“But how? The deception would soon be discovered.”
“Not at all. How?”
“Why, to begin with, the Beale has four funnels and we have but three.”
“That difficulty is easily surmounted.” The middy was beginning to warm to his subject now. “You have on board canvas, some spare lumber, and ‘war color’ paint?”
“Of course.”
“Then we’ll soon have a fourth funnel rigged, and then, with the Stars and Stripes flying, we’ll cruise up and down as we please, without exciting any attention.”
“But, senor, we cannot use the American flag in an action with the insurgents.”
“Good heavens, no. As it is, I must swear you to secrecy over our part in the whole affair. No, I only suggested the flag as an additional means of throwing them off the trail. If we go into action, of course, we’ll have to come out in our true colors.”
“By the saints, sir, you have indeed been sent by Heaven in the hour of my need!” cried the captain, springing up impulsively and, much to the lad’s embarrassment, flinging his arms about the middy. “I feel new fire in my veins, new hope, new ambitions. Give us good luck, and we’ll beat them yet.”