Chapter I: Preface

"When Santiago Fell," while a complete story in itself, forms the first volume of a line to be issued under the general title of the "Flag of Freedom Series" for boys.

My object in writing this story was to present to American lads a true picture of life in the Cuba of to-day, and to show what a fierce struggle was waged by the Cubans against the iron-handed mastery of Spain previous to the time that our own glorious United States stepped in and gave to Cuba the precious boon of liberty. The time covered is the last year of the Cuban-Spanish War and our own campaign leading up to the fall of Santiago.

It may be possible that some readers may think the adventures of the two chums over-drawn, but this is hardly a fact. The past few years have been exceedingly bitter ones to all living upon Cuban soil, and neither life nor property has been safe. Even people who were peaceably inclined were drawn into the struggle against their will, and the innocent, in many cases, suffered with the guilty.

This war, so barbarously carried on, has now come to an end; and, under the guiding hand of Uncle Sam, let us trust that Cuba and her people will speedily take their rightful place among the small but well-beloved nations of the world--or, if not this, that she may join the ever-increasing sisterhood of our own States.

Once more thanking my numerous young friends for their kind reception of my previous works, I place this volume in their hands, trusting that from it they may derive much pleasure and profit.

Captain Ralph Bonehill.

_January 1, 1899._

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I. Off for the Interior 1

II. The Escape from the Gunboat 8

III. In the Wilds of the Island 15

IV. In a Novel Prison 22

V. Lost among the Hills 30

VI. From One Difficulty to Another 37

VII. Fooling the Spanish Guerrillas 45

VIII. Andres 52

IX. Across the Canefields 59

X. A Council of the Enemy 66

XI. A Wild Ride on Horseback 74

XII. A Daring Leap 81

XIII. Friends in Need 87

XIV. General Calixto Garcia 95

XV. A Prisoner of War 102

XVI. A Rescue under Difficulties 108

XVII. A Treacherous Stream to Cross 116

XVIII. Alone 123

XIX. The Cave in the Mountain 130

XX. Señor Guerez 137

XXI. The Attack on the Old Convent 145

XXII. The Routing of the Enemy 154

XXIII. On the Trail of My Father 161

XXIV. In the Belt of the Firebrands 168

XXV. Escaping the Flames 176

XXVI. A Disheartening Discovery 184

XXVII. Gilbert Burnham 191

XXVIII. A Battle on Land and Water 198

XXIX. Looking for my Cuban Chum 205

XXX. Once More among the Hills 212

XXXI. The Battle at the Railroad Embankment 220

XXXII. A Leap in the Dark 229

XXXIII. Captain Guerez Makes a Discovery 238

XXXIV. The Dogs of Cuban Warfare 244

XXXV. The Last of the Bloodhounds 252

XXXVI. Cast into a Santiago Dungeon 261

XXXVII. The Fall of the Spanish Stronghold 271

WHEN SANTIAGO FELL.