ame close the Spaniards saw us, and half a dozen marines
jumped up and pointed their rifles at our heads sticking out of the water.

"'Is there any officer in that boat to receive a surrender of prisoners of
war?' I shouted.

"An old man leaned out under the awning and waved his hand. It was Admiral
Cervera. The marines lowered their rifles and we were helped into the
launch.

"Then we were put in cells in Morro Castle. It was a grand sight a few
days later to see the bombardment, the shells striking and bursting around
El Morro. Then we were taken into Santiago. I had the court martial room
in the barracks. My men were kept prisoners in the hospital.

"From my window I could see the army moving, and it was terrible to watch
those poor lads coming across the opening and being shot down by the
Spaniards in the rifle-pits in front of me.

"Yesterday the Spaniards became as polite as could be. I knew something
was coming, and then I was exchanged."

[Illustration: QUEEN REGENT, MARIA CHRISTINA OF SPAIN.]

CHAPTER IX.

BY WIRE.

_May 30._ The auxiliary cruisers _Leyden_ and _Uncas_ made an attack on
one of the outlying blockhouses at Cardenas, plying their 3-pounders until
the Spaniards deserted their batteries.

_June 1._ The government of Paraguay represented to the American consul at
Asuncion that the Spanish torpedo-boat _Temerario_ was disabled, and had
been granted permission to remain at that port until the war between the
United States and Spain had come to an end.

In Spain there are many differences of opinion regarding the conduct of
the war, as evinced by a newspaper article to which was signed the name of
Emilio Castelar, the distinguished republican statesman.

Senor Castelar attacked the queen regent, reproaching her with being a
foreigner and unpopular, and with interfering unjustifiably in political
affairs. He compared her position with that of Queen Marie Antoinette on
the eve of the French revolution.

The matter came before the Senate; Duke de Roca demanded the prosecution
of Castelar, and other Senators expressed in violent terms their
indignation at Senor Castelar's conduct.

_June 2._ The British steamer _Restormel_, captured by the auxiliary
cruiser _St. Paul_ off Santiago de Cuba, was released by the government.
It was shown that the _Restormel_ sailed previous to the declaration of
war, there being no evi