ater and began
to swim to shore.

The other men, afraid to move, stood motionless as statues.

"Dan! Dan!" shouted Young Glory now. "I believe he's near. I heard a
noise."

The men looked suspiciously at him.

Jose Castro was very ready with his advice.

"Cut your boats adrift!" he cried.

"No," returned Young Glory. "No man must move or lift a finger, or I
fire the powder."

Young Glory clearly commanded the situation, but how long would it last?
One of the men who had swam ashore might have a rifle, and if so, no
doubt he would fire at Young Glory.

But the sergeant was not satisfied even with this. For he saw that if
Young Glory fell dead in the ammunition boat the torch would fall too,
and then what would happen? It was too dreadful to think about.

Bang!

It was Jose Castro who was firing. But as he was only possessed of a
six-shooter and the distance was great, Young Glory did not stand in
fear of any of the bullets the spy might send.

However, he told him to desist, as it was quite possible he might do
some injury. Jose sternly declined, and when Young Glory threatened to
blow up the boats, he told him to do so.

"Well, let him fire," muttered Young Glory. "He does good, really, for
he's making a noise, and that's what I want. Dan! Dan!"

Here Young Glory began to shout again.

"Faith, it's here I am!" said a well known voice, and immediately the
bow of a boat shot around the nearest point of land.

"Alone!" cried Young Glory, in dismay. He had expected to see Dan come
with not less than three of the cruiser's boats.

It was a terrible disappointment.

"Shure, an' it was your cries that brought me."

"And you didn't see the light?"

"No."

"Where are the others?"

"The skipper didn't send them."

"Why not?"

"Begorra, it's not near the cruiser I've been at all, at all."

"That accounts for it," muttered Young Glory. "Well, I'm in a pretty
mess now, and I've dragged Dan into it, which is worse."

"It's a great illumination ye have there, Young Glory."

"Yes."

"An' mebbe it's friends of yours these gentlemen are?"

"Very good friends. See! there's not one of them will do anything to
hurt me."

"An' why?"

"Because, Dan, I'm standing with powder and shot all around me, and if I
happened to drop this torch--I threatened to do it--the consequence
would be very serious."

"Is it here ye're afther stayin' the night?"

"I can't go, Dan, an' I won't let these friends of mine