"I'm rattled," Johnnie confessed. "Why, that girl just bounced right into the middle of everything, and—and I can't bounce her out again."
"You say she's young, and PRETTY, and—RICH?" Leslie was incredulous.
"Y-yes! All of that."
"Um-m! Doctor Alvarado must mix a good cocktail2."
"Why?"
"Because you're drunk and delirious3. They don't come that way, my boy.
When they're rich they're old and ugly."
"I tell you this girl is young and—stunning."
"Of course she is," Branch agreed, soothingly4. "Now go to sleep and don't think any more about her, there's a good boy! Everything will be all right in the morning. Perhaps it never happened; perhaps you didn't meet any woman at all." The speaker yawned and turned over.
"Don't be an ass," Johnnie cried, impatiently. "What are we going to do with a woman on our hands?"
"WE? Don't divide her with me. What are YOU going to do? The truth is plain, this Miss Evans is in love with you and you don't know it. She sees in you her soul mate. Well, if you don't want her, I want her. I'll eat her medicine. I'll even—marry the poor old soul, if she's rich."
O'Reilly arose early the next morning and hurried down to the office of the Junta5, hoping that he could convince Mr. Enriquez of the folly6 of allowing Norine Evans to have her way. By the light of day Miss Evans's project seemed more hare-brained than ever, and he suspected that Enriquez had acquiesced7 in it only because of a natural inability to refuse anything to a pretty woman—that was typically Cuban. But his respect for Miss Evans's energy and initiative deepened when, on arriving at 56 New Street, he discovered that she had forestalled8 him and was even then closeted with the man he had come to see. Johnnie waited uneasily; he was dismayed when the girl finally appeared, with Enriquez in tow, for the man's face was radiant.
"It's all settled," she announced, at sight of O'Reilly. "I've speeded them up."
"You're an early riser," the latter remarked. "I hardly expected—"
Enriquez broke in. "Such enthusiasm! Such ardor9! She whirls a person off his feet."
"It seems that the Junta lacks money for another expedition, so I've made up the deficit10. We'll be off in a week."
"Really? Then you're actually—going?"
"Of course."
"It was like a gift from Heaven," Enriquez cried. "Our last embarrassment11 is removed, and—"
But Johnnie interrupted him. "You're crazy, both of you," he declared, irritably12. "Cuba is no place for an American girl. I'm not thinking so much about the danger of capture on the way down as the hardship after she gets there and the fact that she will be thrown among all sorts of men."
The elder man lifted his head. "Every Cuban will know who Miss Evans is, and what she has done for our cause. You do not seem to have a high regard for our chivalry13, sir."
"There!" Norine was triumphant14.
"There is bound to be some danger, of course," Enriquez continued, "for the coast is well patrolled; but once the expedition is landed, Miss Evans will be among friends. She will be as safe in our camps as if she were in her own home."
"Don't be hateful, and argumentative, or I'll begin to think you're a born chaperon," Miss Evans exclaimed. "Come! Make up your mind to endure me. And now you're going to help me buy my tropical outfit15."
With a smile and a nod at Enriquez she took O'Reilly's arm and bore him away.
In spite of his panic-struck protestations that he knew less than nothing about woman's requirements, she led him up-town. And she kept him at her side all that morning while she made her purchases; then when she had loaded him down with parcels she invited him to take her to lunch. The girl was so keenly alive and so delighted with the prospect16 of adventure that Johnnie could not long remain displeased17 with her. She had an irresistible18 way about her, and he soon found himself sharing her good spirits. She had a healthy appetite, too; when O'Reilly set out for his lodgings19 after escorting her home he walked in order to save car fare. Clams20, consomme, chicken salad, French pastry21, and other extravagances had reduced his capital to zero.
The days of idle waiting that followed were trying, even to one of O'Reilly's philosophic22 habit of mind. He could learn nothing about the Junta's plans, and, owing to his complete uncertainty23, he was unable to get work. Leslie Branch, too, failed to find steady employment, though he managed, by the sale of an occasional column, to keep them both from actual suffering. His cough, meanwhile, grew worse day by day, for the spring was late and raw. As a result his spirits rose, and he became the best of all possible good companions. Johnnie, who was becoming constantly more fond of him, felt his anxiety increase in proportion to this improvement in mood; it seemed to him that Branch was on the very verge25 of a collapse26.
At last there came a message which brought them great joy. Enriquez directed them to be in readiness to leave Jersey27 City at seven o'clock the following morning. Neither man slept much that night.
As they waited in the huge, barn-like station Enriquez appeared with Norine Evans upon his arm. The girl's color was high; she was tremulous with excitement. Leslie Branch, who saw her for the first time, emitted a low whistle of surprise.
"Glory be! That goddess!" he cried. "And I called her a 'poor old soul'!"
When Norine took his bony, bloodless hand in her warm grasp and flashed him her frank, friendly smile, he capitulated instantly. In hyperbolical terms he strove to voice his pleasure at the meeting; but he lost the thread of his thought and floundered so hopelessly among his words that Norine said, laughingly:
"Now, Mr. Branch, bold buccaneers don't make pretty speeches. Hitch28 up your belt and say, 'Hello, Norine!' I'll call you Leslie."
"Don't call me 'Leslie,'" he begged. "Call me often."
Then he beamed upon the others, as if this medieval pun were both startling and original. It was plain that he wholly and inanely29 approved of Norine Evans.
Enriquez was introducing a new-comer now, one Major Ramos, a square-jawed, forceful Cuban, who, it seemed, was to be in command of the expedition.
"My duties end here," Enriquez explained. "Major Ramos will take charge of you, and you must do exactly as he directs. Ask no questions, for he won't answer them. Do you think you can follow instructions?"
"Certainly not. I sha'n't even try," Norine told him. "I'm fairly bursting with curiosity at this moment."
"Remember, Ramos, not a word."
"I promise," smiled the major.
"Good-by and good luck." Enriquez shook hands all around; then he bowed and kissed Miss Evans's fingers. "I shall pray that you escape all danger, senorita, and I shall see that Cuba remembers her debt to you."
When he had gone the three Americans followed their new guide through the iron gates.
Major Ramos proved that he knew how to obey orders even though the other members of his party did not. He remained utterly31 deaf to Miss Evans's entreaties32 that he let her know something about the plans of the expedition; he would not even tell her where he was taking her, where the other filibusters33 had assembled, or from what port their ship would sail. He did go so far, however, as to explain that an inkling of the Junta's plans had leaked out, and that determined34 efforts to upset them were being made, efforts which necessitated35 the greatest care on his part. This, of course, whetted36 the girl's curiosity; but to her most artful queries37 he opposed a baffling silence. When Philadelphia, Washington, then Baltimore, and finally Richmond were left behind, Miss Evans was, in truth, ready to explode, and her two companions were in a similar frame of mind.
Major Ramos was not naturally a silent man; he had all the loquacity38 of the Latin, and all the Latin's appreciation39 of a pretty woman; he made no secret of the fact that his orders irked him. Despite his official reserve he proved himself a pleasant traveling-companion, and he talked freely on all but one subject. He played a good game of cards, too, and he devoted40 himself with admirable courtesy to Norine's comfort. It was not until the train was approaching Charleston that he finally announced:
"Now then, my first command. This is the end of our journey; the other members of the expedition are here. But I must ask you not to talk with them or with any strangers, for our friends are being watched by detectives in the employ of the Spanish minister at Washington and by United States deputy-marshals. One little indiscretion might ruin everything."
"Spies! Oh, goody!" cried Miss Evans.
"The local authorities intend to seize any vessel41 we try to sail on. We must be careful."
The hotel to which Major Ramos led his guests appeared to be well filled; there were many Cubans in the lobby, and the air was heavy with the aroma42 of their strong, black cigarettes. As the major entered they turned interested and expectant faces toward him and they eyed his companions with frank curiosity. Miss Evans became the target for more than one warmly admiring glance.
As for O'Reilly, the familiar odor of those Cuban cigarettes, the snatches of Spanish conversation which he overheard, awoke in him a great excitement; he realized with an odd thrill that these eager, dark-visaged men were now his friends and comrades, and that those Americans loitering watchfully43 among them were his enemies—the spies of whom Ramos had spoken. There were at least a score of the latter, and all were plainly stamped with the distinctive46 marks of their calling. That they, too, were interested in the latest arrivals was soon made evident by their efforts to get acquainted.
To Norine Evans it was all immensely exciting. The attention she evoked47 delighted her vastly, and she was almost offended when O'Reilly threatened one particularly forward sleuth with a thrashing, thereby48 ending her fun.
It was a strangely restless gathering49. The Cubans sat in groups or in pairs with their heads together, smoking furiously and whispering, pausing now and then to glare balefully at some detective who drew within ear-shot. Every hour increased the strain.
On the street it became known that a party of filibusters was in the city and curious townspeople came to investigate, while others journeyed to the water-front to stare at the big ocean-going tug50 which had slipped into the harbor on the evening previous. When they learned that she was none other than the Dauntless, that most famous of Cuban blockade-runners, and that "
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