This the peaceful scene that was soon to be transformed into a battle-field.

Here, within a few days, victory and defeat would meet face to face.

Which side would claim the former?
Until this moment Ridge had never doubted.

He had often heard the boast that his own regiment could drive every Spaniard out of Cuba, and had believed it.

Now he knew that here alone was work cut out for an army.
These reflections of our young trooper were interrupted by his companion, who said, "It is a wonderful picture; but I am too hungry to gaze on it any longer; so let us hasten into the city, with the hope of finding a breakfast." Both the young men wore Spanish uniforms that Navarro had brought with him, and, protected by these, they rode boldly down to the nearest outpost.