"You do not believe me yet. I speak the truth. You may fire and kill me, but directly you do, there will be an end of you, your sailors and the ship." "Absurd!" "Not so, senor. My comrade is even now in the forward magazine. You know what a quantity of powder and gun-cotton is stored there. Very well, if you fire one shot he will blow up the ship." This startling assertion caused intense surprise. Some were inclined to attach importance to it, and to accept it as true, but the great majority entirely refused to believe the Spaniard's statement. "Faith, Don Juan, or whativer ye call yourself," cried Dan Daly, "it's to the marines ye must tell that yarn." "And they wouldn't swallow it, Dan," retorted a marine, who was standing by. "It is a fairy story you have given us," said an American officer. "There's an easy way to determine it, senor." "How?" "Let one of your men step forward and see." "Who would trust himself?" "I give you my word," said Juan, hotly, "as an officer and a gentleman, that he will not be hurt, but he must come without arms." "Shure, it's meself's the boy to do it!" cried Dan, handing his six-shooter and cutlass to a comrade as he spoke. "You go at your own risk, Dan," said the officer; "nobody asks you to do so." "Arrah, it's not a finger they'll lift against me! It's Young Glory would fix them for it if they did!" Dan's faith in Young Glory was unbounded. He little knew how desperate his young friend's own position was at the moment he was speaking. A buzz of admiration went round as the brave Irishman left his comrades, for there was no denying that it was a courageous act. However, Dan walked boldly past the Spanish officer and the two disarmed sentries until he came to the magazine. To find the door open astounded him, for he certainly had not believed one word that had been said. "Now, do you believe, fellow?" asked Manuel. "Seein's belavin', Yer Honor." "Very well; go and tell your friends so." Dan reached forward towards the fuse which was still burning. "Lay a hand on that, and I kill you," said the Spaniard, savagely. "Shure, an' it was only my pipe I was afther lightin'." "Get out of this," answered Manuel, hotly. "I am in no humor for trifling." "Well, boys, it's as true as gospel." "You saw it, Dan?" "Faith, yes, he's in the magazine, wid a great fuse lighted, an' shure it's mighty little between us and eternity." Juan spoke again. "I must see your captain," he said. "For what?" "To propose certain terms to him." "He will refuse." "Let him. At least, you have no right to do so for him. Recollect that my friend, Manuel, has you all in his power still." "Senor, no one will harm you; you are free to pass to Lieutenant Tyler's room. I believe you know where it is." "Yes." Through the close ranks of the American seamen Juan threaded his way, smiling pleasantly at the scowling faces and threatening looks he saw on all sides of him.