"What about them?"
"Why did you stop them?"
"Stop them! Why they are Americans, and they were prisoners in Morro."
"I know that," said the officer. "But they were released."
"What!"
"Yes. And I was charged with the duty of seeing them safe on board the American ships."
The Spanish captain stared in amazement.
"Carramba!" he muttered. "Why didn't they say so?"
"I don't see that you gave them a chance," said the other. "You fired on them too soon."
"But I had no idea of this!" cried the other.