ons of an
imbecile will oftentimes be frankly responded to, where a wise man
might ask in vain, and my first play was to establish my character as a
fool. That I had succeeded was already evident.

The statuesque guard before the cabin brought his musket up at our
approach with so smart a snap as to startle me into a moment's apparent
terror. To the officer's request that we be admitted to the presence
of the Captain, he responded briefly that that officer had gone forward
half an hour before. My guide glanced about as if uncertain where he
had better turn in search.

"Did he go down the hatch?" he queried shortly.

"I know not, Senor Gonzales," was the respectful reply. "But I believe
he may be with the prisoners' guard below."

The officer promptly started forward, and, awaiting no formal
invitation, I shambled briskly after, keeping as close as possible to
his heels. Could I gain a brief glimpse below the deck it would be
worth more to me than any amount of blind questioning, and my heart
thumped painfully in remembrance of what hung upon his movements. With
a single sharp word to the sentry at the hatch he swung himself
carelessly over the edge, mysteriously disappearing into the gloom
beneath. That was no time for hesitancy, and I was already preparing
to do likewise, when the guard, a surly-looking brute, promptly
inserted the point of his bayonet into my ragged garment, accompanying
this kindly act with a stern order to remain where I was.

"An' what fo' yo' do dat, Senor Sojer?" I cried, in unaffected anguish,
rubbing the injured part tenderly, yet speaking loud so that my words
should be distinctly audible below. "Dat oppercer man he done tol' me
to foller him to de Captain. What fo' yo' stop me wid dat toastin'
fork?"

"It's all right, Manuel," sung out a voice in Spanish from the lower
darkness. "Let the fool nigger come down."

The thoroughly disgusted soldier muttered something about his orders,
that his lieutenant had not ever authorized him to pass fools.
Overlooking this personal allusion, and fearing more serious opposition
from some one higher in authority, I took advantage of his momentary
doubt, promptly swung my legs over the edge of the hatch opening,
groped blindly about with my bare feet until they struck the rungs of a
narrow ladder, and went scrambling down into the semi-darkness of
between-decks, managing awkwardly to miss my final footing, thus
flopping in a ragged heap at