Four hours out
from the plantation the party was halted by a score of men led by
a brigand named Cosetta, who is reported to be the right hand man
of the notorious Zapata himself.

"Cosetta, it appears, believed that he could force Carmody to
pay a large indemnity, in money, for the release of himself and
family and their woman friends. First of all, the Americans were
taken to a house near a deserted sugar mill, somewhere on the
coast opposite us. This sugar mill stands on a lagoon, and that
is as much of a description as Carmody could furnish in his hastily
penned letter. But we know that there are, along this part of
the coast, three such deserted sugar mills, each standing on a
lagoon.

"Plainly, the Carmodys must be in the house near one of these three
mills, but which one it is we cannot even guess. Admiral Fletcher
sent me the news two hours ago, by wireless. Ever since then we
have been in earnest communication upon the subject, and now I
have my orders in the matter."

"It would be possible, of course, for us to visit each one of
these lagoons in turn. However, if we visited the wrong mill
first, these bandits undoubtedly have some means of signaling
to comrades. Our landing party might be observed, and the news
of the attempt at rescue would be signaled by fires or otherwise,
and the discovery of our designs would undoubtedly result in the
Carmody party being butchered at once.

"Acting under the orders of Cosetta, or, I might say, under his
threats, Mr. Carmody has sent appeals in every direction he could
think of for the funds to pay the hundred thousand dollar ransom
demanded for the party. These requests have been carried on through
agents of Cosetta, but none of the appeals have borne fruit.
Wearied, Cosetta has announced that on a certain morning, if the
ransom has not arrived, Carmody and all the members of his party,
even including the children, shall be shot and buried in hidden
graves. There is little doubt that Cosetta will carry out his
threat, and to-morrow morning is the time set for this wholesale
murder."

Fire flashed in the eyes of the Navy officers who heard this
announcement.

"As you may be certain," continued Captain Gales, "Admiral Fletcher
has wired me that this proposed atrocity must be prevented, and
the American captives rescued at all hazards. Now, attend me
while I show you the detail chart for this part of the coast."

Captain Gales turned to his desk, where