Soon we shall have the very pick of our
youth collected on the shores of these ungrateful islanders who have
turned against their best friends, and these misguided people will see
for themselves the fruits of our civilization as we see it, in the
persons of our soldiers. Permit me in responding to your flattering
toast to propose the names of Mr. Reddy and Mr. Tucker as
representatives of an older generation of patriots whose example we are
happy to have before us for our guidance."
This, Sam's first speech, was received with great applause, and then
Josh Thatcher proposed three cheers for Captain Jinks, which were
given with a will. The only perverse spirit was that of the commercial
traveler, who had sat in the corner reading an old copy of the
Slowburgh _Herald_, and now on hearing the cheers, took a candle and
went upstairs to bed.
"That man's no good," said Reddy with a shake of his head. While the
whole company were expressing their concurrence with this sentiment,
Sam bade them good-night and took his leave.
CHAPTER VI
Off for the Cubapines
[Illustration]
By the next morning's mail Sam's commission arrived, and with it orders
to report at once at the city of St. Kisco, whence a transport was
about to sail on a date which gave Sam hardly time to catch it. He must
hurry at once to town and get his new uniforms for which he had been
fitted the week before, and then proceed by the fastest trains on the
long journey to the distant port without even paying his parents a
farewell visit.
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