the authority of the
commandant here?"

"I am Captain Dynamite, at your service, your excellency," said
O'Connor, making an elaborate bow and doffing his sombrero so that his
features were revealed to the now thoroughly frightened general.

Serano leaped back and for a moment seemed dazed. Then his eyes fell on
the eight soldiers standing back of the boys. His waning courage
returned, and drawing himself up, he pointed his finger at O'Connor as
he addressed the men.

"There is a price on that man's head. Seize him and see to it that he
does not escape."

Not a man stirred. O'Connor, who had rolled a cigarette, turned to
Serano.

"May I trouble you for a light, general. There is no reason why we
should not talk this thing over calmly."

"Dogs," continued the general, stamping his foot, "why do you not obey
me? Seize that man. He is a desperate outlaw."

Some of the men jeered and others took a threatening step or two in the
direction of the general, who jumped back into a corner of the corridor.

"What plot is this?" he gasped.

"Those are my men, general," said O'Connor calmly. "I should advise you
not to be so violent. They do not like your language, you see. May I
trouble you for that light?"

Serano drew out his match box and held it at arms length, lest O'Connor
come too near him.

"Have no fear, sir," said O'Connor, who saw his perturbation, "No harm
will come to you if you are wise enough to follow my instructions. You
see, you are helpless. We hold the jail and no one will discover the
plot until the watch is changed at midnight. Your guards are bound and
gagged, and enjoying a siesta with your spy, Villamonte, in there."
"Villamonte, too," exclaimed Serano, in surprise.

"Yes; he was kind enough to secure for me the entree to your jail, a
favor any one in town would have been eager to grant, I doubt not, but
Monte was the first to present himself. Perhaps you would like to see
him. You will find him in there with the others."

General Serano walked to the door of the officers' room and looked in.
He started back with an expression of anger.

"This is an outrage on her majesty's soldiers for which you shall pay
dearly, sir."

"Let's not talk about pay between gentlemen, General Serano. I think you
will admit that if it came to a settlement I have rather the best of it
just now, and if I were so inclined, I could remove one of Cuba's most
implacable enemies with one stroke of a machete. But I