The day of days dawned at last, and Johnnie was early at Manin's soda-fountain, drinking insipid beverages and anxiously watching the street. In due time the negroes appeared, their straw sarons laden with produce which they innocently disposed of. O'Reilly began to consult his watch with such frequency that the druggist joked him.
Manin's banter was interrupted by a bugle-call. Down the street came perhaps two hundred mounted troops. They wheeled into San Rafael Street at a gallop and disappeared in the direction of the suburbs.
"Now what does that mean?" murmured the druggist. "Wait here while I go to the roof where I can see something."
O'Reilly tried to compose himself, meanwhile becoming aware of a growing excitement in the street. Pedestrians had halted, shopkeepers had come to their doors, questions were flying from mouth to mouth. Then from the direction of the fort at the end of San Rafael Street sounded a faint rattling fusillade, more bugle- calls, and finally the thin, distant shouting of men.
"Rebels!" some one cried.
"Dios mio, they are attacking the city!"
"They have audacity, eh?"
The roofs were black with people now. Manin came hurrying down into the store.
"Something has gone wrong," he whispered. "They're fighting out yonder in the woods. There has been some treachery."
"It is ten-fifteen," said O'Reilly. "I must be going."
Manin stared at him. "You don't understand--"
"Those black fellows are getting their horses ready. I'm going."
The druggist tried to force Johnnie into a chair. "Madman!" he panted. "I tell you our friends have been betrayed; they are retreating. Go back to your hotel quickly."
For the first time during their acquaintance Manin heard the good- natured American curse; O'Reilly's blue eyes were blazing; he had let go of himself completely.
"I'm going!" he cried, hoarsely. "All the damned Spaniards in Cuba won't stop me. God! I've waited too long--I should have made a break--"
"Idiot!" stormed the druggist. "You wish to die, eh?"
O'Reilly ripped out another oath and fought off the other's restraining hands.
"Very well, then," cried Manin, "but have some thought of us who have risked our lives for you. Suppose you should escape? How would our troops receive you now? Would they not think you had cunningly arranged this trap?"
A light of reason slowly reappeared in the younger man's eyes.
"No!" Manin pressed his advantage. "You must wait until--" He broke off abruptly and stepped behind his counter, for a man in the uniform of a Spanish lieutenant had entered the store.
The new-comer walked directly to O'Reilly; he was a clean-cut, alert young fellow. After a searching glance around the place he spoke in a voice audible to both men: "Senor, you are in danger. To-night, at midnight, you will be arrested. I beg of you to see that there is nothing incriminating in your possession."