“What is the meaning of this unwarranted intrusion?” cried the president of the court, turning fiercely on O’Neil. “This man is a witness for the defense,” cried Sydney, joyously pointing at Craig. The court turned in amazement to gaze at the would-be deserter. “I object to further testimony,” announced the judge advocate earnestly; “the case is now in the hands of the court.” Phil’s heart beat wildly. Would the president sustain this objection? The president rose to his feet; the court room became so still that the heavy breathing of O’Neil and his prisoner, from their recent exertions to arrive in time, was plainly audible above all other sounds. “The case is still in the hands of the defense,” the president announced. “I shall administer the oath to the witness.” O’Neil withdrew quietly, leaving Craig within the courtroom. “Were you on a hill called La Mesa near the city of La Boca on the day of the assault by the insurgents?” the judge advocate asked the witness after he had been directed to take the stand by the president. Craig looked at Sydney nervously then he answered in a trembling voice: “No, sir.” The judge advocate jumped to his feet. “I object to this witness,” he cried loudly; “he can know nothing of the charges.” The president glanced at the faces of his colleagues. They nodded their approval. “The objection is sustained,” he was on the point of saying when he caught sight of Sydney’s anxious face. The latter had sprung from his chair and was endeavoring to catch the president’s eye before the fatal words were uttered. “Well, what have you to say?” the officer asked impatiently. Sydney thought rapidly; as Phil’s counsel he could plead and say things he knew his chum would be too modest to tell. “I ask the court’s indulgence,” Sydney commenced, seeking for appropriate words to convey clearly all that was in his mind to the members of the court. “The accused has been charged with disobeying the orders of his superior officer on La Mesa the day of the assault. We have two witnesses who will testify that in a house belonging to the ex-vice-consul, Mr. Juarez, thirty Colt automatic guns with ammunition were found; that these guns were mounted by the accused and his companions and manned by a company of government soldiers. The attack was on La Mesa, although the minister representing the United States had informed General Barras that a reliable informant had told him the attack would be upon Tortuga Hill. We can show that the presence of the accused and his companions was indispensable on La Mesa at the time of Mr. Lazar’s arrival. If the order had been obeyed the Colt guns would have fallen into the hands of the insurgents, which would have discredited the minister and the United States in the eyes of the existing government. Our witness Craig will tell the part Mr. Lazar has taken in connection with these arms and will show why the accused deliberately disobeyed a positive order.”