ome. I say, Fitz, old chap, let's be as long as we can. I do hate all
that fuss. It makes me feel so weak."

"Yes; I don't like it. That's the worst of foreigners. They are so
fond of show. I say, Poole, old chap, I've got such a grand idea."

"What is it?"

"Wait and see."

"Now, just you look here," said Poole; "you can't say but what I'm a
good-tempered sort of fellow, but if there's much more of this you'll
put me out. I'm not a little child, and you are not playing at
bob-cherry, so leave off dangling nothing before my lips and then
snatching it away."

"Ah, you wait and see," said Fitz.

Just then, as Poole turned upon him irritably, the gig touched the
gunboat's side, and the boys sprang on board, to be greeted by the mate
and the members of the prize crew, who had moored her well under the
guns of the little fort.

"Hullo, young fellows! I know what you want," cried the mate.

"Then you are cleverer than I am," said Poole, laughing, "for I don't."

"Then why have you come?"

"Ask Burnett here. He seems to be Grand Panjandrum now."

"You've come," said the mate, "by the President's orders, to bring me
ashore to drink wine and eat cake, or some nonsense of that kind, and
you may go back and tell him I can't leave my post."

"Wrong," said Fitz; and he hurried away forward, to come into sight
again waving his hand to Poole to join him.

"Whatever's the matter with the fellow?" said Poole to himself, as he
followed the middy.

Fitz met him half-way, caught him by the collar, and with his face
flushed and eyes flashing, whispered something in his ear.

"No!" cried Poole. "You don't mean it!"

"I do," said Fitz, and he whispered a few more words that made his
companion stare.

"Shall we?" cried Fitz excitedly.

"Oh, I don't know," replied Poole. "It would make such a scare."

"I don't care," said Fitz. "It will make Don Ramon ready to jump out of
his skin. I don't know what he won't say when he gets the news; and
besides, I feel as if I had a right."

Meanwhile the people were beginning to arrive to crowd the _salle_ where
the President and the skipper were ready to receive them, and the
President had risen at once, and amidst a tremendous burst of applause,
to begin a speech in which he intended to congratulate his hearers upon
the end of the war and the commencement of what he hoped would be a long
term of peace, when he and all present were startled by a terrific roar
as of thu