had much business to transact with mysterious strangers,
occupying a full fortnight; after which Saint Kitts, Antigua,
Montserrat, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Barbados,
Saint Vincent, Grenada, and finally Trinidad (to see the wonderful Pitch
Lake) were visited: by which time the month of February in the year 1895
had arrived, and Don Hermoso became anxious to be at home again, as
certain very important and momentous events were pending, the progress
of which he was anxious to watch as closely as might be. Wherefore, on
a certain evening, the yacht weighed her anchor shortly before two bells
in the first dogwatch, and, steaming close past the Five Islands, the
Diego Islands, Gaspar Grande, and Mono Island, swept out through the
Boca de Navios, and shaped a course north-west by west for Cape Tiburon,
in the island of Hayti, which was passed at daybreak on the morning but
one following; the yacht finally entering Havana harbour and making fast
to a buoy at eight o'clock on the morning of the succeeding day. The
Montijo family landed immediately after breakfast, and took the first
available train to Pinar del Rio, hoping to arrive home the same
evening: but Jack remained on board the yacht, as she was by this time
so exceedingly foul that it had been decided to dock her and have her
cleaned in readiness for any emergency; and, Singleton being her
ostensible owner, it was deemed a wise and prudent thing that he should
remain at Havana to personally arrange for the work to be done, lest
suspicion as to the genuineness of his ownership should arise in the
minds of any of the Spanish officials.

As Jack went hither and thither about his business, after having seen
his friends off by train, he was astonished at the change that had taken
place in the appearance of Havana since he had last seen it on that
memorable day when the Capitan-General had visited the _Thetis_ and
persuaded--or, rather, practically compelled--him to lend that vessel
for the purpose of attempting the capture of the _James B. Potter_.
Then, Havana was simply a busy seaport; now, it was a fortress preparing
for war. The streets were full of troops, fresh landed from the
transports in the harbour and marching to the railway stations to
entrain for various parts of the island; guns, ammunition and ambulance
wagons were rumbling and rattling over the cobbles; excited aides-de-
camp were furiously spurring hither and thither, the air was cl