"And what was her name?"
Clif's eyes brightened at that; he thought Ignacio would be caught there.
But the cunning fellow was prepared, and answered instantly.
"The Regina."
He had chosen the name of a Spanish gunboat he knew to be at sea; and the ruse worked.
"What more can you expect?" demanded the officer of Clif.
And then the cadet looked up to make the last effort for his life.
"As I have told you," he said, "this fellow's story is false. And now I will tell you why he has done it. He has long been an enemy of mine, and he is making an effort to ruin me. I foiled him——"
"If you are going to tell me about that attempt of his to kill your Yankee admiral," interrupted the officer, "I know it already."
And Ignacio gave a chuckle of glee.