At this the commanding officer smiled. Some of the soldiers laughed softly. They wanted to see the Yankee flinch, and were sure that he would--for had not their Havana newspapers told them that all the Yankees were cowards? But Hal, who felt reasonably sure that nothing short of violence on his part would result in his death just then, did not feel inwardly alarmed. Instead, he slowly folded his arms, closed one eye, and with the other squinted down the steel barrel that stared him in the face. “Bah!” muttered he who had aimed, now raising the muzzle of his piece. “The Yankee pig doesn’t even know what a gun is.” “Silence!” came sharply from the commanding officer. “Well,” murmured Hal, under his voice, “I am gratified to learn that somebody else besides myself has to hold his tongue. I wouldn’t like to do all the shutting-up!” It was all a picnic, so he fancied, since he was not only sure that the officers would find nothing compromising, but also sure that, whoever got the money, Senor Vasquez would not. But the Spaniard, who had been narrowly watching the boy, now interposed: “Captain, may a civilian subject suggest that the accused has not yet been searched?” “Senor,” replied the captain, bowing slightly, “your loyal suggestion shall be at once acted upon. I myself will make the search.” Thereupon the captain waved the soldiers away, most of them withdrawing to the corridor and doorway. “Stand beside the accused,” ordered the captain, nodding at two of his men, who accordingly ranged themselves on either side of the American. “Senor,” said the captain, coldly, “you will understand that what I am about to do is a duty imposed upon me.” There was a trace of civility about this, which caused Hal to reply politely: “If it is your duty, captain, I would be the last one to urge you from it. But I can tell you what I have about me. I have a pocket knife and a sum of money.” “Money?” uttered Vasquez, becoming alert at once. “It is mine--mine by right!” “You are mistaken,” replied Hal, coldly; “but if you need it you may have it. I have only three pesetas.” “Three pesetas?” faltered the Spanish merchant. He looked as angry as a man who is being robbed, for three pesetas is but about sixty cents. “You may have it,” rejoined Hal, with mock generosity, “if the officer permits me to present it to you.” Then he threw his hands up while the captain went through his pockets. That officer looked a trifle ashamed of his task, for an army officer is a gentleman, at least by education. But Hal’s pockets, under the most rigid search, showed no more than he had mentioned. “Off with your clothes, senor,” came the next command. Hal looked and felt a trifle surprised, but saw that the order was a serious one. “Shall I er--er--withdraw to the closet before disrobing?” he suggested. “Naturally not,” was the dry answer. There was no help for it. Hal had to obey, which he did with the poorest grace in the world.