Bessie Stuart was so overcome by the sudden shock of the discovery that she was scarcely able to stand, breathlessly the two watched the rowboat speeding in. The lieutenant waded out as far as he could, and when the boat reached him he climbed into the bow. In a few moments he was speeding back to the gunboat. And when he stepped on board he found the captain staring at him. "Lieutenant Hernandez!" he gasped. "Yes," said the other with a bow. But he scarcely glanced at the man until his eager eyes had sought out Clif and Bessie. When he saw them alive and unhurt a look of relief swept over his face. And then he turned to the captain. "What in the world is the matter?" the man cried. The other nodded toward the two Americans. "It is about them," he said. "What about them?" "Why did you stop them?" "Stop them! Why they are Americans, and they were prisoners in Morro." "I know that," said the officer. "But they were released." "What!" "Yes. And I was charged with the duty of seeing them safe on board the American ships." The Spanish captain stared in amazement. "Carramba!" he muttered. "Why didn't they say so?" "I don't see that you gave them a chance," said the other. "You fired on them too soon." "But I had no idea of this!" cried the other. To doubt that story never once entered his head; he seemed to know who the lieutenant was. "What in the world am I to do?" he asked, after a moment. "I don't see that there is but one thing," said the other. "Take them back to Havana and let them be sent from there?" asked the captain. "No," said the lieutenant, quietly. "That will not do; for the government has pledged its word that they shall be on the ships by daybreak. To make haste is very important." "But what else?" "Give them your small boat." "Carramba! I haven't got but one! And how will I ever get it back?" The lieutenant was puzzled for a moment. But suddenly he hit on a daring scheme. "Captain," he said, "my orders are from General Blanco himself. He charged me above all things to see these people safe at once, even if I had to go out to the ships with them. I don't see that there is but one thing we can do." "What is it?" "We will have to hoist a flag of truce and take them out on this vessel." The captain started. "Can we trust the Americans?" he gasped. "They are expecting us," said the lieutenant quietly. And then for a minute the captain was silent; when he spoke it was to the man at the wheel. "Steer us out to the Yankee fleet," he said. "It will have to be done, and run up that white flag." * * * * * Perhaps ten minutes after that the blockading squadron sighted a Spanish gunboat coming toward them with a flag of truce. The New York steamed to meet it; and the vessel came alongside and without a word of explanation the two prisoners were sent aboard.