One little
indiscretion might ruin everything."
"Spies! Oh, goody!" cried Miss Evans.
"The local authorities intend to seize any vessel we try to sail
on. We must be careful."
The hotel to which Major Ramos led his guests appeared to be well
filled; there were many Cubans in the lobby, and the air was heavy
with the aroma of their strong, black cigarettes. As the major
entered they turned interested and expectant faces toward him and
they eyed his companions with frank curiosity. Miss Evans became
the target for more than one warmly admiring glance.
As for O'Reilly, the familiar odor of those Cuban cigarettes, the
snatches of Spanish conversation which he overheard, awoke in him
a great excitement; he realized with an odd thrill that these
eager, dark-visaged men were now his friends and comrades, and
that those Americans loitering watchfully among them were his
enemies--the spies of whom Ramos had spoken. There were at least a
score of the latter, and all were plainly stamped with the
distinctive marks of their calling. That they, too, were
interested in the latest arrivals was soon made evident by their
efforts to get acquainted.
To Norine Evans it was all immensely exciting. The attention she
evoked delighted her vastly, and she was almost offended when
O'Reilly threatened one particularly forward sleuth with a
thrashing, thereby ending her fun.
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