an stepped forward.

"One moment, gentlemen," said he, speaking very politely, and in soft
tones. "You do not seem to understand the position of affairs."

"We know you are traitors."

Juan smiled.

"It is not worth arguing such a point. Let us get to business. You
propose to kill us?"

"Unless you surrender at once."

"Senor, you don't understand how matters stand. We are not in your
power; it is you who are in ours."

"What!"

A loud cry of derision burst forth.

"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