"A few of them had guns, but most of them had nothing but their machetes, sir. Ammunition, I was told, was very scarce."
"What of food?"
"That was scarce, too." And Walter smiled. "A good eater would starve to death on what both the Spaniards and the Cubans have to offer."
"Do the Spaniards expect an army of invasion—that is, did you hear any talk on the subject?"
"I caught a few words, sir. I cannot speak Spanish myself."
Commodore Schley mused for a moment. "That is all," he said, addressing Captain Cook. "The boy has certainly had some remarkable adventures. He is better off than poor Lieutenant Hobson."
"That's true," responded the commander of the Brooklyn. He turned to Walter. "You can go, Russell; if we want you again, we will send for you."
"Yes, sir," was the youth's reply, and, saluting, he turned and left the cabin. The interview had been a very formal one, but he was proud to think that he had come into personal contact with his gallant captain and his equally gallant commodore.