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Page 22
"Good! A commissioned officer was selected for this duty, but he is
prevented by illness from performing it. You have been chosen to take
his place on the recommendation of Colonel Roosevelt because of your
knowledge of Spanish, your military record, and because you are a
native-born American. I could have found plenty of Cubans to undertake
the mission, and possibly one of them would have carried it to a
satisfactory ending, but I wanted an American."
"Plain North American Yankee," growled General Shafter.
"As you know," continued General Miles, "a powerful expedition is about
to leave this place for Cuba. Very few persons have any idea where it
is to land; but you must know that in about ten days from now it will
appear off Daiquiri, some twelve miles east of Santiago, in which city
I want you to be at that time. You will sail to-night in the
despatch-boat _Speedy_, of which this gentleman, Lieutenant Boldwood,
is the commander. Within three days he will land you on the northern
coast of the province of Santiago. During the following week I want
you to visit the Spanish commanders at Holguin, Jiguani, and Santiago,
to all of whom you will bear what purport to be important despatches
from Se�or Carranza, chief of the Spanish secret service in North
America, whose headquarters are in Montreal.
"You will represent yourself to be Jos� Remelio, one of the clerks
attached to the recent Spanish Legation at Washington. You will
estimate the strength and condition of the Spanish forces in the
province. Also, you will meet as many of the insurgent leaders as
possible, inform them of the coming of our expedition, and impress upon
them the necessity of intercepting supplies or re-inforcements for
Santiago. For the sake of appearances, I authorize you to assume any
military rank up to that of Captain you may deem advisable. You will
also be given the secret countersign of the Cuban Junta, which will
secure for you good treatment among all Cubans of intelligence."
"His best safeguard among Cubans should be that he is an American
soldier," suggested General Lawton.
"You will perceive," continued General Miles, "that I have laid out a
vast amount of work for you to perform in a very short time; but you
will be provided with plenty of money, and by procuring a good horse as
soon as possible after landing I believe you can accomplish it. I hope
you will be able to reach Santiago and gain a knowledge of its
defences; but no matter where you are, when you hear that our army has
landed, make your way to it with all speed, and report immediately to
the commanding general. Is all this clear? and have you anything to
suggest?"
"Your instructions are perfectly clear, sir," replied Ridge, his voice
trembling with excitement, "and I only want to suggest that instead of
depending upon Cuban horses for transportation across the island, I be
allowed to take my own from here."
"Are you sure that your horse is enough better than those of the island
to warrant carrying it to such a distance?"
"I can vouch for that, General," interposed Lieutenant-Colonel
Roosevelt. "Sergeant Norris has one of the very best horses in our
regiment, and one that has developed almost human intelligence under
his training."
"No one realizes the value of a reliable horse in times of danger
better than I," rejoined General Miles. "I wonder, though, if it will
be possible to carry one on the _Speedy_?"
"I believe we can manage it, General," said Lieutenant Boldwood.
"Very, well, then, you may take your own horse. How will you get it to
the port?"
"I think the simplest and probably the quickest way will be to ride
her, sir."
"Then do so with all haste, for I want the _Speedy_ to sail this very
evening, and within two hours, if possible. You will receive your
despatches, funds, and promised countersign after you get on board.
Good-bye. Good luck to you, and remember that your proposed movements
must be kept absolutely secret outside of this room."
Ridge had barely taken his departure after shaking hands with the
several generals, who rose to bid him farewell, when a telegraph
message was handed to General Shafter. He read it with perplexity,
studied it for a few moments, and then burst into a roar of laughter.
It was from his aide, Major Dodley, had been sent from Port Tampa, and
read as follows:
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