"Has he anything in the drinking line?" cried a young lieutenant. "That's more to the point." A shout of approval followed. "You don't speak very often, Ruiz," said one of the officers, "but when you do, you display the wisdom of Solomon." The officers, making themselves quite at home, bustled about the hut, as Dan had done, searching for drink. Young Glory was on thorns all the time. Detection seemed imminent. "Sit down, senores," he cried. "I will myself search for the wine." "But it's found," cried one of the officers, gayly. "Why, my good fellow, your friend must be in the liquor business. He's a regular cellar of wine here. Come on, gentlemen; take your choice. Here's claret from France, Rhine wine, brandy, Amontillado from Spain, and whisky and wine from America." "Nothing American for me!" "Good sense again, Ruiz. Let us try the Amontillado. It will remind us of our country." The proposition found favor, and several bottles were opened, and the soldiers helped themselves. "Your friend's a smuggler," said one of the officers to Young Glory. The latter shook his head. "My good fellow, it's a matter of indifference to us what he is. He's a benefactor of his species, anyway. Don't you agree with me, gentlemen?" They all raised their glasses and shouted boisterously. Young Glory began to breathe more freely now. There was not a word said as to the escape of Dan Daly and the search for him. Very soon he discovered from the talk that the officers were in complete ignorance of it. They were posted with their regiment a considerable distance from the village, and were now on their way to headquarters there. What they had said was true. They had merely stopped at the hut in the hope of obtaining refreshment. No doubt they would soon take their departure. The wine loosened their tongues, and they began to talk freely. Young Glory lost not a word of what was being said, for it seemed likely that he would hear something that might prove valuable. "Where to to-night, Ruiz?" asked one man. "Why ask him? He'll be waiting for the fair Julia. Her eyes will glance at him from the balcony." "Wrong for once, gentlemen," said Ruiz. "Captain Calderon is inconstant," laughed another officer. "Oh! Ruiz, I did not think that of you." "And if you did, you would be wrong. No, comrades, luck's against me to-night. I'm on duty." "Garrison duty?" "Worse." "Can anything be worse?" "I said so." "Tell us, Ruiz." "I'm going to Valmosa." "What for?" "There is a lot of ammunition collected there." "I heard of it." "Well, it's to be moved to-night to this place." "You'll have hot work. The rebels are in force between here and Valmosa." "Everybody knows that." "I wish you good-by, Ruiz," said one of the officers, solemnly. "Old fellow, I pity you!" "Pshaw! there's no danger. It's only the discomfort I'm thinking of. We are going to bring the ammunition to this place by water." "What!"