The Camera Chap smiled. “There’ll be work and danger enough for you, too,” he promised. “If I’m caught and it comes out that you were mixed up in the plot--and I’m afraid that’s bound to come out--I can see a peck of trouble coming your way. Portiforo will probably demand your surrender as accessory, and even if your skipper refuses to give you up, there’ll probably be a court-martial in Washington in store for you, and possibly dismissal from the service. All this, of course, is to be dreaded only in the event of failure. But I’m not going to fail. I disagree with you both about my scheme not being practical. Of course, if we had to go up against a well-organized, highly disciplined garrison, I’d have to admit that our chances of success were scant. But Portiforo’s army is a joke. Those soldiers at the fortress remind me of a lot of supes in a comic-opera chorus. With a crowd like that to deal with, it would be possible to get away with almost anything. If Felix is still in the same cell--if they haven’t moved him--it’s going to be mere child’s play to get the snapshot and make my escape--much easier than our other attempt, Miss Throgmorton.” “But if they have moved him?” Virginia suggested fearfully. “And it is very likely that they have. It is only reasonable to suppose that after our last attempt, those scoundrels would have taken that precaution. If they have him locked up in another dungeon--one that cannot be reached from the outside--what are you going to do then?” He shrugged his shoulders. “In that event,” he replied carelessly, “my job is going to be a little more difficult, of course. I shall have to go inside the fortress and hunt around until I find him. But let’s be optimistic.” Although they still demurred at the project, they failed to dampen his ardor or persuade him to give it up. CHAPTER XXXVIII. LIKE A BAD PENNY. When Virginia returned to the embassy, an unpleasant surprise awaited her in the form of a good-looking, dapper young man who greeted her with a sardonic grin. “Hardly expected to see me back again, I suppose?” he remarked quizzically. “I certainly did not,” the girl replied coldly. “I supposed that you were in New York by this time, Mr. Gale.” “I changed my mind just after the boat sailed out of San Juan harbor, and went ashore in the pilot boat,” the reporter informed her. “There were certain reasons why I deemed it advisable to return to Baracoa, so I cabled the office that they’d have to struggle along without me for a little while longer, and caught the next boat back to Puerto Cabero.” He chuckled. “I rather thought you’d be astonished to see me, Virginia. Almost as astonished, I’ll wager, as you were to see our friend Hawley come back again.” The girl gave an involuntary start of surprise, and her face paled. “Then you----” she began, but caught herself quickly. “Mr. Hawley back again!” she exclaimed, with an air of incredulity which was well simulated. “Surely that can’t be possible!”