According to your own account, you have not completed your mission by making a study of the condition and defences of Santiago, upon which you are to report to the commander of the first American force that lands.

Also, I could not detain one who comes as a Spanish officer under flag of truce, without making things very unpleasant for such of our men as are held prisoners by the enemy.

You must not think of your position as humiliating, but as one of great importance and responsibility, as well as of great danger.

You say, too, that you have a Spanish friend in the launch who wishes to remain here with you, and whom you cannot desert, but I certainly could not receive him under the circumstances.

Therefore, much as I regret to say so, it seems to me that both my duty and yours point to your return by the way you came." As Ridge, admitting the justice of this decision, was about to take his leave, the executive officer of the ship entered hastily and reported: "A heavy smoke to the eastward, sir, believed to be that of the transports bringing General Shafter's army.".