The Spanish squadron is about to make a dash from Santiago Harbor with the hope of taking our fleet by surprise and escaping." "What is that to me ?" asked the Captain, coolly.
"What is that to you!" cried Ridge.

"Why, some of our ships may be destroyed if they are not warned in time." "That is their lookout, not mine.

Besides, Uncle Sam can afford to pay for them; while if this ship should be injured the loss would fall on the owners, and I should lose my job." "Do you mean that you refuse to take me out to the flag-ship ?" "Of course I do," responded the Captain; "and not one foot nearer to it, or to any other warship, does my vessel move this day than she is at present." "Then, sir," said Ridge, still struggling to maintain his calmness, "I will thank you to set me ashore again, as speedily as possible." "Why should I set you ashore ?" asked the Captain, with exasperating indifference.

"You came on board without an invitation, and now you may stay here until the next boat is ready to run in, which will be in the course of an hour or two." "By which time half the American fleet may have been destroyed for lack of warning," groaned Ridge.

Then he added, his face blazing with anger: "I hope you are not an American, and I don't believe you can be, for you are a traitor, a coward, and a contemptible cur.