think best."

"By George!" exclaimed Adrian as they descended the stairs to the
patio, "this is getting serious."

"What?" queried Donald.

"Why this affair of Billie and the young lady we have just
left."

"Nonsense!" from Billie. "It isn't half as serious as what I saw
at Moreno."

"No!" laughed Donald. "I saw that myself; but Josie is an
American. Hey, Ad?"

"I don't think it's very nice to be making remarks about young
ladies in their absence," retorted Adrian, bristling up.

"Oh, come now, Adrian!" laughed Billie. "You started it. But what
do you make out of Santiago?"

"He's evidently a rich old chap with a bug. That's all."

"Well," commented Billie, with a nod of his head, "strange things
do happen when you travel. Who'd have thought we'd ever see the
old chap again, and at a time like this?" and he went back to
where Adrian and Donald had stabled the horses, to see if there
was anything he could do for the wounded animal.

When Lieutenant Blunt was made acquainted with the conditions
prevailing in the house, he immediately took possession of the
lower floor and from that time on until the arrival of General
Funston with the Fifth Brigade, it was made one of the official
residences.

The week following the occupation of Vera Cruz by the American
forces was a busy one for our boys. Because of their intimate
knowledge with the Spanish language, they were continually in
demand. There was never a verbal message from the American
Admiral to some Mexican official but what they were called upon,
and they very soon made friends of every Jackie and marine in the
city.

Ten days later the boys stood upon the wharf awaiting the arrival
of the first boatload of General Funston's regulars from the big
transports which had anchored in the harbor the night before.
Because of the shallowness of the water, everything in Vera Cruz
harbor has to be brought ashore in small boats, known as
lighters. As the boys watched the first of these to approach
there was something in the face and bearing of the officer in
command which attracted their attention.

"By George!" exclaimed Donald, "I seem to know that face. Don't
you, Billie?"

"Does look kind o' familiar. Where have we seen him?"

"I'll tell you!" cried Adrian. "It's the lieutenant who was in
charge of the patrol on the Rio Grande."

"Lieutenant Grant!" exclaimed Billie. "Sure as you're born. Well
this is luck!"

"Luck? What do you mean?"

"Why, maybe