The reporter smiled. “Oh, yes; it’s true enough. When I heard about your being in trouble, I figured that my pull with Portiforo might do you some good, so I hiked to the palace and did my little best to give you a boost. But,” he added, with a show of vexation, “I can’t understand why the president should have told you of my humble efforts. He promised that he wouldn’t mention it.” “I’m glad that he did,” the Camera Chap said impulsively. “It was a mighty decent thing for you to do, Gale, considering that the relations between us have been--er--somewhat strained. Without meaning any offense, I’d like to know why you did it?” The _News_ man shrugged his shoulders. “After all, blood is thicker than water,” he responded sentimentally. “I couldn’t stand by and see a countryman of mine made a target for Baracoan bullets, when it was in my power to save him, even though that countryman hadn’t acted quite fairly to me in the past. Hang it all! I flatter myself I’m big enough to do a good turn even for an enemy.” “Well, we’re not going to be enemies any longer,” the good-natured snapshot expert declared, once more impulsively offering his hand to his supposed benefactor, who accepted it without a qualm. Lieutenant Ridder, who had encountered Hawley outside the national palace, and accompanied him to the steamship office, had listened to this conversation with some surprise. “Who’s your friend, Frank?” he inquired with a frown, after they had left Gale. “I can’t say that I’m stuck on his looks. On first impression, I’d size him up as a mighty slippery proposition. And as for owing your liberty to him, I think you’re mistaken about that. I know of somebody else who deserves most of the credit.” “Who is he?” the Camera Chap demanded eagerly. The naval officer’s eyes twinkled. “It isn’t a he--it’s a young woman. I wonder if you could guess her name.” “Miss Throgmorton?” “Good guess,” Ridder chuckled. “Yes; it was the United States minister’s daughter that did the trick for you. She forced her father to use his influence with Portiforo.” “Forced him? How do you know?” “She told me so herself. I suppose she’d be angry with me if she knew I was telling you a word about it, but I think it only right that you should hear of her efforts in your behalf. She went to her governor and told him that if you were guilty she was guilty also, as she had assisted you to take that mysterious snapshot--she didn’t tell me what it was--and that unless you were set free she was going to give herself up to the authorities as accessory before the fact. There’s some class to a girl who’ll go that far to help a friend.” “Some class!” Hawley repeated, a tender look in his eyes. “Say! She’s the pluckiest, whitest girl I ever met.” The navy man grinned. “Well, you and she could form a mutual admiration society,” he confided to his companion. “You certainly stand high with her, old man. She----”