"No."
"How? you say no, Young Glory?"
"I do, and I will show you why, sir. Leave him to me. I will deal with him. Do you give me power, sir? You may trust me."
"Do what you like, Young Glory."
"Saved! saved!" cried the boy.
Instantly he sprang on Juan. The latter thought he was about to be killed.
"You have no right to slay me. I came here under a safe conduct. This is infamous!"
"Senor, you will not be hurt. Now, to business. Strip that uniform off you quickly!"
"You insult me."
"Off with it, or I will tear it from your back!"
Young Glory seized the officer"s tunic, and tore open the front of it.
"It must be, sir," he said to Lieutenant Tyler, who watched these extraordinary proceedings in silence. "Stand guard over him, sir. Compel him instantly to do what I have said, for we have no time to lose."
As the Spaniard was stripped of his naval uniform, instantly Young Glory put it on.
"I shall take back your answer," he said to Mr. Tyler.
"You!"
"Yes, sir. Why not?"
"You will be killed, or they will know there has been treachery, and that will ruin us!"
"They will not know me, sir. They will take me for this Spaniard. We are of the same height, and in the semi-darkness, near the magazine, I shall pa.s.s through."
"But you are sure to be discovered when you reach Manuel, this officer"s friend."
"Certain," said Juan.
"That may be, but by that time my work will be done. I shall have no fear of Manuel."
"Beggar!" cried Juan; "we shall see!"
"Oh, no, you don"t!" exclaimed Young Glory, as Juan was slipping out of the cabin. "Here you stay until the work is through."
"I will guard him."
"No, sir, you must come with me."
"With you, Young Glory? Why is that?"
"Because it will seem as if you have given way. When you hear what I say you will know the reason, and agree with me, sir."
"But this is all treacherous."
"Traitors must be fought with their own weapons, sir," answered Young Glory, sternly, as he and Lieutenant Tyler left the cabin.
Juan laughed mockingly as the door closed on him.
"He thinks you will fail, Young Glory," said Mr. Tyler, "and I think the same."
"Let us wait."
The news that Juan was returning speedily circulated. All heads were turned in his direction. Mr. Tyler was some yards behind, having kept at a distance, to better a.s.sist Young Glory in carrying out his plans.
"Well?" was the question. "Did you bluff the lieutenant?"
"I don"t know about bluffing," was Young Glory"s answer, delivered in haughty tones. "All I know is that he accepted the terms I offered. He could do nothing else."
"Faith, an" it"s meself that"s sorry."
"You wanted to be blown up?" asked Young Glory, quickly.
"It"s betther than givin" up the ship, senor," answered Dan Daly.
"Good!" muttered Young Glory. "I shall succeed now, for even Dan Daly doesn"t recognize me."
"He gives way!"
"Yes, yes," answered Young Glory, in Spanish.
"Come and tell me all about it."
"I am coming, Manuel."
"But the captain of this ship, where is he? He must hand it over to us instantly. Let the sailors give up their arms!"
"I will talk to you of all these details, Manuel."
"But where is the captain?" cried Manuel, impatiently.
"Here! He will come forward as soon as you and I have fixed things up."
"Lieutenant Tyler!" shouted Manuel.
"Yes, senor, I am here!"
"Good!"