Phil had forgotten that the captain had received but little information as to the reasons why they were at the fish trap, from which they had swum to safety. He at once told their story: of their capture, the trial and the verdict, and then of the escape.
“We owe our lives to you, Captain Garcia,” he added gratefully. “If your shell had not exploded in front of the door of our prison, we should have been burned alive, and if you had not stopped to bombard Mariel we would still be there looking forward to being shot to-morrow morning.”
“I am indeed thankful that I have been able to serve those who prevented the cargo of machine guns from falling into the hands of our enemy,” the captain answered smilingly.
“How do you know we did that?” cried Phil in surprise.
“The story has reached our president,” Captain Garcia responded, “and he is very grateful to the Americans. Now,” he added, “our launches are watching every exit by water, so General Ruiz finds himself effectively cut off from his base of supplies.”
Phil remembered the machine guns were not in the legation and quickly his thoughts turned to his uncompleted mission. The pulsations of the engines showed the vessel was steaming away rapidly from those who should have his report at the earliest moment.
“Could you not take us back to La Boca?” he asked anxiously. “I have secret information which must be received immediately by my captain on board the ‘Connecticut.’”
“That is impossible,” replied Captain Garcia; “we are over a hundred miles from La Boca, but if you will trust the message to me I can send it safely by wireless telegraph.”
Phil’s face lit up with pleasure.
“I shall get the message ready at once,” he answered much relieved. “You will pardon me if I send it in cipher?” he asked; “I should not like to divulge its import to even our rescuer.”