Captain Franklin stepped back. He did not exactly like the proposal. He had always kept out of such musses, and he knew it was violating Federal law to be a filibuster.
"I'm only part owner of the Cristobal," he stammered. "I would not like to involve the others."
"They need never know. I have a perfectly safe plan."
The Captain wavered. He would like to help Moreto and his daughter if it were not for the risk.
"What is your plan?"
"If we had a thousand rifles to arm Pino Guerra," said Moreto, "we could take San Luis. If we took San Luis we could control Pinar del Rio province. My mission to your country is to get those rifles to a point in that province. I have them boxed, ready for shipment as new machinery for a sugar plantation. They are at Wilmington. I thought I had placed them on a steamer in the Delaware last week, but your confounded Secret Service agents are too vigilant, and they learned from members of the crew that something unusual was up. If you will take those boxes on the Cristobal I can get them here on Friday and will arrange for an insurgent schooner to meet you at any point you name. Will you do it?"
"It's risky business," slowly said the Captain, lighting a fresh Vuelta cigar.
"It means liberty to us. Dios, Senor Captain, where would your country be if the French had not helped Washington and his ragged rebels?"
Franklin puffed away slowly. The Cuban watched him. At last the Captain made a decision.
"You may send those rifles along," he said.