d his head into his shirt. "Shouldn't be a bit
surprised when we get on deck to find a lot of evil-faced men armed to
the teeth--you know pirates are always evil-faced. By the way, did you
ever know how the expression 'armed to the teeth' originated? Well, you
see, after a pirate has stuck his belt full of pistols and cutlasses,
and has both hands full of guns, he just chucks a dirk in his mouth and
then, of course, he is armed to the teeth. Singular how you fellows are
always drawing on my fund of general information. One dollar, please."

"Stop your nonsense, Midget," said Harry. "Remember what Captain
Dynamite said last night. We are in the zone of danger to-day."

The noise had now somewhat subsided, and by the time the boys were
dressed the usual quiet pervaded the ship.

Harry stepped from their stateroom into the main cabin and was surprised
to see the captain sitting quietly at the table with his back turned to
him. His elbows were resting on the table and his face was in his hands.
He was looking intently at some object in front of him. He did not move
as Harry approached, and the boy could see that he was gazing at a
portrait.

"Good morning, sir," said Harry, stopping at a respectful distance.
"Have we struck the danger zone, yet?"

"Danger--danger?"

The captain almost shrieked the words as he leaped to his feet, and
clasping the portrait to his breast as if to protect it, turned fiercely
on the boy.

"O, it's you," he said quickly, on recognizing Harry. Then he passed his
hand over his eyes as if returning from a trance.

"I was with her when you spoke," he said softly, "and then the thought
of danger drives me mad. See----"

The captain held out the photograph for the boy's inspection. It was the
picture of a beautiful young woman of Spanish type, with dark hair and
eyes.

"This time I take her home as my bride. She has promised it. I have left
her too long at the mercy of Weyler's bloodhounds. But Gomez will see
that no harm comes to my Juanita. He has promised. The general has
promised, and soon--very soon, I shall take her away--away from this
danger zone."

The big man seemed dreaming again as his eyes rested with an expression
as soft as a woman's on the fair face of the girl. Then with that
characteristic shake of his huge body he placed the portrait carefully
in an inner pocket, next his heart, and turned again to Harry with his
dare-devil laugh on his lips.

"Ha, ha! Danger zone? Oh