the heroes of Las Guasimas, of San Juan, and of the Santiago
trenches, for Colonel Roosevelt and his men were coming home, and the
_Miami_, on which they were embarked, was nearing the wharf. Her decks
were crowded with men, worn and weary, clad in battle-stained uniforms,
and filled with a great joy at once more breathing the air of their
native land. Already was Rollo recognizing familiar faces, and eagerly
pointing them out.

"But where is my boy?" cried Mrs. Morris. "I cannot see him."

The others did not answer, for they too were greatly disappointed at
not discovering the face they most longed to see.

At length the slow-moving ship was made fast, its gang-plank was run
out, and the eager troopers began to swarm ashore. Some were so weak
that comrades were obliged to support their feeble steps; but all were
radiant with the joy of home-coming. Cheer after cheer greeted each
troop, as with silken guidons fluttering above them they marched from
the ship, and finally a perfect roar of welcome announced the
appearance of their Colonel.

"There's Teddy!" cried Rollo, with a feeble attempt at waving his hat.
"Oh, how good it is to see him again!"

"But my boy! Where is my boy?" cried the distracted mother, crowding
her way to the very front rank of spectators. As she did so, Colonel
Roosevelt passed close to her, and she clutched his arm.

"Oh, sir, my boy! Where is my boy? Do not tell me he is dead!"

"It is Mrs. Norris, Colonel," explained Rollo Van Kyp, pressing
forward, "and she is disappointed at not seeing the Lieutenant."

"Thank God, my dear fellow, that you are alive!" exclaimed the Colonel,
grasping Van Kyp's hand. Then, in a lower tone, he added, "We had to
leave poor Norris behind. He was too ill to be brought on a transport,
but he may come at any time on a hospital-ship. Here is a note for his
family from one of the hospital nurses. My dear madam," he added,
turning to Mrs. Norris, "your son is alive, but detained for a time at
Santiago. If you will excuse me now, I will see you again very
shortly, and tell you of all the fine things he has done."

With this the embarrassed Colonel passed on, thankful at having thus
concluded one of the interviews with anxious parents that he so dreaded.

For a moment Mrs. Norris stared after him in speechless agony; for the
mother's keen ear had overheard his low-spoken words to Rollo Van Kyp,
and she knew that her boy had been left in Cuba too il