ly noted that they all wore Spanish uniforms, he smiled
triumphantly.

"Yes," said O'Connor, in English, and again the pressure against his
side brought Villamonte to his senses.

"Yes," he repeated to the officer, and the men filed silently in and the
door was closed behind them.

"Now," said O'Connor, turning to the officer in command, and for the
first time speaking in Spanish, "if you will kindly conduct us to the
cell of the American prisoners we shall be obliged to you, and if we
wish to please General Serano, haste is essential."

The officer preceded them down the corridor, which was lighted dimly,
and then ascended a winding stone staircase to the floor above. He
opened the door of a cell and stood aside for them to enter.

As Harry saw O'Connor's big form in the doorway he rushed forward with a
glad cry:

"I knew it, Bert, it's Captain Dynamite. I told you he would come."

"Hush," said O'Connor, as he took the youngsters in his arms, much as
one would two children and gave them a bear-like hug, "not so loud. We
can take no chances, for we are not out of the woods yet."

"It's the terrible Captain Dynamite," cried the officer in dismay. Then
he turned and fled down the stairs. Villamonte, relieved from the
pressure on his ribs, slunk towards the door. O'Connor saw him and
laughed.

"Run along, Monte, if you wish. I don't need you any more."

"But he will give the alarm," said Harry, in a frightened tone.

"No, I think not; but gather up your things, if you have any, for we
must lose no time in getting out of here."

"We've got nothing but what we stand in, Cap," said Harry, laughing,
"and this old Spanish uniform does not fit me very well, at that. Maybe
Miss Juanita is through with my clothes by this time."

"God bless you, youngster, they served her well."

"She is all right?"

"Right as a trivet and safe aboard the old _Mariella_ by this time,
thanks to you."

As they reached the lower corridor one of the men saluted and said:

"We put them in there, sir," pointing to a room opening off the
corridor, which was used by the officer in command of the watch.
O'Connor looked in and burst into one of his hearty laughs.

"Come here, youngsters, and take a last look at the valiant jailers," he
said. The boys stepped forward and looked into the room. The four
soldiers, gagged and bound hand and foot, were sitting with their backs
against the wall, and facing them, and also bound in the same
ign