When they came to the hut they found Young Glory sitting at the table, busily engaged in mending some fishing lines which he had found in the hut.
He sprang up quickly as the leader entered, and saluted him respectfully.
"Welcome, senor capitan."
"My good fellow," answered the Spanish officer, "myself and my friends here won't interfere with your work. Go on, I beg. We only seek a short rest."
Young Glory put the fishing lines away.
"It is nothing," he said. "My friend who lives here is away to-day, and I am keeping house for him, so I thought I would do a little work."
"Has he anything in the drinking line?" cried a young lieutenant. "That's more to the point."
A shout of approval followed.
"You don't speak very often, Ruiz," said one of the officers, "but when you do, you display the wisdom of Solomon."
The officers, making themselves quite at home, bustled about the hut, as Dan had done, searching for drink.