"But if we do meet, remember we Spaniards have a cure for
rheumatism. It is unpleasant, but efficacious. A little, nickel-
plated pill, that is all." General Antuna's teeth shone for an
instant. "There is another remedy, not quite so immediate in its
effect, but a good one. I have tried it and found it excellent.
Drink plenty of cocoanut-water! That is the Cuban remedy; the
other I call the Spanish cure. Cocoanuts are splendid. I shall see
that a crate of the choicest fruit is placed aboard your steamer.
Accept them with my compliments, and when you partake of them
think of me."
O'Reilly did think of General Antuna, not only when he was
escorted to the railway station at daylight, but when he and
Branch took their seats and their guards filed in behind them. He
assured himself moodily that he would not cease to think of that
sardonic old joker for a long time to come. He cursed savagely;
the memory of these wasted weeks, the narrow margin of his
failure, filled him with a sick feeling of dismay and impotence.
His mind quailed at the consequence of this new delay. Where was
Rosa now? How and when would he return? With difficulty he
resisted the impulse to fling himself from the moving train; but
he composed himself by the thought that Cuba was not fenced about
with bayonets. He would come back.
Leslie Branch broke in upon his gloomy preoccupation by asking,
"How much money have you?"
"Less than ten dollars.
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