"Oh, yes, I heard about that," said the officer. "The admiral told me about it himself. I believe you were the person who interfered." "I had the good luck to be standing near," said Clif, modestly. "And of course, I sprang between them." "And the spy stabbed you?" "Yes. In the shoulder, but he did not hurt me very much." "He must be a desperate man." "He is. That stabbing business seems to be a favorite trick of his. I hope I shan't have to face him again." Whether Ignacio was a Spaniard or a traitor Cuban, no one could say. Clif had first met him trying to lead astray an American officer who had been sent with dispatches for Gomez. And Clif had foiled the plot, and had been Ignacio's deadly enemy ever since. Clif had been keeping a careful watch for him. He knew that the vindictive fellow would follow his every move; Ignacio was acting as a spy for the Spaniards, and so must have found it easy to keep track of the cadet's whereabouts. But so far Clif had not met him. "We are likely to have a wild night of it," said Lieutenant Raymond. "The clouds seem to get darker every minute." "It'll be a night for the blockade-runners," was Clif's answer. "We may have some excitement." "We'll have it anyway," said the other. "I don't know of anything I less rather do than weather a storm while in among the vessels of the fleet. It will be necessary to stay on deck every instant of the time keeping watch for our very lives." "I know how it is," the cadet added. "I was on the Porter dining one such night. And we captured a prize coming out of Havana after almost running her down in the darkness." "I heard about it," said Lieutenant Raymond. "You may repeat the performance to-night if you have a chance. We aren't likely to meet with anything till we get there." As the lieutenant said that he turned and gazed ahead; the broad sea stretched out on every side of them, without a sign of smoke or sail to vary the monotony of its tossing waves. "But it always lends zest to a trip like this," the officer added, "to know that it's possible you may run across a stray Spaniard at any moment. It pays to keep one's eyes open." "And then you have the pleasure of chasing two or three and finding they're some other nation's ships," said Clif, with a laugh. "That's about all we've done so far," said the lieutenant. "But we're still hoping perhaps you'll bring us good luck." "I'll do my best," the cadet declared with a smile. "Better get ready for it by resting a bit. Your dinner's ready below." Clif took the hint and went below. The boat was pitching so violently that he found eating a very difficult operation, and it was generally so unpleasant in the little cabin that he was glad to go on deck again. And then later in the afternoon, at four o'clock, it came time for him to go on duty. After that he had to remain outside whether he wanted to or not.