And while the roll of the drum called the Spanish garrison to quarters and soldiers hurried to doubly guard the walls, the fugitives scrambled over the debris that half blocked the breach in the old fortress made by the guns of Sampson's war ships. Over these impediments Roderic assisted Georgia, nor could he fail to notice how strangely she seemed to hesitate, trusting almost entirely in his strong arm, which was so unlike the Georgia he had known of old. Perhaps the realization of her dream, and the rescue of Leon from his dungeon had brought about this singular result. At any rate there was no time given in which to consider it. Prompt action alone could take them through with flying colors. The martial sounds increased--one could almost imagine the garrison prepared to receive an attack from the whole of General Miles' invading army. If noise could accomplish it such an assault would be beaten back readily enough, for the tumult already extended beyond the fortress and was penetrating the town. Roderic would have felt inclined to laugh but for the seriousness of the occasion--it was like a child and a stack of cards pitched on end--a touch of the first sends the whole pack falling; or a spark of fire coming in contact with a train of gunpowder--so the shouting passed from street to street and San Juan was racked with the commotion. It was a big send off, at any rate, and those responsible for it could possibly find some future satisfaction in knowing that San Juan had not received such a shock since that early May morning when Sampson stirred things up with his war terrors of the sea. By rare good luck the fugitives managed to get down from the break in the massive wall without any serious accident. Several times one would stumble as a portion of the _debris_ slipped under foot, or the tangle of the moon-flower vines tripped them up; but these little accidents bore no result. Once upon _terra firma_ Roderic knew what he had arranged was all very well, but if Cleo had sent Captain Beven to the rescue, his boat might after all be more advantageously located than the one Owen had in mind. "To the left!" said Georgia, breathing heavily, for the task just finished had been a severe one. Of course that meant that Beven was waiting near by, and Roderic was fully content to let events drift him from now on. Hardly had they gone a dozen paces than the bluff English sailor showed up. Perhaps he was surprised at discovering the presence of Roderic, who made his identity known immediately, but if so no one knew it, for Beven was a matter of fact old fellow, who took things as they came. The flight was hastily resumed--indeed, it would have been madness to have halted any length of time with such signs of an aroused military power all around them.