In but a short time their wounds and burns, which were found to be only slight, were carefully attended to by the ship’s surgeon, and they appeared on deck with the only clothes available, those of the government officers. Captain Garcia, the commanding officer of the cruiser, insisted that the lads should live with him in his cabin, and O’Neil was to be given a place among the officers themselves. After the experiences of the last few hours all three were exhausted, and the captain, with tactful generosity, refrained from asking their story until the rescued men could be refreshed with a bath, clean clothes and a bountiful dinner. Phil and Sydney lay back in the commodious cabin of the war-ship and, in spite of their eagerness to hear the latest news from La Boca, fell into a profound sleep. It was not until late in the afternoon that the lads were awakened by Captain Garcia. “I hope you are feeling refreshed,” he inquired kindly. “I am delighted to have you with us for a few days until I can take you back to your own ship.” “For a few days,” Phil exclaimed in astonishment; “aren’t you going back now to La Boca?” “I am sorry if I seem to carry you away against your wishes,” he replied courteously, “but I am sailing under very imperative orders from my president to seek the rebel cruisers at Rio Grande. It was but by accident that I went into Mariel. I saw a great many soldiers of the enemy drawn up there and took the opportunity to worry them, and at the same time give my gunners an opportunity to test our new guns.” He stopped and inquired, “But tell me how you and your two companions came to be there; was I the means of liberating you? I have not heard as yet your experiences.” Phil had forgotten that the captain had received but little information as to the reasons why they were at the fish trap, from which they had swum to safety. He at once told their story: of their capture, the trial and the verdict, and then of the escape. “We owe our lives to you, Captain Garcia,” he added gratefully. “If your shell had not exploded in front of the door of our prison, we should have been burned alive, and if you had not stopped to bombard Mariel we would still be there looking forward to being shot to-morrow morning.” “I am indeed thankful that I have been able to serve those who prevented the cargo of machine guns from falling into the hands of our enemy,” the captain answered smilingly. “How do you know we did that?” cried Phil in surprise. “The story has reached our president,” Captain Garcia responded, “and he is very grateful to the Americans. Now,” he added, “our launches are watching every exit by water, so General Ruiz finds himself effectively cut off from his base of supplies.” Phil remembered the machine guns were not in the legation and quickly his thoughts turned to his uncompleted mission. The pulsations of the engines showed the vessel was steaming away rapidly from those who should have his report at the earliest moment.