The ruse was now
apparent; owing to the lateness of the hour, it was doubtful if
any one in the forward coaches was aware that the train was
lighter by one car.
There was a brief delay; then a locomotive crept out from a
siding, coupled up to the standing car, and drew it off upon
another track. Soon the "excursion party" was being rushed swiftly
toward the coast, some twenty miles away.
Major Ramos came down the aisle, laughing, and spoke to his
American protege's.
"Well, what do you think of that, eh? Imagine the feelings of
those good deputy-marshals when they wake up. I bet they'll rub
their eyes."
Miss Evans bounced excitedly in her seat; she clapped her hands,
"You must have friends in high places," O'Reilly grinned, and the
Cuban agreed.
"Yes, I purposely drew attention to us in Charleston, while our
ship was loading. She's ready and waiting for us now; and by
daylight we ought to be safely out to sea. Meanwhile the Dauntless
has weighed anchor and is steaming north, followed, I hope, by all
the revenue cutters hereabouts."
It was the darkest time of the night when the special train came
to a stop at a bridge spanning one of the deep Southern rivers. In
the stream below, dimly outlined in the gloom, lay the Fair Play,
a small tramp steamer; her crew were up and awake. The new
arrivals were hurried aboard, and within a half-hour she was
feeling her way seaward.
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