xcellency wishes shall be my pleasure," stammered the
interpreter.

"Good; now we understand each other, Monte."

CHAPTER XXI

GENERAL SERANO MEETS CAPTAIN DYNAMITE

The new cell in which the boys had been placed when the escape of Miss
Juanita was discovered, looked out through its barred windows onto the
main street of the little straggling town. In the distance, although the
house was concealed from view by intervening buildings, they could see
the American flag floating over the consulate. This outlook had afforded
them some occupation during the day, and even when night fell they stood
together gazing silently out into the deserted street, lighted only by
the brilliant moon. They began now to feel that their position was
critical, and Bert, who more easily yielded to the depressing effects of
circumstances, bemoaned his fate and all the series of events that had
led up to their present unenviable plight. He was inclined to blame
Harry for the initial step.

"If you only hadn't taken it into your Quixotic head to try to aid
Captain Dynamite, who is able to take care of himself, we might now be
safe on the _Mariella_," he growled, "instead of waiting patiently for
some one to take us out and shoot us."

"Why, Bert, old man, we've got two more days before we step out and play
targets. Many things may happen in that time."

"Nothing to help us out of this scrape that I can see."

"Mr. Wyman will surely do all that lies in his power to aid us."

"Yes, but you know yourself that since Serano suspects his connection
with the escape of Miss Juanita his power has been very much curtailed."

"Well, there's Captain Dynamite yet to be counted on."

"Humph, where is he and what could he do if he were here?"

"I don't know, Bert, but you can't make me believe that he would abandon
us completely to our fate. It's not like him, I tell you."

"If all the hope we have is centred in Dynamite or Wyman I think it is
time we began to think of doing something for ourselves."

"Sure," answered Harry in surprise, "but what under the sun can we do,
Bert?"

"We might----" Bert hesitated and glanced nervously at his companion;
"we might effect some compromise with Serano."

"How?" asked Harry, coldly.

"We might agree to tell him what he wants to know about how we got to
the island when we can be assured that it will injure no one."

"There are two reasons why that plan would be useless. In the first
place how