"It's great ye are, Young Glory. There's nobody but yourself could decave them. It's time we have for talkin' now, an' it's mesilf 'd like to know how ye stopped them spalpeens from shootin' me." "When I saw you taken prisoner, Dan, I determined to save you. The boats went back to the cruiser, but I didn't." "Ye stayed on shore?" "Yes. By good luck I managed to get into a house while everyone was away, and get a change of clothes. Then I came to look after you. Why, I was present when they tried you." "No!" "But I was. It's not Young Glory's way to desert a comrade, Dan." The Irishman pressed his hand warmly. "It's the lucky man who has yourself for a friend, Young Glory." Dan began foraging about the hut now. "It's food an' drink I'm afther," he explained, "an' partic'larly the last. Ha! what's this? Wine! Well, it can't be helped." "What did you expect to find?" "A drop of the craythur, shure. It's much I'd give for three fingers of whisky." The two seamen made a good meal of some cold fish and bread and the bottle of wine, most of which latter going down Dan's throat. Then Dan lit his pipe. "Hurroo! but it's great. It's happy as a king I'm feelin'." "For how long? We can't stay here, Dan; we must get out of this." "But not till it's dark." "Perhaps not." "It's Captain Miles won't go away, Young Glory. He'll be afther kapin' the cruiser near." "Yes, I feel certain he will. I've no doubt he's doing his best to rescue you, Dan." And so the two talked on, Dan smoking and Young Glory thinking how they might make their escape. It seemed as if night would come and find them chatting. An interruption took place. Young Glory from time to time went to the door of the hut and glanced up and down the road. Now he came back quickly. "Your hiding-place again, Dan." "Why?" "There are more soldiers coming." "Murther!" "There will be if you don't hurry." The warning was enough. Dan was out of sight in a moment. This second visit to the hut alarmed Young Glory greatly. He saw that things were in a very critical position. In the event of a thorough search it was absolutely certain that Dan would be discovered. As the soldiers approached the hut, Young Glory tried hard to maintain his calm. He saw with surprise that all these men were officers. So much he could tell from their uniforms. When they came to the hut they found Young Glory sitting at the table, busily engaged in mending some fishing lines which he had found in the hut. He sprang up quickly as the leader entered, and saluted him respectfully. "Welcome, senor capitan." "My good fellow," answered the Spanish officer, "myself and my friends here won't interfere with your work. Go on, I beg. We only seek a short rest." Young Glory put the fishing lines away. "It is nothing," he said. "My friend who lives here is away to-day, and I am keeping house for him, so I thought I would do a little work."