Deep in thought as he wrestled with this problem, Hawley was walking along the Avenida Juarez on his way back to the hotel, when he encountered two men coming arm in arm up the street toward him. One of this pair, who wore the uniform of an army officer, staggered as he walked as though under the influence of liquor. The other, a good-looking, dapper young American, was in civilian clothes, and displayed no outward evidence of being in the same condition as his companion. The sight of these two together was a startling surprise to the Camera Chap; for the dapper young American was Gale, of the _News_, and the man who staggered was Captain Ernesto Reyes, of the engineers’ corps, in command of the prison guard of El Torro. Hawley had not as yet met Reyes. Although, when Virginia Throgmorton had first mentioned the army captain, he had registered a resolve to make the latter’s acquaintance as soon as possible, he had since changed his mind as to the wisdom of such a step. It had suggested itself to his imagination that situations might subsequently arise wherein it would be an advantage not to be recognized by the custodian of El Torro prison; so, instead of seeking his acquaintance, Hawley had cautiously avoided him. But he knew Reyes by sight, and was quite sure, now, of the identity of Gale’s companion. Until this moment he had been unaware that Captain Reyes and the _News_ man were acquainted. The discovery that they not only knew each other, but, apparently, were boon companions, came as a shock to him. He wondered uneasily whether it was a mere coincidence, or whether Gale had reasons of his own for getting into the good graces of the man who had charge of President Felix. He was not left long in doubt on this point. Before he had a chance to dodge, Gale recognized him, and, tugging at the arm of his staggering companion, came quickly toward him. “Well, if this isn’t an odd thing, I’d like to know what is,” he began exuberantly. “I mean our meeting you right here and now, Hawley, old scout. Strangest thing that’s happened to me in a dog’s age.” “I don’t see anything so very remarkable about it,” replied Hawley, noting that although Gale was steady on his feet, there was a thickness in his voice that was not normal. “San Cristobal is not a very large city, and the Avenida Juarez is one of its principal thoroughfares; so what is so strange about our meeting here?” “Because we were just this minute talking about you, old pal,” Gale explained, “and my old college chum, here, was saying how much he would like to meet you. Isn’t that right, Ernesto?” Captain Reyes blinked his eyes rapidly and murmured something which was so unintelligible that the Camera Chap couldn’t even tell whether it was English or Spanish. “You were talking about me?” exclaimed Hawley, his eyes fixed searchingly on the _News_ man’s flushed face. “That’s very flattering. May I inquire in what way I figured in your conversation?”