"He disarmed us all and put a prize crew on board; and the Spanish gunboat Tornado took the trading steamer Washington in tow, and headed straight for Santiago Harbour.
"Santiago de Cuba! To think that one of the loveliest spots upon God's earth should be given over to the abominations of these butchers!
"It was just at sunrise, on one of the loveliest mornings that I have ever known, that we made our way slowly through the narrow entrance to the bay. On either side of us low ridges of rolling hills, crowned with dark woods and verdant meadows; the bright plumage of tropical birds glancing among the trees where we hugged the shore beside the forest; here and there in the distant uplands the white walls of some country house, with the blue smoke rising like incense, untroubled by any breath of air. A scene of greater peacefulness could hardly be, save for the blue fins of the sharks that followed us, as though aware that we were journeying to our doom.
"Yet I held my head high in spite of all. Something might always happen; some chance might always show itself to the man who gave his whole mind to watching for it. Your true gambler with Death never loses hope until the hour actually comes when he must pay the forfeit.
"It seemed, however, that that hour was very near and quite inevitable. A message was conveyed to us.
"'A court-martial, for the trial of the prisoners, will sit at noon, in the Tornado, under the presidency of General Burriel, Governor of Santiago.' And you know what a Spanish court-martial is! It is the modern form of the Spanish Inquisition. Its purpose is not to judge, but to condemn. So that I had little hope of justice and less of mercy when my turn came to be haled before it. Only of one thing I was resolved.'
"'At least,' I said to myself, 'I will hold my head high. At least I will not beg for pity.'
"My turn came.
"Informal, but ferocious; that is how I must describe the court that sat in judgment over me. A pleasant awning was hung upon the deck. A table, with pens, ink, and paper upon it, was set for the president of the court. The other officers composing it lounged around, in a semicircle, in comfortable chairs. They drank and smoked cigarettes, and laughed gaily together, as though the sentencing of men to death were the most agreeable diversion that they knew. And I stood before them, handcuffed and guarded by marines.
"'What do you say that your name is?' was the first question put to me, and my answer was defiant.