CHAPTER XVI.
THE INVASION OF SAN JUAN.
Upon a stormy night, when the moon was utterly concealed by dark ragged masses of clouds that rolled up from the south in serried columns like an army advancing to battle, Roderic viewed the prospect from the deck of the Dreadnaught with the philosophical coolness that seemed a part of his nature; and yet he knew what one of these summer storms in the tropics meant as well as any man.
It came in an unfortunate time, just when they prayed for fair weather, since it was Roderic's design to be put ashore on the coast of Porto Rico not many miles from San Juan, before the little steam yacht entered the fortified harbor.
The situation had been carefully studied by Owen, and his plans altered to conform to the new arrangement of affairs.
There was a pretty good chance that the Sterling Castle would put into San Juan ere attempting to run the Havana blockade.
In fact this was almost a certainty, since she carried as passengers those who were desirous of landing on Porto Rico soil.
This being the case it was reasonable to suppose that Jerome and his Spanish allies would take advantage of the first opportunity to warn the officials at the capital regarding the presence of a Yankee secret agent on board Cleo's yacht; and that the entry of the Dreadnaught into the fortified harbor where Admiral Sampson's guns had played havoc earlier in the game would open a system of annoying espionage, even if it did not result in a bold search for the spy.
There was one way to avoid this.