the general told me."

"Everything is in readiness. There is no reason for delay."

"I think you are right, colonel. There seems to be every reason for
hurrying. You spoke of danger."

"Yes."

"From what quarter do you expect it?"

"From the Americans. The rebels are on shore. They can do us no harm."

"How can the Americans do so?"

"They have a cruiser in these waters."

"She will not see us."

"Who knows? Those ships carry great searchlights now, and they can light
up the water."

"Let them. They have to sink us after they find us and it's not easy to
hit a small boat at long range."

"Good. That's the way to talk, capitan. You are a man after my own
heart."

Young Glory was leaving the room when he passed a man he thought he
knew, but it was somewhat dark and he only had a mere glance.

He heard a few words, though, that disquieted him somewhat.

"That's Captain Calderon--" it was the commandant speaking--"he leads
the expedition."

"Calderon of Lopez' division?"

"Yes."

"Caramba! but he's grown."

With beating heart Young Glory hurried on.

"I know that voice," he muttered. "Strange! where can I have heard it?"

During the last few months he had been through so many scenes, and he
had met with so many strange faces, that he was quite unable to satisfy
himself as to the identity of the owner of the voice.

The boats were all in readiness.

Two large craft contained ammunition. A smaller one was in advance,
filled with sailors and soldiers, in order to tow the heavier craft
along.

Young Glory speedily took in the whole of the arrangements. He might
have preferred to make some changes, but his object now was to get out
of Valmosa with all speed. Rapidly he gave his orders. The men seemed to
have no suspicion, and all was going smoothly. Yet Young Glory could not
get out of his mind the stranger who had passed him at the commandant's
headquarters.

"Cast off!" he cried.

Instantly the men on the pier let the boats loose, and the men bent to
their oars.

"Row, my lads, long and steady. You've a hard pull before you," said
Young Glory, "and you'll need all your strength."

The sailors showed at once they did not intend to overexert themselves.

"Rather different to our blue jackets," was Young Glory's reflection.
"Why, Dan Daly and half a dozen of our fellows would lick the whole
crowd."

There was commotion on shore at this instant. Anxiously Young Glory
looked towards the pie