ang forward
and grasped his father's hand with a squeeze that made the older man
wince.

"Father!" he cried. "It's really you!"

The American official clapped the boy on the shoulder with praise and a
look of pride.

"Reckon that high-powered air rifle came in handy, eh?" he answered.

"Was it you, Father, who did the shooting?"

"No, not me. Wish I could shoot like that! We brought along the crack
sharp-shooter of the camp."

One of the Marines looked up and grinned.

"This chap," the official continued, "could hit the hind leg of a fly
that's scratching himself on a post fifty yards away!"

Then, to Stuart's enormous surprise, he turned to the prisoners with an
air of authority.

"In the name of the United States," he said, "you are arrested. You,
Cesar Leborge, for having plotted against American authority in Haiti,
while holding rank in the Haitian Army; also for having accepted a bribe
from other Haitian officials for betraying your fellow-conspirator; also
for having given money and issued orders to a band of Cacos to post
themselves in ambush with the purpose and intent of murdering Haitian
and American citizens.

"You, Manuel Polliovo," he continued, turning to the second prisoner,
"are arrested on a Cuban warrant for the murder of one Gonzales Elivo, a
guard at the prison from which you escaped two years ago; also upon a
charge of assault and attempted murder against this negro minister, for
which there are several witnesses present; also on a charge of attempted
murder of Stuart Garfield, son of an American citizen; also on a Haitian
warrant for conspiring against the peace of the Republic."

Stuart stood with wide-open eyes, watching the denouement. He stepped
back, and waited to see what would be said to Cecil, who, so far, had
remained motionless.

The Marines, at a word from their officer, turned to go, taking the
prisoners with them.

"And Cecil, Father?" the boy asked, in a low voice.

"Mr. Guy Cecil, my son," replied the American official, "is my very good
friend, as well as yours, and the very good friend of the United States.
No man knows more of the inner workings of affairs in the West Indies,
and he has the confidence of his Government.

"It was through him that I was first advised of this plot to seize the
northern peninsula of Haiti, from the Citadel of La Ferriere to the Mole
St. Nicholas, to make of this stretch a small republic as was done at
Panama, and to sell the Mole St