| Plot Summary |
Lieutenant Robert Willard, known to all his friends as "Fighting Bob," meets the daughter of a wealthy merchant, while his ship is at anchor in one of the small Mexican ports, and is so struck by her beauty that he falls desperately In love with her and she with him. Now the senor, her father, has other plans for his daughter and is not overpleased at the prospect of an alliance with the dashing young American officer, in fact he has long cherished a desire to unite his fortune with that of Don Sancho de Salvatore, a man of noble blood and vast estates. Bob has arranged to meet his fair one at an appointed time and the hour has scarcely struck when through the gates strides the dauntless young lieutenant. He is not aware of a pair of evil eyes that follow him. Don Salvatore, already aware of the success of his rival's suit, has placed a spy near his friend's abode to keep close watch on the fair senorita and the hated Americano. Hurrying to the home of Don Salvatore. Pedro, the spy, acquaints the Don with the news that Bob is already within the gates of Cavera's home and perhaps is even now making desperate love to the daughter. With an oath the jealous suitor seizes his sombrero and hastens away to interrupt the lieutenant in his love making. In the meantime Don Cavera has discovered the presence of the two lovers in the garden and is angrily upbraiding his daughter for daring to bring a stranger within his gates, unknown to him, when Salvatore arrives. Now we are given a little exhibition of the senorita's spirit and the American's nerve, when the father and jealous suitor are both told that in spite of them Senorita Magdalena would become the wife of Robert Willard if he bad to wade through fire and water to accomplish that end. Kissing his sweetheart good-night before the dumbfounded Dons and lifting his cap to Senora Cavera, Magdalena's mother, Bob strides away, vowing that if necessary he would fight for his lady love as did the knights of old. Returning to his ship he sends a middy with a message to the Senorita telling her to meet him near the walls of the old Cabrillado that evening at 1 o'clock, when they would at once repair to the church and by the good father be made one. Together they hurry to the old church and their marriage is soon consummated. But the watchful Pedro overhears enough of their plans to divine the rest and loses no time in bearing the news to his master. Boiling with rage. Don Salvatore secures the services of two policemen and hastens to the wharf. They are just in time to overtake the wedding party as they are boarding the ship's launch. The police attempt to seize the senorita, but they did not reckon on the presence of a squad of Yankee tars, who would follow Bob into the jaws of death, if necessary, and it only takes a word from him to set that bunch of sailors in action. Springing up in all directions, Bob's boys soon overpower the police, and lifting them above their heads, send them floundering out into the water. "You shall answer for this indignity," screams the now maddened Salvatore, but before he has time to say another word the jolly tars send him sprawling after the police, who are by this time swimming as fast as they can out of danger. Springing on the launch, a ringing cheer is sent up for the Yankee lieutenant and his beautiful bride. Bob secures a leave of absence from duty, and when his ship drops anchor in an American port, he and his young wife proceed to enjoy the honeymoon that the brave and fair so richly merit.
Written by Moving Picture World synopsis
|
