We found the conspirators at a table in a corridor of the first-
class quarantine station. In the words of Lieutenant Long "they
fully looked the part," being of distinctly merciless cut of jib.
They were roughly dressed and without collars, convincing proof of
some nefarious design, for when the Latin-American entitled to
wear them leaves off his white collar and his cane he must be
desperate indeed.

We "braced" them at once, marching down upon them as they were
murmuring with heads together over a mass of typewritten sheets.
The Corporal was delegated to inform them in his most urbane and
hidalguezco Castilian that we were well acquainted with their
errand and that we were come to frustrate by any legitimate means
in our power the consummation of any such project on American
territory. When the first paralyzed stare of astonishment that
plans they had fancied locked in their own breasts were known to
others had somewhat subsided, one of them assumed the
spokesmanship. In just as courtly and superabundant language he
replied that they were only too well aware of the inadvisability
of carrying out any act against its sovereignty on U. S. soil;
that so long as they were on American territory they would conduct
themselves in a most circumspect and caballeroso manner--"but," he
concluded, "in the most public street of Panama city the first
time we meet those three dogs--we shall spit in their faces--
that's all, nada mas," and the blazing eyes announced all too
plainly what he meant by that figure of speech.

That was all very well, was our smiling and urbane reply, but to
be on the safe side and merely as a matter of custom we were under
the unfortunate necessity of requesting them to submit to the