Ah! that was in the good days of long ago, before San Juan had heard the deep growl of hostile Yankee guns, before it was a capital offense to be known as an American in Porto Rico--halcyon days when Love's brush painted all around him a rosy hue, when life's horizon knew no cloud. Since then he had suffered much, but thank heaven it seemed as though the old state was about to once more come upon him, and gold is doubly precious when refined by fire. The clamor and confusion was left behind as he passed along various narrow streets, heading once again toward the Plaza Cristobal Colon. Minor things attracted him as in the happy past when he knew no care--he even stopped where the sound of guitars announced some entertainment under a canvas shelter, and found his old acquaintances the gypsies in their weird dance, dark skinned sons and daughters of the warm Sierra Morena valleys. Other scenes, common enough in this section of the capital, drew his attention, and he found a peculiar joy in watching two humble lovers, he with his sturdy arm about the maiden's waist, strolling along just beyond. Well satisfied with what had come to pass on this particular night Roderic reached the cottage home of his Cuban friend, and giving the signal knock was admitted. Wearied in body yet with a mind relieved from all care he sought and found rest in sleep. With the coming of morning he was astir. Every one rises early in San Juan, for there is life and vigor in the bracing air, a tonic that becomes a necessity to these people who live in a semi-tropical region that has never known frost, and where midday is stifling. Roderic had more than ordinary reasons for rising early on this morning--one can look with considerable pleasure upon that day whose dawn promises to usher in the greatest blessing on earth for him, and this was the extent of his hopes in connection with the governor's daughter who had saved Leon. When he issued forth he found that an unusual stir pervaded the town. Some military movement was on the _tapis_, and he presumed that it could only be one of considerable importance, judging from the bustle that pervaded even this portion of the town. Maneuvers were usually confined to those sections where the streets were wider and a better class of citizens could enjoy the brilliant spectacle; for no soldiers like appreciation more than those of Spain. Curiosity might have led Roderic to look into this matter a little more deeply, but just at present he had his time well occupied, and besides, it mattered very little to General Miles what the soldier garrison of San Juan did, since they were doomed to capture at no distant day, squirm and struggle as they pleased.