"Stop, sir!" he commanded. "Would you blow us all to destruction?"
Others standing near made a move as if to stop Clif, but it was too late. The fuse was burning rapidly.
With a cry of alarm and amazement, the officers, American as well as Spanish, sprang to one side and dodged in great fright.
But Clif calmly stood by, his arms folded and a confident smile playing about his lips.
He was putting his theory to the test.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE MYSTERY OF THE UNEXPLODED SHELL.
Mingled with evident fright and alarm there was upon the face of each a look of incredulity at rashness of the cadet. Had his adventures and narrow escapes turned his brain, and were they now at the mercy of a maniac? was in the minds of all.