remained in the neighborhood
of San Juan, looking for Spanish ships, and the gun-boat and its prize
steamed away through the Caribbean Sea.

CHAPTER XII.

THE SPANISH PLOT--YOUNG GLORY'S DANGER.

During the night the two ships parted company.

The wind blew fiercely, and the gun-boat being of light draft went in
towards the land, the cruiser with its deeper draft preferring to
weather the storm in the open sea.

In the morning nothing could be seen of the gun-boat, but this was no
reason for delay. Apparently the Spanish cruiser was well able to take
care of itself, and as the destination of the ships had been determined
upon, they might go there, either in company or separately, it mattered
not which.

They were bound for Key West.

The prisoners for the most part were kept below. They numbered over four
hundred, and it was not safe to allow such a number of men, even though
unarmed, to wander at large through the ship.

The officers were free to do what they pleased.

They passed the time on deck mostly, keeping strictly to themselves, and
wearing savage and sullen faces as they paced to and fro.

"Faith, it's a handsome lot they are," muttered Dan. "It's myself'll be
glad when we've landed you. I'd rather sail in a cattle ship."

"No accounting for tastes, Dan," laughed Young Glory.

"It's an eye we must kape on the dons," said Dan.

"An eye?"

"Faith, two. It's the slippery spalpeens they are."

"But they won't try to slip away."

"Arrah, it's worse they'll do!"

"What?"

"Shure, it's many they are to us. If we're not afther watchin' them
closely, they'll try an' take the ship!"

Young Glory laughed.

"Fists against rifles don't count for much. We're armed and they're not.
Don't forget that."

"I don't, but it's yourself knows they're as full of treachery as a
sausage is of meat."

"I have no fear of them, and I'm quite sure, Mr. Tyler feels the same.
Of course he's taking every precaution, but unless those four hundred
men below can get out of their quarters, what harm can the officers and
the few men who are at large do?"

Dan scratched his head.

"It's a warnin' I've given ye! Don't be afther blamin' me if it
happens!"

"That's like Dan," said Young Glory, looking after him. "Prove to him
he's wrong, and he won't admit it. He only gets sulky. Well, this time
he's clearly out of it, and I'll make him say so when we reach Key
West."

It was drawing towards evening now. Y