I can speak freely!" remarked Montijo with a sigh of
relief. "First of all, Singleton," he continued, "you must understand that
what I am about to say will be spoken in the strictest confidence; and,
whether you should agree to my proposal or not, I must ask you to
pledge your honour as a gentleman that you will not repeat a single

word of what I say to anyone--anyone, mind you--without first
obtaining my consent, or that of my Pater."
"All right, Carlos, my boy," answered Singleton, cheerily; "I promise
and vow all that you ask. There is nobody on the face of this earth of
ours who can keep a secret better than I can, as you ought to know by
this time."
"Yes, I do know it, perfectly well," agreed Montijo. "Well," he
continued, "the fact is that the Pater and I have at last begun to interest
ourselves actively in Cuban politics. We Cubans, as you perhaps know,
have been trying, ever since '68, to induce the Spaniards to govern us
mildly and justly, but thus far all our efforts have been fruitless: we are
still being ground down and tyrannised over until the lives of many of
us have become a burden; neither the property, the liberty, nor the life
of any Cuban is safe to-day, unless he is well- known to be a supporter
of the Spanish Government. After more than a quarter of a century of
patient but ineffectual effort, therefore, it has been determined to take
up arms, strike a blow for liberty, and never rest until Cuba is free from
the hated Spanish yoke.
"It is in connection with this movement that the Pater and I are now in
England. It is now nearly a year since Senor Marti--the man who above
all others has been conspicuous in his efforts on behalf of Cuba--got
hold of the Pater and succeeded in convincing him that it is the duty of
every Cuban to do his utmost to free his country from the grasp of the
tyrant; and one of the first-fruits of this was the giving of an order by
the Pater--through a friend--for the construction of a fast steam- yacht,
to be used as may be required in the service of the country, but
primarily for the purpose of smuggling arms, ammunition, and
necessaries of all kinds into the island. Now, by a singular coincidence,
this friend and agent of the Pater chose your firm as that which should
build the yacht; and now we, having been advised that she is ready for
delivery--"
"What!" exclaimed Singleton, "you surely don't mean to say that
Number 78 is your boat?"

"Yes," answered Montijo quietly; "that is the number by which she is at
present known, I believe."
"Then, Carlos, my dear boy, accept my most hearty congratulations!"
exclaimed Singleton. "Our naval constructor has let himself go, and
fairly outdone himself over that craft. It was a difficult task that you
gave him to do when you asked for a boat of not less than three
hundred tons on eight feet draught of water, and with a sea speed of
twenty-two knots; but he has done it, and the result is that you have, in
Number 78, the prettiest little boat that ever swam. Why, man, she has
already done twenty-four knots over the measured mile, on her full
draught of water, and in a fairly heavy sea; and she is the very sweetest
sea boat that it is possible to imagine. Of course we could not have