, and the two men seemed
to bear charmed lives.
"Kill that yellow-haired dog!" cried a voice in the Spanish ranks; "it's
Young Glory!"
Young Glory!
How savagely the Spaniards echoed the name.
"One thousand dollars to the man who kills him!" shouted the same voice.
And then a dozen men, burning to be able to claim the reward, sprang at
the rock behind which Young Glory stood.
CHAPTER XVI.
CONCLUSION.
"Shure, an' it's more than I'd give for ye," laughed Dan Daly. "A
thousand dollars! Begorra, it's yourself won't be afther getting it."
And with these words Dan launched a terrific blow at the Spaniard
nearest to him. The man dropped.
"Shure, it's right I was."
Dan turned his attention elsewhere, and Young Glory was defending
himself bravely.
His comrades had heard the Spanish officer put a price upon the young
hero's head, and the horrible proceeding infuriated them. They flew to
his assistance, clustering around him to protect him from harm.
It was a terrible struggle. It must be said for the Spaniards that they
fought bravely. They vastly outnumbered the Americans, and this may have
given them courage. However, the end was near.
One after another the leading men in the Spanish ranks were shot down
and killed with the cutlass. The survivors began to falter.
"Courage!" cried an officer, dashing up and waving his sword. "Courage!
Stand your ground! Help is at hand!"
Those words stayed the retreat. Back to the rocks at the charge rushed
the Spaniards, some of them looking anxiously around for the promised
aid.
There was a wild cheer from the Spanish ranks now. Three large boats,
each filled with soldiers, swept round the point.
The Americans were taken in the rear now. Between them and the sea there
was no shelter.
Bang! Bang!
It was the Spaniards in the boats firing.
Up rushed Mr. Tyler.
"Lads," he said, "this place can be held no longer. We are between two
fires. There is but one thing to do. We must dash out of here, cut our
way through the enemy and storm the fort."
"Hurrah!"
The men shouted wildly. It was a bold plan, quite suited to the
audacious nature of these reckless sailors.
Over the rocks, led by the lieutenant, they rushed. Their coming had not
been expected by the Spaniards, and the consequence was, that they gave
way in face of the sudden attack.
In all directions they turned and fled, the sailors in their eagerness
dashing after them and cu
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