For an hour or more the consul and the naval officer sat spellbound as the four—for they each had a part to tell—related their adventures since they left the destroyer.

“We gave you up for dead!” exclaimed the lieutenant, as they concluded. “In fact, to-day I was about to send cables home concerning you.”

“But you didn’t, sir?” asked Midshipman Stark anxiously.

“No, I did not, you young scamp. I don’t know, though, but that you deserve it.”

But Colonel Thompson, the consul, was delighted.

“Great Scott! Mr. Timmons!” he exclaimed, “it’s capital, sir, capital. These boys are of the real American stuff. They should be promoted, sir, every one of them.”

“Unfortunately,” said the officer, “their services[305] have been such as cannot be mentioned in the dispatches. At Washington they would not understand. But, at any rate, I have a pleasant surprise for those two boys.”

He indicated Ned and Herc. Our boys colored with pleasure and anticipation at his tone. Eagerly they watched him as he drew from his uniform pocket two folded papers, one of which he handed to each.

They were the long-awaited official confirmations of their promotions. No wonder the boys’ eyes shone as they regarded their superior officer. Their hearts were too full for words, but they looked their thanks. It was Ned who found his voice first.

“Thank—you, sir,” he stammered, “I—we——”

“There, don’t try to make speeches, Strong. You are too good a fighter for that,” laughed the officer. “I expect to see both of you rise far higher than this in the service.”

“If it depends on us, sir, we will,” Ned assured him.
 
“By the way,” broke in the consul, “about that document in which this young man is interested?”

“Oh, yes, that will. Well, Strong, as I gather from your story, you have found the young woman to whom it belongs. I had better turn it over to you.”

It was finally decided, however, to leave the document with the consul till the legal formalities, insuring Senorita de Guzman and her mother their rights, could be completed.

It may be of interest to our readers to know that the next day it was Midshipman Stark who obtained leave and volunteered to ride to the hacienda with the good news.

Suddenly, while they still sat talking, the door was thrown open and a wild figure burst in. With a cry of surprise, the Dreadnought Boys recognized Hank Harkins.

“I claim the protection of the American consul! I am an American,” he began crying and groveling on the floor. Hardly had the words left his lips before some government soldiers entered.[307] Addressing the consul, their leader explained that Hank had been detected fleeing from the insurgent ranks before the Hill of the Ten Saints, and was wanted as a prisoner.

“They’ll shoot me!” screamed Hank miserably. “Save me! Save me!”

Suddenly he noticed the Dreadnought Boys, and appealed frenziedly to them.

“Don’t let them take me,” he cried.

Ned briefly explained to the consul who the groveling wretch was, and then Colonel Thompson, who had some influence with the president of Costaveza, agreed to take charge of Hank. With this assurance the soldiers left the room. But Hank still sobbed convulsively. He had spent the hours of the battle crouched behind a tree, but the savage fighting had terrified him. When it was all over, he tried to sneak into the town unseen, but already the government troops had been told to watch for him, as well as for Charbonde.

“Where is Charbonde?” asked Ned sternly of the cringing creature.

“Dead,” wailed Hank. “He fell, shot in[308] the back, as he was running toward me.”

“A fitting death,” remarked Lieutenant Timmons. “Do you know anything of de Guzman’s whereabouts?”

“No,” Hank declared. He added............