"And all for the cause of _Cuba libre_. You're for _Cuba libre_, aren't you?" "Sure we are." "Well, these men are patriots." "Who found them?" "Buck Waters. They were just going into Pierson Hall to let the sophs have all the candy. Buck side-tracked them and started them down our row. Hungerford bought twenty-five dollars' worth." "Twenty-five? Holy cats!" "For the cause of _Cuba libre_! Joe is very patriotic. All the boys came up handsomely." "Are they good cigars?" said Dink who, since his purchases of the day, was not exactly moved to tears by the financial needs of an alien though struggling nation. "My boy, immense! Wait till you smoke one!" At this moment there came a gentle scratching at the door, and a chocolate pair appeared, with Buck Waters in the background. "Emanuel Garcia and Henry Clay!" said McNab irreverently. "They smuggled the cigars right through the Spanish lines," said Waters who, from constant recital, had caught the spirit of unconquerable revolution. "How do you know?" said McCarthy suspiciously, watching the unstrapping of the cigar boxes. "I speak French," said Waters with pride, and turning to his protégés he continued fluently, "_Vous êtes patriots, vous avez battlez, soldats n'est-ce-pas?_ You see, they have had a whole family chopped up for the cause. The Cuban Junta has sent them over to raise money--very good family." "Let's see the cigars," said Stover. "How much a box?" Curiously enough this seemed to be a phrase of English which could be understood without difficulty. "Fourteen dollar." "That's for a box of a hundred," said McNab, who screwed up the far side of his face, to indicate bargaining was in order. "Of course," said Buck Waters, "everything you give goes to the cause. Remember that." "Try one," said McNab. The smaller Cuban with an affable smile held up a bundle. "Nice white teeth he's got," said Buck Waters encouragingly. "Don't let him shove one over on you," said McCarthy warningly. Waters and McNab were indignant. "Oh, I say fellows, come on. They are patriots." "If they could understand you they would go right up in the air." "Nevertheless and notwithstanding," said McCarthy, indicating with his finger, "I'll take this one; it appeals to me." "I'll worry this one," said Dink with equal astuteness. They took several puffs, watched by the enthusiastic spectators. "Well?" said McNab. Stover looked wisely at McCarthy, flirting the cigar between his careless fingers. "Not bad." "Rather good bouquet," said McCarthy, who knew no more than Stover. "Let's begin at eight dollars and stick at ten," said Dink. At that latter price, despite the openly expressed scorn of the American allies of the struggle for Cuban independence, Stover received a box of one hundred finest Havana cigars--fit for a museum, as McNab repeated--and saw the advance guard of the liberators disappear. "Dink, it's a shame," said McCarthy gleefully. "Finest cigars I ever smoked."