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was that the ship had struck a rock； and then that she was
bumping herself over a succession of coral reefs。 She dipped；
dived； reared； and plunged。 Like a hooked fish； she flung herself
in the air； quivering from bow to stern。 No longer was David of a
mind to sue the filibusters if they did not put him ashore。 If
only they had put him ashore； in gratitude he would have crawled
on his knees。 What followed was of no interest to David； nor to
many of the filibusters； nor to any of the Cuban patriots。 Their
groans of self…pity； their prayers and curses in eloquent
Spanish； rose high above the crash of broken crockery and the
pounding of the waves。 Even when the search…light gave way to a
brilliant sunlight the circumstance was unobserved by David。 Nor
was he concerned in the tidings brought forward by the youth in
the golf cap； who raced the slippery decks and vaulted the
prostrate forms as sure…footedly as a hurdler on a cinder track。
To David； in whom he seemed to think he had found a congenial
spirit； he shouted Joyfully； 〃She's fired two blanks at us！〃 he
cried； 〃now she's firing cannon…balls！〃
〃Thank God；〃 whispered David； 〃perhaps she'll sink us！〃
But The Three Friends showed her heels to the revenue cutter； and
so far as David knew hours passed into days and days into weeks。
It was like those nightmares in which in a minute one is whirled
through centuries of fear and torment。 Sometimes； regardless of
nausea； of his aching head； of the hard deck； of the waves that
splashed and smothered him； David fell into broken slumber。
Sometimes he woke to a dull consciousness of his position。 At
such moments he added to his misery by speculating upon the other
misfortunes that might have befallen him on shore。 Emily； he
decided； had given him up for lost and marriedprobably a navy
officer in command of a battle…ship。 Burdett and Sons had cast
him off forever。 Possibly his disappearance had caused them to
suspect him； even now they might be regarding him as a defaulter；
as a fugitive from justice。 His accounts； no doubt； were being
carefully overhauled。 In actual time； two days and two nights had
passed； to David it seemed many ages。
On the third day he crawled to the stern； where there seemed less
motion； and finding a boat's cushion threw it in the lee scupper
and fell upon it。 From time to time the youth in the golf cap had
brought him food and drink； and he now appeared from the cook's
galley bearing a bowl of smoking soup。
David considered it a doubtful attention。
But he said； 〃You're very kind。 How did a fellow like you come to
mix up with these pirates？〃
The youth laughed good…naturedly。
〃They're not pirates； they're patriots；〃 he said； 〃and I'm not
mixed up with them。 My name is Henry Carr and I'm a guest of
Jimmy Doyle； the captain。〃
〃The barkeeper with the derby hat？〃 said David。
〃He's not a barkeeper； he's a teetotaler；〃 Carr corrected； 〃and
he's the greatest filibuster alive。 He knows these waters as you
know Broadway； and he's the salt of the earth。 I did him a favor
once； sort of mouse…helping…the…lion idea。 Just through dumb luck
I found out about this expedition。 The government agents in New
York found out I'd found out and sent for me to tell。 But I
didn't； and I didn't write the story either。 Doyle heard about
that。 So； he asked me to come as his guest； and he's promised
that after he's landed the expedition and the arms I can write as
much about it as I darn please。〃
〃Then you're a reporter？〃 said David。
〃I'm what we call a cub reporter；〃 laughed Carr。 〃You see； I've
always dreamed of being a war correspondent。 The men in the
office say I dream too much。 They're always guying me about it。
But； haven't you noticed； it's the ones who dream who find their
dreams come true。 Now this isn't real war； but it's a near war；
and when the real thing breaks loose； I can tell the managing
editor I served as a war correspondent in the Cuban…Spanish
campaign。 And he may give me a real job！〃
〃And you LIKE this？〃 groaned David。
〃I wouldn't； if I were as sick as you are；〃 said Carr； 〃but I've
a stomach like a Harlem goat。〃 He stooped and lowered his voice。
〃Now； here are two fake filibusters；〃 he whispered。 〃The men you
read about in the newspapers。 If a man's a REAL filibuster；
nobody knows it！〃
Coming toward them was the tall man who had knocked David out；
and the little one who had wanted to tie him to a tree。
〃All they ask；〃 whispered Carr； 〃is money and advertisement。 If
they knew I was a reporter； they'd eat out of my hand。 The tall
man calls himself Lighthouse Harry。 He once kept a light…house on
the Florida coast； and that's as near to the sea as he ever got。
The other one is a dare…devil calling himself Colonel Beamish。 He
says he's an English officer； and a soldier of fortune； and that
he's been in eighteen battles。 Jimmy says he's never been near
enough to a battle to see the red…cross flags on the base
hospital。 But they've fooled these Cubans。 The Junta thinks
they're great fighters； and it's sent them down here to work the
machine guns。 But I'm afraid the only fighting they will do will
be in the sporting columns； and not in the ring。〃
A half dozen sea…sick Cubans were carrying a heavy； oblong box。
They dropped it not two yards from where David lay； and with a
screwdriver Lighthouse Harry proceeded to open the lid。
Carr explained to David that The Three Friends was approaching
that part of the coast of Cuba on which she had arranged to land
her expedition； and that in case she was surprised by one of the
Spanish patrol boats she was preparing to defend herself。
〃They've got an automatic gun in that crate；〃 said Carr； 〃and
they're going to assemble it。 You'd better move； they'll be
tramping all over you。
David shook his head feebly。
〃I can't move！〃 he protested。 〃I wouldn't move if it would free
Cuba。〃
For several hours with very languid interest David watched
Lighthouse Harry and Colonel Beamish screw a heavy tripod to the
deck and balance above it a quick…firing one…pounder。 They worked
very slowly； and to David； watching them from the lee scupper；
they appeared extremely unintelligent。
〃I don't believe either of those thugs put an automatic gun
together in his life；〃 he whispered to Carr。 〃I never did；
either； but I've put hundreds of automatic punches together； and
I bet that gun won't work。〃
〃What's wrong with it？〃 said Carr。
Before David could summon sufficient energy to answer； the
attention of all on board was diverted； and by a single word。
Whether the word is whispered apologetically by the smoking…room
steward to those deep in bridge； or shrieked from the tops of a
sinking ship it never quite fails of its effect。 A sweating
stoker from the engine…room saw it first。
〃Land！〃 he hailed。
The sea…sick Cubans raised themselves and swung their hats； their
voices rose in a fierce chorus。
〃Cuba libre！〃 they yelled。
The sun piercing the morning mists had uncovered a coast…line
broken with bays and inlets。 Above it towered green hills； the
peak of each topped by a squat blockhouse； in the valleys and
water courses like columns of marble rose the ro