themselves in these waters."

It seemed as if Young Glory was right.

The time passed, and though a good lookout was kept, not one of the
enemy's fleet hove in sight.

The Cristobal Colon was running along the northern coast of Cuba now.
Since she had parted with the gun-boat she had seen nothing of the
latter. No doubt the Nashville was on its way to Key West.

The third day from Porto Rico found the cruiser lying off Mulas. The
island jutted out prominently here, and the water being deep, the prize
steamed along close in to shore.

"What's that?" asked Dan.

"A town, to be sure."

"An' it's a quare flag that's flying!"

"It's the Cuban flag. All this coast is in the hands of the insurgents."

"More power to them!"

"So say I, but what are we doing?"

"Running in to shore, Young Glory, though it's meself can't say why."

"It's water we want," said Lieutenant Tyler. "There's a good landing
place here, deep water, and water, too, and as the town is in the hands
of the insurgents, it's too good a chance to lose. Put her right in," he
cried. "We run no risk."

The seamen were delighted at the prospect. Very few of them had stepped
on dry land for many weeks, and it seemed certain that they would have a
few hours ashore at any rate.

"The patriots will be delighted when they find we've taken the Spanish
cruiser, sir."

"I expect they know it. This boat's a different build to anything in our
navy."

Boom! At this point a gun was fired from shore.

"Giving us a salute!" cried a young officer.

"Of a kind I don't like," answered the lieutenant in a sharp tone.
"Salutes are all very well, but not when given in the form of a shell."

The cruiser replied by firing one of its saluting guns.

"No doubt a mistake," was the lieutenant's comment, "but very careless
not to know that the gun was shotted."

Boom!

There was a furious shout on the cruiser now. For another gun was fired,
and this time a great shell passed over the deck, landing in the water
about three hundred yards away.

"No mistake this time!" cried Young Glory, savagely.

"Must be. Up with our colors. Show them another American flag. Then
there can't be any excuse."

Up went the Stars and Stripes, amid the cheers of the sailors.

The instant it did the firing on shore began in real earnest.

A number of masked batteries opened fire on the cruiser, and shot and
shell flew to the right and left of it.

Lieutenant Tyler was beside hims